When you're buying jewelry, you'll see a lot of diamonds at incredible prices. However, there's a good chance that some of them aren't the real thing. While there's nothing wrong with a fake diamond (some couples prefer them), you shouldn't pay real diamond prices for one!
There are lots of different ways to fake a diamond. Many of them are beautiful gems in their own right, but if you want a diamond, don't be taken in by them. If you understand the different types of diamond look alikes, you'll learn how to spot them and when you're looking at the real deal.
Moissanite - This is a very rare mineral that looks like a diamond, but it's chemically and physically quite different. This diamond fake isn't as common as some of the others, as its rarity means that moissanite sold as itself can cost more than natural diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystals - Cut glass is sparkly and attractive, but lower in quality and much more fragile than the real thing. These crystal stones could crack or shatter in a ring.
The four characteristics that help guide you in finding out whether a diamond is real and what quality it is are called the four Cs. These are cut, color, carat and clarity, and learning about them will help you keep from being fooled by unscrupulous jewelers.
Work with jewelers you trust, and who have a good reputation. Make sure that they can answer detailed, educated questions about your diamond, and keep an eye out for the major scams.
When you're deciding if a diamond is the real deal, have a look at its setting. These extremely expensive gems won't be in a setting with insecure or inferior placement or a crude setting. If the setting doesn't look good, the diamond almost certainly isn't real.
While you're looking, see if there's damage on the stone. A diamond is a hard gem that doesn't scratch or scuff easily. It reflects light in gray or neutral tones - rainbow sparkles are for fakes.
Ask yourself how transparent the stone is, too. If you can turn a loose diamond upside down on a piece of paper with words on it, you should not be able to read the text. Real diamonds disperse light too much for this to happen.
Don't be afraid to look at your diamond closely, through a jeweler's loupe or magnifying glass. Real stones are well defined and cut, with fake stones often being asymmetrical or otherwise badly made. The thin girdles of real diamonds are faceted, too, with some designed types bearing numbers in this area to identify them.
The fog test is another option. Because of their unique properties, diamonds rapidly disperse heat. That means that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it will vanish quickly, while imitation stones will remain fogged for a number of seconds. - 15995
There are lots of different ways to fake a diamond. Many of them are beautiful gems in their own right, but if you want a diamond, don't be taken in by them. If you understand the different types of diamond look alikes, you'll learn how to spot them and when you're looking at the real deal.
Moissanite - This is a very rare mineral that looks like a diamond, but it's chemically and physically quite different. This diamond fake isn't as common as some of the others, as its rarity means that moissanite sold as itself can cost more than natural diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystals - Cut glass is sparkly and attractive, but lower in quality and much more fragile than the real thing. These crystal stones could crack or shatter in a ring.
The four characteristics that help guide you in finding out whether a diamond is real and what quality it is are called the four Cs. These are cut, color, carat and clarity, and learning about them will help you keep from being fooled by unscrupulous jewelers.
Work with jewelers you trust, and who have a good reputation. Make sure that they can answer detailed, educated questions about your diamond, and keep an eye out for the major scams.
When you're deciding if a diamond is the real deal, have a look at its setting. These extremely expensive gems won't be in a setting with insecure or inferior placement or a crude setting. If the setting doesn't look good, the diamond almost certainly isn't real.
While you're looking, see if there's damage on the stone. A diamond is a hard gem that doesn't scratch or scuff easily. It reflects light in gray or neutral tones - rainbow sparkles are for fakes.
Ask yourself how transparent the stone is, too. If you can turn a loose diamond upside down on a piece of paper with words on it, you should not be able to read the text. Real diamonds disperse light too much for this to happen.
Don't be afraid to look at your diamond closely, through a jeweler's loupe or magnifying glass. Real stones are well defined and cut, with fake stones often being asymmetrical or otherwise badly made. The thin girdles of real diamonds are faceted, too, with some designed types bearing numbers in this area to identify them.
The fog test is another option. Because of their unique properties, diamonds rapidly disperse heat. That means that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it will vanish quickly, while imitation stones will remain fogged for a number of seconds. - 15995
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