Real diamond?

[legal]

I found what may be a loose diamond. I have asked around and I cannot find the owner. The more I look at the stone, the more I think it is probably not real. It is too bright and generally looks a bit to good to be true. Does anyone know and easy way that I can find out if it is fake? Thanks.

 

[freaknyea]

Well... I am not that experianced but I guess you could go ahead and have it looked at by an appraiser/gemologist see if there is any laser inscription and then check the Lab for documentation. You asked around as in walked up to a couple people or have you tried to report it to the police or put an ad in the newspaper. I believe that if you take it to the police and nobody claims it after some time it is yours.

 

[glitterata]

One simple test is to put it down upside down on a piece of paper with writing on it. If you can see the writing through the stone, there''s a good chance it''s not a diamond. If you can''t, there''s a good chance it is a diamond. But this test isn''t foolproof.

 

[Mara]

I would just take it to your local jeweler and ask them what they think. I''d also really try to find the owner aka through police or classifieds or similar before claiming it as your own. Someone could be freaking out right now!!

 

[legal]

First, let me put you all at ease. I found this "diamond" under circumstances that suggest it has not seen the light of day for many many years. If it turns out to be real, I will take steps to find any possible living owner. For now, I am not calling the police or putting an add in the paper for a stone that is probably not worth anything.

I tried the paper test. I can see the black lines from the writing, but they are swirled and do not resemble letters. any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrsFrk]

Any jeweler will have a diamond tester (shaped sort of like a digital thermometer), and they can test it right in front of you, and show you the results.

 

[RockDoc]

GO to a GEMOLOGIST. CHECK www.ags.org, and you can find a local Certified Gemologist or Certified Gemologist Appraiser in your area.

I looked at the Autum site posted above - and the information there isn''t totally factual.

Their first separation written that fakes don''t have inclusions is not true. THERE ARE CZ''s that have had convincing inclusions put in them. In addition there are flawless diamonds.... so that isn''t a conclusive basis to make a determintation of its identity.

Secondly, some CZ''s have diamond coatings that the test sensors will read the stone as being a diamond. So the probe test unit is not always conclusive.

Not all "fakes" are CZ''s. There are a lot of different materials being used to simulate diamond.

A good gemologist will be able to tell very quickly. You''ll save a ton of time and be sure of the result.

There are some imitation stones that are very easy to tell...and there are some that are difficult. So it is best to get an opinion that is based on the testing done properly. Relying on a trained expert with the PROPER TOOLS TO TELL is just the best possible method.

One of the more conclusive tests is to weigh the stone. Most simulants, particularly CZ weighs considerably more than diamond. So if the stone is round, and measures 6.5 mm. it should weigh close to 1 carat - if it is CZ it will weigh substancially more. Also MOST CZ will fluoresce stronger in short wave UV than Long Wave UV, and it''s most common fluorescent color will be yellow.

Another method to tell is to examine fracture, and the sharpness of the facet junctions. Most CZ''s MAY have rounded facet junctions.

There is also a visible spectrum difference between diamond and CZ as well. This you can see with your eyes, but it does take some practice to master.

Rockdoc

 

[thunkpad]

Date: 5/12/2006 1:53:22 AM
Author: JewelryKing
Here is a very easy guide to distiguishing between a real diamond and a fake.

Diamond Information - Real of Fake?

Hope this helps

"Using either wet or dry sandpaper, test your diamond by scratching it vigorously on the brittle surface of the paper"

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 5/12/2006 4:36:09 AM
Author: thunkpad

''Using either wet or dry sandpaper, test your diamond by scratching it vigorously on the brittle surface of the paper''

Good Grief.

This is like the old test to identify a witch. If you hold her underwater for 10 minutes and she lives, she''s a witch.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[RockDoc]

Date: 5/12/2006 8:00:21 AM
Author: denverappraiser

Date: 5/12/2006 4:36:09 AM
Author: thunkpad

''Using either wet or dry sandpaper, test your diamond by scratching it vigorously on the brittle surface of the paper''

Good Grief.

This is like the old test to identify a witch. If you hold her underwater for 10 minutes and she lives, she''s a witch.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

Such humor !!!!

ROFLAMO!

Rockdoc

PS - "Real Gemologists" don''t do destructive testing on materials. Don''t let anyone use a hardness point to see if a diamond scratches. That is sort of a popular test with people that don''t know what they''re doing. The old "if it scratches glass it''s a diamond doesn''t prove much either.