There is a high demand of diamonds in the US. According to statistics, US accounts for 50% of the worldwide demand for diamonds, followed by China only at 12.2%. This means that there is also an incentive to produce fake diamonds being marketed as real ones. For this article, we will discuss, Characteristics of real, and how to spot a fake diamond.
Real Diamonds
Diamonds are gemstones that is composed of 100% carbon and made under extreme pressure and temperature conditions. Diamonds have a hardness rating of 10 in the Mohs scale, making it the hardest gemstone in the world There are 2 kinds of real diamonds circulating in the market.
- Mined Diamonds – These gems are made in the earth’s mantle under extreme pressure and temperature and has been formed billion of years ago. Mined diamonds are expensive because they are located in the deepest mines and extracting diamonds are costly.
- Lab-Grown Diamonds – Lab-grown diamonds are considered real because they also contain 100% pure carbon. They are identical to natural diamonds when it comes to physical properties as well. A machine lets the diamond seed grow into its mature state. Technological improvements make it possible to create real diamonds.
Fake Diamonds
“Fake” diamonds are gemstones with a different chemical composition. These gemstones are usually softer and more prone to scratches because of its chemical composition. Fake diamonds lose their brilliance after sometime due to scratches.
Here are some examples of more common “Fake “Diamonds or Diamonds Substitutes:
- Cubic Zirconian
- Zircon
- White Sapphire
- Moissanite
- Glass
How to spot a fake diamond
You can verify if the diamonds you own or you bought are real. Try these simple tests in the comforts of your home.
- Water Test. Fill a regular-sized drinking glass with a 3/4 full of water. Drop the loose diamond into the water, carefully. Diamonds are known to have high density. Real ones would sink to the bottom of the glass
- Fog Test. Breathe on to your diamond to fog it up. A real diamond conducts and dissipates heat easily. The fog will almost be gone right away if your diamond is real.
- Magnifying test. There are certain things to look for under a magnifying glass. First, check your diamonds for any sign of impurities. If it is flawless, it might be a fake. Real diamonds have bits of impurities inside, known as inclusions. Note that flawless diamonds are quite rare, expensive, and are usually certified.
- Diamond Setting. Check the setting of your jewelry as this usually gives you an indication if your diamond is real. Precious stones are usually set in gold, white gold, and platinum. Check for markings. Markings like “10k”, “14k”, “585”, “750” indicate gold setting, while “PLAT”, “PT” “900” and “950” indicate the setting is platinum and “925” indicates Silver setting. Note, however, that modern rings and jewelries use gold and silver to set semi-precious stones.
- The Newspaper test. This is only applicable for loose diamonds. Get a newspaper and place the pavilion (the top part) face down. If the text is clear, then it might be an indication that your diamond is fake. Real diamonds will give a blurry text.
Avoid Fake Diamonds
We at Clark Pawners ensure that all diamonds we sell are real. We ensure to you maximize the value of your investment whether you are buying, selling or pawning your diamond. Check the services we offer and contact us now to know more!
