How to Tell if your Diamond is Real

Real diamonds are dazzling features or accompaniment stones that make up the most cherished jewellery collections of many. What’s arguably considered earth’s most beautiful natural gift, diamonds are lovingly created into engagement and wedding rings, earrings, necklaces or adored simply as loose diamonds – and have been for centuries.  However, distinguishing between real vs. fake diamonds is crucial, because not all diamonds are genuine with many replicas being completely different stones like cubic zirconia or moissanite, so how to tell if a diamond is real or fake? – very crucial.

Do you have ancestral diamond heirlooms lying untouched in your home? Want to find out if these or your personal diamond jewellery collections are the real deal? There are a few easy ways to do so.

How do you check whether your diamond is real or fake?

You have a beloved piece of jewellery, perhaps even a dedicated diamond collection – yet there is a question in the back of your mind. Is your diamond real or fake?

From water to fog, fire to black light and even with the help of a newspaper – we’ve compiled some easy, mostly fail-proof methods on how to check if your diamond is real.

1. Water test

The water test is a valuable method for finding out the differences between real and fake diamonds. Water’s cleansing and purifying properties make it an effective tool to identify a real diamond and spot a fake one.

check if a diamond is real with water test

Here’s how to do it:

  • Fill a glass with water – it doesn’t matter if it’s tap, refrigerated or distilled.
  • Drop the diamond into the glass of water and observe what happens next.
  • If a diamond is real it will sink due to its high-density nature.
  • Is the diamond floating? Whether floating at the top or in the middle of the glass, if it’s refusing to sink, it’s fake.

This simple at-home test, brought to you by the power of physics, has revealed many, many truths.

2. Fog test

Another fast and easy way to test diamonds at home is through the fog.

high quality diamond being examined to find out if its real or fake

No, not the kind of fog you expect to see on the misty moors of where Wuthering Heights was set. On the contrary, by using your breath, instead.

Find out the authenticity with fog:

  • Place the loose diamond (or jewellery piece, more likely) in front of your mouth, breathing out to fog the stone up.
  • If the stone appears fogged for a few moments, it’s likely a fake diamond.
  • Not fogging up for long or at all? Voila! You (probably) have yourself a real deal diamond.

Due to the quality surfaces of diamonds, there’s nothing for the condensation to stick to.

3. Fire test

A bolder way to tell if a diamond is real vs fake incorporates both fire and cold water. This method is referred to as either the fire test or shatter test.

Diamond gem on a red background

Naturally, we don’t recommend utilising this method if you intend to continue wearing your diamond jewellery, regardless of whether the diamond is real or fake. For reasons unveiled to you now.

How to tell if a diamond is real with fire:

  • Seek out a set of plyers or fireproof gloves to hold the stone under investigation.
  • Use a lighter to light the stone for approximately 30 to 40 seconds.
  • From here, drop the stone into cold water.
  • A heated, fake diamond will shatter to pieces upon plunging into cold water. This is because weaker, replica materials aren’t designed to handle the rate at which fiery heat expands and contracts.
  • A genuine diamond (fortunately) doesn’t have the same reaction under the same circumstances. This is thanks to diamonds having been formed underground under intense pressure and heat for billions of years.

While an attractively accurate way to check if a diamond is real, playing with fire is a dangerous game, so use caution and consider other, safer methods first.

4. The newspaper (aka ‘read-through’) test

Another trustworthy way to check if the diamond is real vs fake is the newspaper test. This test examines a diamond’s refractivity which is the phenomenon of light, radio waves and so forth being deflected, passing obliquely through the interface of two mediums. Essentially, it’s another physics term, utilised with great effect to identify a real diamond.

Diamond being examined to find out if its real or fake
Different goldsmiths tools on the jewelry workplace. Jeweler at work in jewelry. Desktop for craft jewelry making with professional tools. Close up view of tools.

Learn your diamond truth with this method:

  • Gently place the stone flat side down onto a newspaper page (the more lettering, the better).
  • Make sure the environment lighting is bright, with no objects (or people) casting a shadow over the stone.
  • If you’re able to read through the stone, seeing the letters clearly or even a touch of blurry – the diamond is fake.
  • A real diamond’s facets will refract the light in all different directions instead of a straight line. Refraction of light in a genuine diamond means you’ll be unable to see clearly through it, nor make out the letters on the paper.

This test, of course, is highly effective on loose diamonds only. If the diamond under investigation is already set in jewellery, consider the aforementioned fog test or have it examined professionally by Perth jewellers.

5. Black light

Blacklight. It seems counterproductive, right? Well, in fact, they’re actually a highly-valuable tool to authenticate many important items such as oil paintings, antiques and even banknotes.

Examination of a diamond gem to see if its real or fake
Different goldsmiths tools on the jewelry workplace. Jeweler at work in jewelry. Desktop for craft jewelry making with professional tools. Close up view of tools.

As other types of ultraviolet lamps and lights emit visible light, drowning out dim, fluorescent glow – black lights are the perfect way to observe fluorescence.

Here’s how to tell if a diamond is real with black light:

  • First – get yourself a black light, whether you have one already at home, borrow one or buy one. You can find some quality black lights available for purchase online for under $50.
  • Switch off the regular lights, and switch on the black light. 
  • Many diamonds – but not all, will unearth blue fluorescence under black light, which comes in a medium to strong blue appearance.
  • Seeing a slight green, yellow or even grey fluorescence instead? This is likely indicative that you probably spot a fake diamond.

It’s worth noting that utilising black light in your quest to tell if the quality of a diamond, is not conclusive. As touched on above, not all real diamonds will reveal that coveted, blue fluorescence.

And there you have it – 5 methods to determine if your diamond is real or fake, all of which will answer your burning desire for the truth.

True diamonds are forever… Find your forever diamond at Claremont Diamonds, your Perth Diamond Specialist. 

Contact Claremont Diamonds today to book your diamond consult.