How to Test Fake Diamonds

Purchasing a diamond can be a very rewarding, if terrifying, experience. The diamonds found in cuff links, engagement rings and pendants come in a variety of sizes and can all be quite expensive. It can be difficult to distinguish a real diamond from a fake, which can be a potentially costly error in judgment. But there are several ways to distinguish an artificial diamond from the real thing.

Instructions

1

Look at the reflection of light in the diamond. A real diamond will typically show different shades of gray in the light. A fake or low quality diamond will reflect a rainbow of colors.

2

Raise the stone to your mouth and blow on it for one to two seconds. Quickly observe the diamond. If it remains foggy for several seconds afterward, it is a fake. A real diamond will clear immediately.

3

Place the diamond upside down, so that the pointed end is facing the ceiling and hold it directly over a newspaper. If you can read the print or make out the black coloring, the stone is most likely an artificial diamond.

4

View the diamond from the side. A real diamond will sparkle and shine from every angle. If the diamond is shiny at the top, but dull around the sides, it is most likely a fake.

5

Look at the price of the stone. Cubic Zirconium, or CZ, costs a fraction of the price of a real diamond. If the price of the stone or setting is unusually low, there is a good chance it is a fake stone. A cubic zirconium may also bear the stamp "CZ", which is another indication the stone is not a real diamond.