how to spot a fake diamond

When it comes to jewelry, it’s always difficult to establish the true value of a piece, especially if it’s of unknown origin or you suspect it to be fake. Most fake pieces of jewelry on the market are diamonds, because these gems are so high in demand. They make the perfect gift for engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, you can basically never go wrong with diamond jewelry. However, what if some of these gifts are not diamonds at all? Before checking with an expert, you can easily spot rough imitations of real diamonds with the help of some tricks.

Here is How to Spot a Fake Diamond:

  1. The transparency test. Place your diamond on a newspaper or any piece of paper with writing on it. If you are able to read through the diamond, than it’s most likely you have  a quartz or glass diamond. Real diamonds bend light because of their high refractive index, which makes it difficult to see through them, let alone read.
  2. The fog test. Diamonds are very good heat dispersers. If you hold a diamond to your mouth and blow on it, like you would when cleaning a mirror or a glass surface, a real diamond should evaporate the fog instantly. If it stays on the diamond for more than 3 or 4 seconds, you’re probably dealing with a fake.
  3. The weight test. If you own a carat or a gram scale, check the weight of your diamond. Fake ones usually weight 50-60% more than real diamonds of the same size.
  4. The sparkle test. Look very closely at your diamond’s sparkle. If you see many rainbow reflections, as beautiful as they may seem, they’re a sign of a low quality diamond or even a fake.
  5. The light test. This test can be made only if you have UV light or Black light at hand. The diamond should be placed under UV light or Black light in a dark room. If it has a blue, fluorescent glow, than it’s a real diamond. The absence of blue glow doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a fake, it could mean you have a high quality diamond. Green, yellow or grey fluorescence under UV light are common mostly for fake diamonds.
  6. The flaw test. Even though they are so expensive, diamonds are not flawless. They have tiny cracks, pinpoints or traces of carbon, called inclusions. These tiny flaws can affect the clarity of the diamond. Check with a magnified glass for inclusions and if you can’t spot any, there are two possibilities: you either have a very rare and expensive diamond that scores high on the clarity chart, or you have a fake.
  7. The metal test. As diamonds are expensive, they are usually set in precious metals, such as Palladium, Platinum, Gold or Silver. Check the jewelry for a hallmark. If  the hallmark has a (CZ) on the stamp, than your diamond is a fake, because it stands for “cubic zirconia”.

Keep in mind all these little tests don’t guarantee you accurate results, they might just help you spot really bad diamond fakes. There are so many great imitations out there, that you simply have to request professional help and get your diamonds appraised by a certified gemological laboratory. Not only will you be ensured about the quality of your diamonds, but they will be authenticated and certified. Even more, you can get insurance for your diamonds, as you would for your house or your car.

The Accredited Gemological Institute AGI New York, provides all the services above, and much more. Visit us and find out more abut our services.

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