How do you know if its a real diamond or not?

Did you know that there a variety of different ways in which you can check if a diamond is real or a fake? There are tests that you can even carry out from the comfort of your own home! Wondering how that is possible? Take a look at some of the ways you can do just that by reading our guide below.

Using water

Keep in mind that it will not be possible to do this with all types of diamonds, only those that have a loose stone.

Providing that this is the case, simply drop the diamond (very gently, you don’t want to damage it) into a glass filled with 3/4 water.

You will be able to tell from this water test if the diamond is real or not, as diamonds have high density, meaning that when you drop the diamond it should sink straight to the bottom, whereas a fake one will simply float near the top.

Fog testing

Another way you can verify if a diamond is real or not is by misting up the diamond with a little air. At the same time, you should ensure you are holding it very carefully between two fingers or better still, tweezers.

By doing this fog test, you can see if the diamond will dissipate the fog. If it’s real, it will do so immediately as diamonds are great at dispersing heat quickly. Meanwhile, a fake diamond takes a number of seconds to achieve the same result.

 

Testing through heat

As previously mentioned, real diamonds are great at dealing with heat, being excellent heat conductors. Consequently, another test you could do is heat the stone for approximately 40 seconds, whilst holding it extremely carefully with tweezers (and have a glass of cold water on standby too).

Once heated, gently place the stone into the glass of cold water. If it is real, then the diamond will not be impacted in any way. The case will be quite different if it’s a fake one – it will shatter due to the drastic change in temperature.

 

Get an expert to look at it

Of course, the easiest way to verify a diamond is real by calling in the expertise of a jewellery professional. A gemologist can easily identify this by checking the refractivity of light in the gem. If the diamond is real, the light will bounce directly off of the pavilions found at the diamond base, and then refracted upwards through the crown.

A professional can also use equipment, such as a loupe magnifying glass or microscope, to check for imperfections or blemishes that can help to identify it as a diamond.

 

GIA certified diamonds

To ensure a diamond is real when you are purchasing it, the safest bet is to pick a diamond is GIA certified. A GIA diamond has been certified to the toughest grading standards worldwide, meaning you can rest assured that the cut, clarity, colour, and carat of the diamond you want to buy is what it says it is.

GIA diamonds are inscribed with a GIA number (through a microscope) to provide proof they are certified, as well as corresponding documents that are given to you as well by a jeweller.