There are many methods to tell if a diamond is real or fake, but most of them are not 100% reliable.
Numerous methods exist to differentiate between real and fake diamonds, but few can guarantee 100% accuracy. A diamond tester, however, is one of the quickest and most reliable ways to verify the authenticity of a diamond. To ensure accurate results, it's important to understand how these devices work and what factors to consider.
A diamond tester is a portable device that assesses the thermal and electrical conductivity of a material to determine if it's a real diamond. Depending on the model, it may utilize either thermal or electrical conductivity measurements or a combination of both. Devices that use thermal conductivity measure how heat travels through the stone, while those that use electrical conductivity measure the flow of electricity through the gem.
The underlying principle behind diamond testers is that each gemstone has a unique chemical structure, and as such, conducts heat and electricity differently. Therefore, a real diamond will exhibit different thermal and electrical conductivity properties compared to a fake diamond, such as cubic zirconia. To use a diamond tester, one simply needs to place the tip of the device on the surface of the stone and observe the rate at which heat or electricity flows through it. If the diamond is authentic, the device will indicate this on its display and produce a sound signal.
IS LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS PASS A DIAMOND TESTER ?
Diamond testers are commonly used to differentiate authentic diamonds from imitations. Lab-grown diamonds, which have the same crystal structure, chemical composition, and physical properties as natural diamonds, will also produce positive results when tested with any diamond tester. However, it's important to note that a diamond tester cannot determine if a diamond is natural or lab-grown. Other methods, such as examining colour zoning, strain patterns, inclusions, and fluorescence, are necessary to distinguish between the two. Although lab-grown diamonds pass a diamond tester, unique features resulting from the diamond growing process can help distinguish them from natural diamonds and even identify the method used to create them.
Testing A Real Diamond Vs. Moissanite
Because of the increasing presence of synthetic Moissanite on the market, it’s important to use the tools of a jeweler to test for genuine. These tools can determine almost immediately if a diamond is real or fake.
How to Recognize Synthetic Diamonds
With an increasing prevalence of synthetic diamonds, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between lab-created diamonds and natural diamonds. Synthetic diamonds have similar chemical and molecular components to real, natural diamonds.
Because of their intricate internal qualities, we recommend having the diamond reviewed by an expert. They can run the conductivity test and look at the stone under high magnification. Even when it’s unclear to the naked eye how a synthetic diamond differs from a natural diamond, it is crucial for resale and insurance values.
How to Recognize Cubic Zirconia
A cubic zirconia is one of the easier fake diamonds to test for authenticity. By using the sparkle test, for example, it’s relatively easy to gauge the amount of sparkle and fire a stone is giving off.
In addition, cubic zirconias reflect orange-tinted light. They also weigh more than a real diamond and generally don’t have imperfections or inclusions. Real diamonds will have inclusions that can be seen by the naked eye or under a diamond expert’s microscope.
How to Recognize White Sapphire
Sapphires are commonly available in blue and a wide range of colors including white, which looks clear to the naked eye. White sapphires are often posed as diamonds but don’t offer the diamond’s signature sparkle and contrast of dark and light areas.
If the stone seems more blurred in coloring—meaning it doesn’t have distinct light and dark parts—it is likely to be a white sapphire.
How to Recognize Moissanite
Perhaps the best actor in the fake diamond world is the synthetic moissanite. The distinction between the two is usually difficult for the naked eye and requires the expertise of a diamond professional.
An electricity conductivity test will indicate if the gemstone is a moissanite or a true diamond. Note that the thermal conductivity test is not a valid technique for recognizing moissanite because they have nearly identical thermal conductivity as diamonds.
How to Recognize White Topaz
While a white topaz may look like a diamond at first glance, several characteristics separate it from a real diamond.
The exterior is softer than a diamond and is easily scratched by other materials. You can also look closely at a white topaz using magnification to see if there are any scratches on the surface. Diamonds will not have scratches because of their durable composition.