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 rare material closely resembles a diamond, but its physical and chemical properties aren't the same. This diamond fake doesn't happen very often, because the material is relatively hard to find and can cost a lot - even more than some natural diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystals - Cut glass is sparkly and attractive, but lower in quality and much more fragile than the real thing. These crystal stones could crack or shatter in a 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.
Check the stone for damage, as well. Diamonds shouldn't be scuffed, nicked or scratch, since they resist damage. They sparkle and reflect in neutral tones, while many fakes have a rainbow sheen.
Check out transparency, and look at loose diamonds upside down on a printed piece of paper. If it's a real diamond, it'll disperse too much light for the text to be readable.
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. - 16463
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 rare material closely resembles a diamond, but its physical and chemical properties aren't the same. This diamond fake doesn't happen very often, because the material is relatively hard to find and can cost a lot - even more than some natural diamonds.
Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.
Man Made Diamond - These are real diamonds, and are identical to natural ones both chemically and physically, but they were never in the ground and didn't form under the same unique conditions. Artificial diamonds are often much cheaper than natural ones.
Faceted Crystals - Cut glass is sparkly and attractive, but lower in quality and much more fragile than the real thing. These crystal stones could crack or shatter in a 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.
Check the stone for damage, as well. Diamonds shouldn't be scuffed, nicked or scratch, since they resist damage. They sparkle and reflect in neutral tones, while many fakes have a rainbow sheen.
Check out transparency, and look at loose diamonds upside down on a printed piece of paper. If it's a real diamond, it'll disperse too much light for the text to be readable.
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. - 16463
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