When you're buying jewelry, you'll see a lot of diamonds at incredible prices. However, there's a good chance that some of them aren't the real thing. While there's nothing wrong with a fake diamond (some couples prefer them), you shouldn't pay real diamond prices for one!
There are plenty of ways to create a fake diamond. Some imitations are even great gems on they're own, but they're not for someone who's got their heart set on a real diamond. Understanding the different kinds of look alikes will help you learn to spot them and pick out the real thing.
Moissanite - a rare mineral that looks a lot like a diamond, but has really different chemical and physical properties. This isn't the most common diamond fake, since its rarity means that it may cost more than a natural diamond.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystal "Diamonds" - Attractive cut glass stones may look good, but they're not very high quality and durability is low. These stones could even shatter in a ring.
There are four basic characteristics to tell you if a diamond is a good one or a bad one. These are clarity, cut, color and carat, and they'll help you decide if a diamond is real and if a real diamond is of high quality. Educate yourself to get the best deal.
You should only work with jewelers you trust, and whose reputation is good. They should be able to tell you in detail about your diamond and answer detailed questions.
Take a look at the setting when you're determining whether a diamond is real. These are very expensive gems, and they'll never be set in a cheap setting. If the placement is inferior or insecure, crooked, loose, or otherwise badly made, you're probably not looking at a real diamond.
Check the stone for damage, as well. Diamonds shouldn't be scuffed, nicked or scratch, since they resist damage. They sparkle and reflect in neutral tones, while many fakes have a rainbow sheen.
Ask yourself how transparent the stone is, too. If you can turn a loose diamond upside down on a piece of paper with words on it, you should not be able to read the text. Real diamonds disperse light too much for this to happen.
You shouldn't be afraid to take a very close look at your diamond through a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe. A real stone will be well cut and have good definition, with fakes having asymmetry and being poorly cut. Real diamonds have faceted girdles, and may even have numbers on the girdle.
The fog test is another option. Because of their unique properties, diamonds rapidly disperse heat. That means that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it will vanish quickly, while imitation stones will remain fogged for a number of seconds.
There are plenty of ways to create a fake diamond. Some imitations are even great gems on they're own, but they're not for someone who's got their heart set on a real diamond. Understanding the different kinds of look alikes will help you learn to spot them and pick out the real thing.
Moissanite - a rare mineral that looks a lot like a diamond, but has really different chemical and physical properties. This isn't the most common diamond fake, since its rarity means that it may cost more than a natural diamond.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystal "Diamonds" - Attractive cut glass stones may look good, but they're not very high quality and durability is low. These stones could even shatter in a ring.
There are four basic characteristics to tell you if a diamond is a good one or a bad one. These are clarity, cut, color and carat, and they'll help you decide if a diamond is real and if a real diamond is of high quality. Educate yourself to get the best deal.
You should only work with jewelers you trust, and whose reputation is good. They should be able to tell you in detail about your diamond and answer detailed questions.
Take a look at the setting when you're determining whether a diamond is real. These are very expensive gems, and they'll never be set in a cheap setting. If the placement is inferior or insecure, crooked, loose, or otherwise badly made, you're probably not looking at a real diamond.
Check the stone for damage, as well. Diamonds shouldn't be scuffed, nicked or scratch, since they resist damage. They sparkle and reflect in neutral tones, while many fakes have a rainbow sheen.
Ask yourself how transparent the stone is, too. If you can turn a loose diamond upside down on a piece of paper with words on it, you should not be able to read the text. Real diamonds disperse light too much for this to happen.
You shouldn't be afraid to take a very close look at your diamond through a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe. A real stone will be well cut and have good definition, with fakes having asymmetry and being poorly cut. Real diamonds have faceted girdles, and may even have numbers on the girdle.
The fog test is another option. Because of their unique properties, diamonds rapidly disperse heat. That means that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it will vanish quickly, while imitation stones will remain fogged for a number of seconds.
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