Jewelry with a treasured stone is usually given as a gift for an engagement, a wedding, for the birth of a long-awaited child, or when a man wants to make an indelible impression on his chosen one, declaring his status and wealth. Women also do not mind adding diamonds to their jewelry collection to demonstrate their own wealth results. Today, few people buy jewelry outside of retail chains and jewelry stores. People understand the importance of having a certificate listing the characteristics of the inlaid stone and the sample of the precious metal. But if the diamond comes to the owner as an inheritance or as a gift, or you dared to buy jewelry in an antique shop or from a private seller, then you should arm yourself with knowledge of how to determine the authenticity of a diamond without the services of a gemological laboratory. How many women's tears were shed when it turned out that the diamond presented or received from the grandmother turned out to be, if not cubic zirconia, then a sample with a deliberately lower value. What types of synthetic diamonds are there and what can give away a lab-grown gem?
Laboratory-created diamonds, unlike cubic zirconia and other analogs that imitate diamonds in jewelry, are not a decorative element. They are completely identical to natural stones, with the same crystal lattice structure, but are grown in an artificial environment, and are not formed under the pressure of earth layers.
The international classifier distinguishes two basic types of such stones:
- HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature) - these are faceted diamonds grown under pressure and under the influence of high temperature;
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) - considered more perfect, therefore more expensive. They are based on diamonds synthesized by deposition from the gas phase at low pressure.
Synthetic diamonds are much cheaper than natural stones, but high-quality samples still remain expensive. At the same time, only a specialist in a gemological laboratory, armed with a microscope, can determine the origin. Even an experienced appraiser or jeweler will not be able to tell the difference between a synthetic and a natural diamond by eye. The only clue is the complete absence of inclusions. But even a tester will not always be able to detect a synthetic diamond.
Methods of checking authenticity
How can you detect a fake if unscrupulous jewelers and sellers are also improving their skills in making fakes? There are folk methods to "bring to light" a suspicious diamond, as well as professional methods, where authenticity is determined by the physical and chemical properties of the sample. Jewelers use a microscope and other magnifying devices, measure the mass of the stone, its density, ability to reflect light and thermal conductivity. A fake diamond can also give itself away if it is illuminated with UV rays. In ultraviolet light, diamonds emit a bluish glow, but imitators do not. Moreover, natural diamonds are not visible on X-rays. Folk methods are based on practical ways of testing the properties of a stone without special equipment, but using improvised means.
What methods of testing and evaluation do jewelers and gemologists use:
- diamonds have equal intensity of shine from all sides, if you use a directed beam of light, you will get a lot of silvery highlights;
- due to the reflection of light from the facets of a diamond, it is opaque - when viewed from above, the iridescent stone forms a spike, and through cubic zirconia you can easily see a letter on a sheet of paper.
- a natural diamond does not refract light with bifurcation, if the facet reflects 2 beams, then you have cubic zirconia in front of you.
The weight should match its size. Zircons are heavier than diamonds, so the difference will immediately be reflected on the scales. A cut diamond is framed only in platinum or gold. The more valuable the stone, the more expensive the frame will be. The lower part of the stone always remains open, a diamond is never glued.
How to distinguish a diamond from a fake at home
Let's say you got your hands on a piece of jewelry that supposedly has diamonds, but there are no certificates to confirm it. How can you check the authenticity of a gemstone without resorting to the help of specialists? There are several recommendations, however, not all popular methods actually work in practice.
The easiest way is to breathe on the "test subject". Synthetic stones will be covered with moisture, and a natural diamond will remain unclouded.