If you're in the market for jewelry, you're probably seeing a lot of diamonds at prices that are hard to believe. Of course, there's a good chance that some of them are fakes. There's nothing wrong with choosing an imitation stone as long as you know it's a fake, but no one should have to pay real diamond prices for them.
There are plenty of ways to create a fake diamond. Some imitations are even great gems on they're own, but they're not for someone who's got their heart set on a real diamond. Understanding the different kinds of look alikes will help you learn to spot them and pick out the real thing.
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 - a common diamond substitute, cubic zirconia are cheaper, look very similar, and are a lot heavier than the real thing.
Artificially Made Diamonds - These real diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural stones, but shouldn't be sold as natural diamonds, since they were made in a lab. They're a lot cheaper than good natural diamonds.
Faceted Crystal - These cut glass stones are beautiful, but they're lower in quality and nowhere near as durable as a real diamond. A "stone" that's really crystal could even shatter in your ring.
The four Cs - carat, cut, color and clarity - can guide you in determining whether something is a real diamond or not, and if it's real, whether it's a good one. Knowing more about diamonds will help you avoid being fooled by false gems or buying cheap ones at a too-high price.
Never work with a jeweler who has a bad reputation or one you don't trust. Always make sure your jeweler is knowledgeable about your diamond. Keep your eyes peeled for the standard 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.
Look at the stone to see if it's damaged, too. Diamonds should never be scratched, nicked, or scuffed - they're just too hard for this to happen. They should also reflect and sparkle in neutral tones, with rainbow sparkles indicating a fake.
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.
You shouldn't be afraid to take a close look at your diamond, either. Use a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe to see if the stone is well cut and if it has a faceted girdle around the middle. Some high end specialty stones are numbered on the girdle, as well.
Use the fog test on suspected fakes, too. Diamonds disperse heat rapidly, meaning that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it vanishes fast. Imitation stones remain fogged for a while. - 16083
There are plenty of ways to create a fake diamond. Some imitations are even great gems on they're own, but they're not for someone who's got their heart set on a real diamond. Understanding the different kinds of look alikes will help you learn to spot them and pick out the real thing.
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 - a common diamond substitute, cubic zirconia are cheaper, look very similar, and are a lot heavier than the real thing.
Artificially Made Diamonds - These real diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural stones, but shouldn't be sold as natural diamonds, since they were made in a lab. They're a lot cheaper than good natural diamonds.
Faceted Crystal - These cut glass stones are beautiful, but they're lower in quality and nowhere near as durable as a real diamond. A "stone" that's really crystal could even shatter in your ring.
The four Cs - carat, cut, color and clarity - can guide you in determining whether something is a real diamond or not, and if it's real, whether it's a good one. Knowing more about diamonds will help you avoid being fooled by false gems or buying cheap ones at a too-high price.
Never work with a jeweler who has a bad reputation or one you don't trust. Always make sure your jeweler is knowledgeable about your diamond. Keep your eyes peeled for the standard 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.
Look at the stone to see if it's damaged, too. Diamonds should never be scratched, nicked, or scuffed - they're just too hard for this to happen. They should also reflect and sparkle in neutral tones, with rainbow sparkles indicating a fake.
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.
You shouldn't be afraid to take a close look at your diamond, either. Use a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe to see if the stone is well cut and if it has a faceted girdle around the middle. Some high end specialty stones are numbered on the girdle, as well.
Use the fog test on suspected fakes, too. Diamonds disperse heat rapidly, meaning that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it vanishes fast. Imitation stones remain fogged for a while. - 16083
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Diamond jewellery is the ultimate gift. Diamond Tree has a great range of wedding rings available online for that special someone.
