Jewelry for the Holidays

If you are in need of cash and found a solitary ring in an old box, you may wonder whether the stone is a real diamond, a replica, or another stone altogether. Before you head out to the jewelry store to try to sell the ring, try using one or more of the following ways to determine whether or not the diamond is real or fake.

1.  Blow on the Diamond

One simple way to determine whether a stone is a diamond or not is to blow on it as if you are trying to fog up a window. Directly after attempting to fog up the surface of the stone, look to see how long the fog remains.

If the stone is a real diamond, the surface will either not fog up at all or any condensation will dissipate quickly. Diamonds do not retain heat, so the fog will not stay on the stone for very long.

However, if the fog remains for more than a few seconds on the stone's surface, it is likely made from a material that does retain heat. Therefore, it is most likely not a real diamond.

2.  Look for Inclusions

Another way to find out whether a diamond is real or fake is to look at it with a magnifying glass to see if there are any imperfections inside, such as tiny bubbles or black spots. Since a diamond is created naturally, there will usually be some type of imperfection, or inclusion, within the stone, and the number of inclusions is used to determine the diamond's grade and clarity.

However, if the stone looks perfect inside, it was probably man-made and created to not have any inclusions. However, this method of determining the authenticity of a diamond is often difficult at home, since some inclusions are hard to see with a regular magnifying glass.

3.  Rub Sandpaper on the Surface

Another test you can perform at home is to rub the surface of the stone with sandpaper. However, only do this test if you do not mind losing the ring if it turns out to be fake.

Diamonds are extremely hard and do not scratch easily. If the stone is real, rubbing the surface with the sandpaper will not scratch it. However, if the stone is fake, you will see scratches.

Even after testing your stone at home using the above methods, you may still have some doubt as to whether you have a real diamond to sell. If so, have the stone examined by a representative from the jewelry store to determine not only its authenticity but also its quality if the stone is determined to be a real diamond. Visit a jewelry store, such as Sol's Jewelry & Loan, today to inquire about your diamond.