Getting married to the love of your life is an exciting occasion, and your heart can be racing as you purchase a ring for that special someone or receive one from your partner. However, ring shopping can sometimes be much more challenging than you expect, especially if you have concerns about the legitimacy of the diamonds set within them. Whether you’ve received a diamond ring that you’re questioning or want to be sure about a diamond’s quality before buying it, you can learn how to tell if your precious stone is real below.
Purchase from Legitimate Sellers
Before you spend upwards of $25,000 on a 4 carat oval diamond ring for the love of your life, take a moment to find out more about the company or individual you’re purchasing it from. Read reviews, request diamond reports, and listen to your gut if you feel a deal is too good to be true. Most reputable diamond sellers will be more than happy to provide you with all the necessary documentation, like GIA grading reports, to give you peace of mind that your diamond is real.
Fog It Up
It might seem strange, but one of the most effective ways to tell if your diamond is real or fake is by fogging it up with your breath. Place the diamond in front of your mouth and breathe onto it. If the fog clears within one to two seconds, it’s likely real. However, if it takes three or more seconds, it’s potentially a fake. Diamonds disperse heat almost immediately, which means they don’t fog up in the same way that fake diamonds might.
Use a Black Light
Black lights are helpful tools for detecting stains, combating pest control, and even performing crime scene investigations. However, you can also use them to make sure your diamond is real. Turn off the lights in your home and place your diamond under the UV light. Real diamonds often emit a blue glow, but some don’t glow at all. Your diamond might not be a gem if you notice any slight gray, yellow, or green coloring under the black light.
Test the Diamond’s Refractivity
With their multiple facets, natural diamonds refract light in various directions rather than in a straight line. However, fake diamonds tend to refract light in a single direction. You might find the answers you’re looking for by cleaning your diamond and placing it under bright light on a piece of paper that contains lettering, such as a newspaper. If you can still read the letters from the newspaper through the diamond, even if they’re blurry, there’s a high chance your diamond is a fake.
Use a Diamond Scale
If you have access to a diamond scale, consider using one to confirm the authenticity of your diamond. Fake diamonds will almost always weigh more than real ones of the same shape and carat. Cubic zirconia, which looks similar to diamonds, is a popular diamond imitation known to be much heavier.
The most effective way to know if your diamond is real or fake is by contacting expert jewelers. However, any of these testing methods above might put you on the path to confirming your suspicions.
