HOW TO RECOGNIZE A DIAMOND?

In the world of jewelry, the diamond is the most standardized stone. Indeed, several variables are taken into account in the evaluation of its value and its rarity such as its color, its size, its purity and its weight which will determine in the end, the price of the stone and consequently, of the jewel. This coveted and appreciated stone is often imitated. Therefore, there are methods to recognize a real diamond from a fake, which will vary if the diamond is mounted on a jewel or if it is alone.

Recognize a diamond mounted on a jewel

Recognizing a diamond mounted on a jewel is not an easy task. Indeed, it is complicated to check its refraction because the light does not pass through it as well as when it is alone. However, whether it is mounted on a ring, a necklace, a bracelet or earrings, there are several appropriate techniques for recognizing it.

First of all, before any handling, make sure that your diamond is well cleaned and does not contain the presence of any dust or fingerprints.

Fog

Fogging is an effective way to recognize a fake diamond from a real one. Indeed, on a diamond, the mist dissipates quickly or even immediately, while on another stone, it will remain a little longer.

The light

The diamond has a quality specific to itself: the reflection of light. Indeed, in the sun, a diamond strongly reflects white light because the diamond reflects light. However, if this stone does not shine in the sun or in front of a light source, this does not necessarily mean that it is not a diamond, because it can be a diamond of a lower quality but it is obvious that questions could arise with regard to it.

Use a magnifying glass

The magnifying glass makes it possible to distinguish details not visible to the naked eye. For the majority of stones, it is advisable to look at the characteristics of the latter with a magnifying glass in order to verify several elements and characteristics of the stones. If your stone has scratches, scuffs or abrasions, then it is not a diamond because it does not scratch.

Recognize a single diamond

An unset diamond is easier to recognize. Indeed, there are more detailed techniques to determine the nature of your stone.

Use a glass of water

Fill a glass with water to put your stone in. If your stone floats, it is not a diamond.

Check with magnifying glass

As with a diamond set on jewelry, check with a magnifying glass if your stone contains imperfections, flaws or scratches. If it contains any, then your stone is not a diamond. Also, check the edges of your stone. If it has rounded or sharp edges and no longer sharp like its original features, then it is probably a rhinestone or some other stone. Indeed, the diamond has sharp, smooth and scratch-free edges.

Testing Your Diamond's Hardness by Scratching Glass

Diamonds are the hardest stones. Thus, this stone is able to scratch other materials such as glass. Therefore, take glass, scratch it with your diamond. If the glass scratches, then it is a diamond, otherwise it will be another stone. Furthermore, diamond is an important gemstone. From then on, it will weigh heavier than other gemstones.

Mirror test: check that you cannot see through the diamond 

The diamond is not transparency. Indeed, it has a high refractive index which allows it to reflect light on all its facets, which then contributes to its brilliance. If you stone is not set, you can try the experiment with a mirror or a sheet and a pencil. To do this, take a pencil, draw a line and place the stone on top. If you can see your liner through it, then it's not a diamond...

Seek advice from a certified jeweler or diamond dealer

You can then check the authenticity of your diamond at home but if you wish with the advice of experts in order to avoid errors, we advise you to go directly to a certified jeweler or a diamond expert who will put his skills and its experience at the service of your request. Therefore, with a microscope or a magnifying glass, in a laboratory or not, he will be able to attest to the specific characteristics of your stone.

Indeed, being one of the most coveted gemstones, many scams exist in the diamond market. It is therefore necessary to watch out for fraud.

For this, pay particular attention to the color of your diamond. Indeed, when the stone has brownish colors or dirt colors, the sellers come to color the cylinder head or the lacquers in blue to give the stone a diamond appearance. Then, some will play on the purity of the diamond by using lasers to remove impurities or drill holes that can be found in the stone in order to increase the index of refraction of the stone to make it shine and give it an appearance of natural diamond.

Buy a diamond from a certified diamond dealer

If you wish to avoid these doubts and questions, we advise you to buy a diamond from a certified diamond dealer who will provide you with the certificate of authenticity of your stone, including all the technical characteristics of the latter (weight, colors, purity, as well as its size), its origin, its laboratory, etc.

This certificate is unique and universal. It is the "identity card" of your precious stone worked in the laboratory.

Synthetic diamonds

In recent years, the synthetic diamond has evolved a lot. Called synthetic diamond or "cultured" diamond, this stone has the same characteristics as natural diamonds, with the only difference that they are produced in the laboratory and that natural diamonds are extracted from mines and are therefore, therefore, a product of nature. In other words, the only difference between the natural diamond and the synthetic diamond lies in its place of birth but they do not have differences in their technical characteristics.

The production of natural diamonds is concentrated in six countries around the world. This natural and exhaustible resource sees its price increase each year by extraction methods that have become much more respectful of people and the environment. So, as the demand keeps increasing, the price of natural diamonds also increases.

Synthetic diamonds are considered to be real diamonds that challenge the natural diamond. Indeed, less expensive and inexhaustible, these diamonds are the fruit of human labour. Produced in laboratories, the characteristics of these diamonds are similar to natural ones and cannot be differentiated with the naked eye. Indeed, its chemical composition, its crystalline structure as well as its optical properties are identical to natural diamonds. Therefore, it is complicated to differentiate between them but you can always do the fog test on your stone because in normal times, fog disappears less quickly on a synthetic stone than on a natural stone.

Natural and synthetic diamonds should not be confused just as synthetic diamonds should not be confused with fake diamonds. Indeed, natural and synthetic diamonds have the same composition and the same technical characteristics, while fake diamonds have a totally different composition from synthetic diamonds. Indeed, to imitate the diamond, fraudsters use all kinds of materials such as glass, zircon, cubic zirconium oxide or even moissanite, a new imitation of the diamond introduced on the market since 1999.

Maison Bäumer does not use synthetic diamonds and sets all of its jewelry with natural diamonds from ethical and responsible production. If you want to make a piece of jewelry (ring, earrings, necklace, or bracelet) made to measure, at Bäumer Vendôme, you can then choose your stones, especially for your engagement ring.