Have you ever wondered, "is this diamond actuallyreal?". You are not the only one! In today's market, synthetic diamonds such as cubic zirconia and moissanite make very convincing fakes. These synthetics are so real-looking, you and those around you may never realize that the diamond is actually fake. So, we're giving you a few at-home tests to determine whether your diamond is the real deal or not.
1. Does it Reflect Both Color and Light?
We all love how a diamond shines in the sunlight. Test your stone by putting it in direct sunlight and examining the colors it reflects. A real diamond will reflect both rainbow colors as well as white light. If you only get one of the two, then the diamond isn't real.
2. Is it Blinding You with Rainbow Flashes?
Most synthetic diamonds look too good to be true all due to their extreme brilliance. Does your stone look really bright with lots of rainbow reflected colors? If so, it's most likely cubic zirconia. Yes, real diamonds are brilliant, but they are much more subtle than synthetics.
3. Does it Fog Up?
The easiest at-home test is to breathe on your stone. If your stone fogs up quite a bit and takes time for the condensation to evaporate, then it is most likely fake. Real diamonds do fog up, but only a little and the condensation evaporates quickly.
4 . Does it Get Scratched?
It's important to remember that diamonds are the hardest stone on the Mohs Hardness Scale, making it nearly impossible to scratch them unless done so by another diamond. If you're willing to risk it, take a knife and gently scratch the surface of your stone. If it scratches immediately, the stone is synthetic. If there's no scratch, then you have a real diamond!
5. Does it Shatter in Extreme Temperatures?
Again, if you're willing to risk it, perform a simple hot/cold test to determine if your stone is real or fake. Hold your stone over a flame and then drop it into a cold glass of water. If your stone shatters, it's synthetic. A real diamond will not get damaged by extreme temperatures.
6. Does it Float?
Here's a less risky option for you! Drop your stone into a glass of water. If it floats, even just a tiny bit, it is synthetic. Real diamonds always sink.
7. Does it Pass the Tool Test?
The most accurate way to determine whether your diamond is real or fake at home is with a diamond selector tool, which you can purchase on Amazon. This little device touches the stone and immediately determines whether it is real or synthetic.
8. Has it been Deemed Real by a Jeweler?
It can take very expensive equipment and years of expertise to determine whether a stone is real or fake. So, the most foolproof option is to bring the stone to a trusted jeweler. They will have the necessary tools, magnifying equipment, experience, and education to give you the correct information.
If you're wondering whether your diamond is real or fake, bring it into any of our three locations in the Triad! We would love to assess your stone and give you the answer you've been searching for.
FAQs
The thermal conductivity test is a quick way to tell if a diamond is real. A thermal conductivity test measures the heat conductivity of a diamond and can quickly determine whether it's genuine. One method involves placing two or three drops of water on your diamond. If it sinks into the stone, it's likely not real.
How to tell if a diamond is real with a flashlight in a ring? ›
A real diamond will reflect light easily, and provide you with a disco ball or rainbow-like display. You can use a flashlight or lamp to do this and it will work best with white light rather than yellow. If the stone absorbs the light, then there's a chance that it's a fake.
How can you tell if a diamond is real with a mirror? ›
Glass is rated a 5.5, and diamonds, the hardest mineral, are a 10. So, genuine diamonds will scratch a mirror. On the other hand, so will quartz (7), moissanite (9.25), and cubic zirconia (8). Moissanite and cubic zirconia engagement rings are almost as hard as their diamond counterparts.
Does the fog test work on diamonds? ›
The easiest at-home test is to breathe on your stone. If your stone fogs up quite a bit and takes time for the condensation to evaporate, then it is most likely fake. Real diamonds do fog up, but only a little and the condensation evaporates quickly.
How can you tell a diamond from a cubic zirconia? ›
If the stone doesn't have any inclusions or blemishes, it's likely cubic zirconia. It's extremely rare for diamonds to be completely flawless, so the too-good-to-be-true test is always a good idea. If your stone has any scratches, it's cubic zirconia.
Is there an app to tell if a diamond is real? ›
DiamondEye provides you a way to recognize your diamond.
How can you tell if a diamond bracelet is real by your eyes? ›
Pay attention to how the diamond sparkles. If you observe mostly white or gray sparkle and hints of other colors, your diamond is real. However, if all you can see are bright colored rainbow-like hues, the diamonds on your bracelet are more likely to be fake.
Do fake diamonds sparkle in the light? ›
Synthetic or fake stones, sparkle less than real, or mined diamonds. With light reflection, look for shades of gray. Synthetic stones, such as cubic zirconia, sparkle with more iridescent colors. Natural diamonds reflect light in more grayish hues.
Can you tell if a diamond is real with a magnifying glass? ›
Magnifying Glass or Loupe
If you find them, that's a good sign — natural diamonds may have flecks of minerals, color changes, and imperfections in general. If you don't find any imperfections, you either have a fake gem, a lab-grown diamond, or a rare flawless natural diamond.
How to test a raw diamond at home? ›
Place a suspected diamond on the surface of the water and, if it floats or doesn't adhere to the surface, it might be a rough diamond. Diamond testers are handheld devices that measure a gem's thermal conductivity. Real diamonds disperse heat rapidly, while most other gemstones do not.
To perform this test, one would use a lighter to heat the diamond for approximately 30 to 45 seconds and then immediately drop it into a glass of ice water. The rapid change in temperature can cause a fake diamond to shatter.
How to tell if earrings are real diamonds? ›
A fog test is one of the simplest ways to determine whether a diamond ring or pair of earrings is real. Create some fog by breathing on the diamond. Then, watch the stone to see how long it stays fogged. A diamond won't appear foggy as long as an imitation gem because condensation cannot stick to the surface.
How to check real diamonds at home? ›
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
How do you test a diamond with a lighter? ›
Heat the stone with a lighter for approximately 40 seconds, then drop the stone directly into the cold water. If the stone shatters, it is made of weaker components and is not a real diamond. A true diamond will show no reaction. The heat test tests the quality and strength of the stone.
What is the gravity test for diamonds? ›
Diamonds have a density of 3.5 - 3.53 g/cm3, which you can test by dividing the weight of the stone by the weight of the stone suspended in water. Or, take your gem into a professional. A jeweler will know for certain whether or not your gem is a diamond!
How can you tell if a raw diamond is real at home? ›
To test this, grab a drinking glass and fill it with cold water. Use a set of plyers or fireproof gloves to hold the stone. Heat the stone with a lighter for approximately 40 seconds, then drop the stone directly into the cold water. If the stone shatters, it is made of weaker components and is not a real diamond.
How can you tell if a diamond is real with sunlight? ›
We all love how a diamond shines in the sunlight. Test your stone by putting it in direct sunlight and examining the colors it reflects. A real diamond will reflect both rainbow colors as well as white light. If you only get one of the two, then the diamond isn't real.
How to tell if a gem is real or glass? ›
Look at the Stone's Sparkle. When interacting with light, glass typically refracts and disperses the same into several colors on the rainbow spectrum. As such, if you notice your gem sparkle in different colors besides its shade, then it probably is a glass fake.
