How can you tell the difference? Start with the following do-it-yourself tests.
Scratch Test
Diamonds are one of the earth’s strongest substances. Place a piece of glass on a table and use the diamond to scratch its surface. If you see a mark, there’s a strong chance the diamond is real. This is not an absolute test, so you should still have it inspected by a professional jeweler.
Sink or Float?
Density causes a diamond to sink once dropped in water. By contrast, other stones may float. Fill a standard-size drinking glass about three-quarters of the way up and drop the loose diamond in. If it sinks all the way, the stone is likely authentic.
Fogging
If you breathe on a diamond, the fog created should clear within a few seconds, as diamonds are known to rapidly disperse heat. If the fog lingers for a few seconds more, the diamond is likely not real. For accurate results, make sure the stone is fully clean with no finger oils on the surface.
Refractivity
Diamonds have a strong sparkling effect. Once the stone is cut, any light that strikes the sides should bounce up through the top. Cubic zirconia and other artificial materials don’t refract light to this degree.
There are a couple ways to test the stone’s refractivity:
- Newspaper Test: Place a clean, loose diamond face down on the newsprint. If you can clearly see the letters through, it’s not an authentic diamond. If the words are blurred, the diamond is likely real.
- Sparkle Test: Hold the diamond under a lamp. Authentic diamonds will shimmer white light and also have colorful reflections that resemble the flames of a fire.
Check the Setting
Expensive stones are almost never set in low-quality jewelry, unless their value has been drastically underestimated. While the sticker price is one indication, the stone will typically be set in white, yellow gold or platinum in a pave, side-stone or halo setting.
The ring’s center may also hold a few clues. Specifically, the inside may be stamped or engraved with C.Z., indicating it’s set with cubic zirconia.
Work with a Professional
Beyond simple tests you can do at home, have a professional jeweler examine the stone by:
- Weight: By size, cubic zirconia weighs roughly 55-percent more than comparatively sized diamonds. A grading report will show how much the stone weighs.
- Using a Loupe: A jeweler uses this tool to examine the stone for imperfections. Believe it or not, a fake stone tends to appear more perfect than an actual diamond, which will have some inclusions or small imperfections.
- Using a Microscope: A jeweler will use 1200x magnification to examine the stone for small differences and flaws, which only show up at the hyper-microscopic level.
- Examining with X-ray: A diamond lab can look at the molecular structure. While other stones will display more radiopaque features, a diamond will be radiolucent.
- Measuring Conductivity: Compared to moissanite, cubic zirconia and synthetic stones, diamonds conduct electricity better.
Count on Hannoush Jewelers for authentic loose diamonds, rings, studs and pendants. Browse online for the perfect stone or visit one of our convenient CT locations to speak with a jeweler today.
