How to Identify a Real Diamond
Those who enjoy shopping for vintage jewelry in unconventional places know that there are valuable treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you're looking at antique shops,
thrift
stores
, consignment shops or even yard sales, it's always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you better determine if that flashy stone or meek, dirty gem is really a diamond.
Things You'll Need:
Sandpaper
Newspaper
Diamond tester
Step
1
Observe the mounting. Real diamonds will be set in precious metals, and most likely in an open setting. Though not a guarantee of a fake, if the setting has a closed back, then more than likely the gem is not a diamond.
Step
2
Breathe on the stone. Diamonds are excellent conductors of heat, so you should not be able to observe any condensation on the stone if it is a real diamond.
Step
3
Rub sandpaper across the surface. A diamond will not scratch or nick from this procedure, but a fake might. If you're buying directly from an individual and they refuse to let you do this, then you can be confident that it is probably not real.
Step
4
Be skeptical of scratched glass. Though this is a popular technique, keep in mind that glass is only rated 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While a diamond is rated a 10 on the Mohs scale, anything higher than a 5.5 will still scratch glass. Quartz rates at 7.5 and cubic zirconium rates in at 8.5, so this test won't work at all.
Step
5
Place the diamond on a piece of newspaper over the text. If you can see the letter at all, whether clearly or as a hazy likeness, your gem is not a diamond. A diamond's brilliance, even a poor specimen, refracts light so dramatically that you won't be able to see anything through the stone.
Step
6
Use a diamond tester. These handy gadgets will run about $100, but if you're regularly on the hunt for diamonds it may be a good investment.
Step
7
Look for flaws. Diamonds are not perfect, and even the best specimens will have tiny flaws. If the stone is perfectly clear then be skeptical of it being a diamond.
Tips & Warnings
Some auction houses and antique dealers will offer free appraisals.
Nothing is a sure fire identification except an evaluation by a certified gemologist.
Though any jeweler will be able to identify a stone as a diamond, they may not be able to tell you the true value of a piece of jewelry beyond the materials used. If you have an antique piece, take it to an antique dealer to learn its true value.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2159782_identify-real-diamond.html
Those who enjoy shopping for vintage jewelry in unconventional places know that there are valuable treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you're looking at antique shops,
thrift
stores
, consignment shops or even yard sales, it's always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you better determine if that flashy stone or meek, dirty gem is really a diamond.
Things You'll Need:
Sandpaper
Newspaper
Diamond tester
Step
1
Observe the mounting. Real diamonds will be set in precious metals, and most likely in an open setting. Though not a guarantee of a fake, if the setting has a closed back, then more than likely the gem is not a diamond.
Step
2
Breathe on the stone. Diamonds are excellent conductors of heat, so you should not be able to observe any condensation on the stone if it is a real diamond.
Step
3
Rub sandpaper across the surface. A diamond will not scratch or nick from this procedure, but a fake might. If you're buying directly from an individual and they refuse to let you do this, then you can be confident that it is probably not real.
Step
4
Be skeptical of scratched glass. Though this is a popular technique, keep in mind that glass is only rated 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While a diamond is rated a 10 on the Mohs scale, anything higher than a 5.5 will still scratch glass. Quartz rates at 7.5 and cubic zirconium rates in at 8.5, so this test won't work at all.
Step
5
Place the diamond on a piece of newspaper over the text. If you can see the letter at all, whether clearly or as a hazy likeness, your gem is not a diamond. A diamond's brilliance, even a poor specimen, refracts light so dramatically that you won't be able to see anything through the stone.
Step
6
Use a diamond tester. These handy gadgets will run about $100, but if you're regularly on the hunt for diamonds it may be a good investment.
Step
7
Look for flaws. Diamonds are not perfect, and even the best specimens will have tiny flaws. If the stone is perfectly clear then be skeptical of it being a diamond.
Tips & Warnings
Some auction houses and antique dealers will offer free appraisals.
Nothing is a sure fire identification except an evaluation by a certified gemologist.
Though any jeweler will be able to identify a stone as a diamond, they may not be able to tell you the true value of a piece of jewelry beyond the materials used. If you have an antique piece, take it to an antique dealer to learn its true value.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2159782_identify-real-diamond.html
