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At a glance, a real diamond – one occurring naturally or lab grown – can easily look like a fake before you check the price.

Fakes, while similar, tend to be made out of moissanite or cubic zirconia, both colorless and flawless. Yet, a closer study reveals the finer points between the two.

What can you do?

Check It With a Loupe

Use this jeweler’s magnifying glass to examine both up close. Because carbon, the material making up a diamond, has imperfections, these will be easily apparent; fake stones tend to seem too perfect.

Yet, as you do this, realize that sometimes lab-grown stones look very clear, too. To see the difference, check the edges: a lab-grown one has sharper lines, while the fake’s are rounded.

The Electrical Test

Take the stone to a jeweler, who will then perform an electrical test. A metal needle touches the stone. If it goes off, it’s authentic. If not, you’re dealing with a fake.

Sandpaper and Fog Tests

What does the stone do when you scratch or breathe against it? A real diamond is so strong that sandpaper won’t leave marks, and won’t retain heat when you blow hot air on it. Fakes, on the other hand, show visible lines and will then fog up.

Check the Setting

Perhaps one of the more obvious points: Look at how a jeweler set the stone. Real ones are usually set in gold or platinum, while something cheaper – gold-plated metal or silver, for instance – goes with the fake.

Use the Light

When you put a real diamond up to the light, you’ll see it sparkle on the inside, while the outside retains a gray and white appearance. Fakes, on the other hand, do the opposite: These seem clear on the inside but have a rainbow sparkling effect on the outside.

As well, when you slide the real diamond above a newspaper, refraction prevents a black reflection from coming through the material. Fakes let the black print clearly emerge.

Do an Appraisal

Contact a jeweler like Hannoush about doing an appraisal. This type of inspection will result in a certificate, which lists out the 4Cs of a diamond’s quality – cut, color, clarity, and carat.

Looking to shop around for a diamond? Come by one of our brick-and-mortar stores, or start your search online.