A lot of people are interested in how they can tell if a diamond is real or fake. Although there are a number of tests to find out, the best way to know for sure is to ask for a certificate. However, if you don’t have that luxury, you may try some alternative ways to check the authenticity of a diamond.
If a Diamond Can Scratch Glass, Does It Mean It’s Real?
It is true that diamonds can scratch glass. However, glass can also be scratched by anything that’s harder than it, including a lot of gemstones other than diamonds.
Since a real diamond bends light, you should not be able to see its bottom when looking through the stone’s top.
So, even if your diamond is fake, it will still pass the scratch test as long as it’s made of a material harder than glass.
Real Diamonds Distort Light
Since a real diamond bends light, you should not be able to see its bottom when looking through the stone’s top.
If the diamond is loose and you place it over a printed text, you should not be able to see the symbols clearly through the stone if it’s real.
However, if the diamond has an atypical cut, this test is not reliable.
Diamonds Dissipate Heat Quickly
If a diamond is real, it will not be easily heated up.
Hold the diamond in front of your mouth and breathe on it in order to fog it.
If the fog doesn’t disappear right away, and there is residual moisture, then the stone is probably fake.
Real Diamonds Must Have Imperfections
No natural diamond is perfect.
If you take a look inside a real diamond, preferably using a jewelry loupe, you will see that even the clearest stone has some internal flaws.
Fake diamonds, on the other hand, don’t have inclusions. If a stone is too perfect and clear, it’s probably not a real diamond.
What About Diamond Testers?
Diamond testers are portable devices that test a material for its thermal or electrical conductivity and indicate whether the stone is a real diamond based on these physical properties.
You should know that the testers that only measure thermal conductivity cannot tell a real diamond from a moissanite because both stones are very similar when it comes to interaction with heat.
However, the devices that test for electrical conductivity do not have this drawback and are more accurate.
Nowadays, almost every jewelry store has a diamond tester, and you can have your diamond tested on the premises.
Alternatively, you can buy a diamond tester yourself if you think it would be worth it to have one.
The Best Proof of Authenticity: Diamond Certificate
None of the presented methods here is 100% accurate.
The surest way to know whether a diamond is real is to see its certificate. If possible, always ask if a diamond is certified and read the document.
The most trusted certification authority is the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America), and if the stone in question has a certificate issued by this organization, you can be certain that it’s real.
If you have any doubts about a diamond’s certificate or have other reasons not to be convinced of its authenticity, it’s always worth it to have the stone tested by a reputable jeweler.
Where to Buy Diamond Jewelry?
We recommend James Allen (read review) because you can see a 360-degree video for any diamond before buying it.
Blue Nile is another reputable diamond retailer we recommend.
