how do I determine if my diamond is real without taking it to the store?

Answer 1

There are some less reliable methods you can try but there are no guarantees with these:

1. The old “If it will scratch glass it has to be a diamond.” Well, it is true that diamonds do scratch glass but so do a lot of the other fakes on the market. To boot, it’s possible to injure your rock even if it’s real during your hardness test.

2. The transparency test. If you flip the diamond in question upside down and place it over some newsprint and can clearly read through the stone, it’s not a diamond. (The problem with this test is some diamonds are cut shallow and can be read through.)

3. The fog test. This test I like a lot. Put the rock in front of your mouth and fog it like you would try to fog a mirror. If it stays fogged for 2-4 seconds, it’s a fake. A real diamond disperses the heat instantaneously so by the time you look at it, it has already cleared up. (A down fall to this test is oil and dirt on the stone can effect its reliability and the test is not accurate at all on doublets where the top of the stone is diamond and the bottom is cubic zirconia epoxied together.)

4. The weight test. The most popular of diamond simulants (fake) is a cubic zirconia. C.Z.’s weigh approximately 55% more than diamonds for the same shape and dimension. So if you have a carat or gram scale at your disposal you can see if the imposter tips the scales too much.

5. The U.V. test. A high percentage of diamonds fluorescence blue when put under an ultra violet light (black light). Since 99% of all fakes don’t, a positive identification of medium to strong blue would indicate a diamond. The bad news is if this method proves you have a diamond, it also proves your diamond is worth less. Diamonds with blue fluorescence are as much as 20% less valuable. Remember, lack of blue fluorescence doesn’t mean it’s a fake; it could just be a better quality diamond.

6. Under the loop test. If you own some sort of magnifying lens, there are some things you can look for on the stone that might give away its identity:

A. Look at the rock from the top and see how well the facets (cuts on top of the diamond) are joined. They should be sharp not rolled.

B. Look at the girdle and see if it is faceted or frosty (a clear sign it’s a diamond) or waxy and slick (an indication it’s a fake).

C. While you’re looking at your stone under magnification, look into your stone to see if you detect any flaws (carbon, pinpoints, small cracks). These are typically clear indications it’s the real thing since it’s very hard to put inclusions in a fake.

D. After examining the stone, focus in on the stamps inside the setting. A stamp of "10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, Plat" indicates the setting is real gold or platinum which gives a better chance that the stone in it is real as well. While you’re looking at the interior of the ring, also look for any "C.Z." stamps that would indicate the center stone is not a diamond.

Answer 2

There are a number of different ways to tell. The quickest and easier is the fog test: a real diamond will disperse the heat from your breath immediately, the setting: such as 10k, 14k or 18k stamps inside the setting, anything with a C.Z (cubic zirconia) usually indicates that the diamond is not real, a jewelers loupe and also if it has rainbow reflections if you look at it from the top. You can also take it to a jeweler and get it evaluated.

Answer 3

Well REAL diamonds are pretty strong right. So hit it witha hammer, if it breaks, its fake , if not its real. You might damage it a bit though. Another way:
Learn the profession of selling jewlery for a bit and then get a microscope or we and look at the diamond.

Answer 4

Get a piece of glass and see if you can cut it with the diamond. If you can then it's real. The diamond shouldn't be damaged.

Answer 5

I have always heard that you could cut glass with a real Diamond.

Answer 6

scrape it against a mirror if it leaves a mark then it's real, but you might ruin the diamond, just get it appraised no one need to know

Answer 7

You do not have to pay for an appraisal. Take it into a jeweler and tell them you found it, ask them if it is real, they won't tell you how much it is worth though.

Answer 8

If it will etch glass, or metal, it is likely to be either diamond or cubic zirconia, but that crude test cannot distinguish between those two.

Answer 9

See if it will cut glass. If its real it will make a scratch.

Answer 10

Slide it across a mirror.If it cuts it, it is real