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Buying Diamonds? Tips to spot a Fake

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7 Simple Ways to Spot Fake Diamonds and Keep Away from Them

Have you ever become a culprit of fake diamonds sold to you at the price of real diamonds?  That must have felt awful! You must be wondering how to tell if the diamond stone you are ordering for your engagement or wedding is the real one or fake. 

Today, there are many ways to tell the fake from the real one but it will take some real wisdom. In the first place, before even thinking of checking the genuineness of the product, quit shopping in the backstreet stone shops. They have nothing genuine to offer! “Shop only in the certified shops or speak to diamond trusted vendors says diamond expert, Michael Fried. These will give you confidence in the genuineness of the stone and you know where to return it if it’s not the genuine one.”

So how do you test your stone for genuineness?

  • Try the scratch test – The scratch test is the easiest way to spot fake diamonds. You only need to scratch the loose diamond against a mirror to test its hardness. Genuine diamonds will scratch a mirror because they are harder than a mirror.  Although this is an easy test and can detect many fake diamonds, the synthetic diamonds will seem very authentic if you only use this test.
  • Use a loupe – A loupe is a jeweler’s magnifying glass. It can tell whether the stone is real or fake. If you have a loupe at home, you can do the test yourself but if you don’t have it, then you can visit the local jeweler who is trusted and has good reviews from his/her customers. All diamonds have their specific inclusions, even the ideal cuts. Most fakes are created with a totally flawless look and will look very different when observed under the loupe.
  • The fog test – Creating a fog around your diamond by blowing on it can tell you if it’s real or fake. A real diamond does not retain heat well, no matter how much you blow. A fake always gets fog then fades away just like a mirror.
  • UV light test – This test may not be as reliable as the rest of them but it can also help. Jewelry stores have high-powered UV lights that test the genuineness and demonstrate the fluorescence. Do not rely on your own light at home.
  • The transparency test – A real diamond is known to refract light so intensely that you cannot see through it. Grab a newspaper page and place the diamond on top of it. If it is genuine, it should sparkle enough that you cannot see through it to read the words on the page. If otherwise, then know you have been duped.
  • Heat it up – This test is the determining factor of all diamonds. If you are not afraid of losing your fake diamond then try it out. Heating a genuine diamond does not cause any breakage; instead, it remains strong. The fake ones will break and shatter when you heat them.

 

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