General Advice:
Find
out the difference between fake, imitations, simulants, Moissanite, CZ,
zircons, white sapphire, cultured, treated, synthetic, crystals,
coated, glass, DLC coated CZ + other fake stones from a real, original
diamond.
The two most common simulates are Cubic Zircon and Moissanite.
Avoid fake Diamond Certificates | Detect HPHT + synthetic diamonds | Conventional Diamond Testers:
How reliable are they?
Weight:
Each mineral and synthetic stone has a specific weight. Polished / rough diamonds do too! Don’t confuse size and weight!
Know
the specific weight of polished and rough, uncut diamonds. They are
distinct from simulants, moissanite, CZ, zircons, cultured, synthetic
and other fake stones from real diamonds. View Specific Gravity
Example: A CZ Zircon weights about 1.31 Carats or about 55% more than a diamond for the same size.
A
Moissanite of 6.5 mm (One carat size) round brilliant, weights
approximately 0.87 carats. Compare the stone to a real diamond: Use a
carat or gram scale.
Transparency:
Put a line on a piece paper. Place the stone upside down over the line. If the stone shows any sign through the line,
it is fake. Be aware that it is too difficult to recognize the line at smaller diamonds!
If the diamond is mounted, place it upside down on a piece of paper. If you can read through the print or even see smudges, then it is probably not a diamond. You should not be able to see the bottom, looking directly from the top Diamonds have a high refractive index.
Steam:
Bring the stone to your mouth, exhale to create steam. If the stone stays "foggy" for more than 3 seconds,
it is probably a simulation.
Hardness:
If the stone shows abraded facet lines, magnified by 10, it is not a diamond. Take a piece of sandpaper the stone.
If it is damaged it is a fake! "Scratch tests" on glass, metal, stones.
Fake, imitations of rough, uncut diamonds are generally crystals coated with diamond powder by nano technology.
Fake rough and polished will be scattered on cutting wheel. They are also easily identifiable in a diamond lab by professionals.
Clarity and Inclusions:
Inclusions in diamonds help in determining that it is a real diamond. Internal and external flaws are a fingerprint,
no two diamonds have the exact the same characteristics.
Price:
"Cheap Diamonds": 50% off the price of a diamond doesn't exist! If the comparative price seems too good
to be true, it probably is!
You can find them mostly by fraudulent sellers on Internet Auctions, online seller shops and stores.
Certification: Detect real from fake / false diamond certificates - switched diamonds:
HRD, Diamond High Council, GIA and IGI from Antwerp World Diamond Center,
GIA do deliver diamonds loose in a parcel paper; easy to switch the diamond!
How to detect fake, false certificates: Verify if the Diamond Certificate is the original.
How to avoid fake or false Diamond Certificates:
HRD Antwerp-Diamond Lab, GIA and IGI have a new diamond certificate that features enhanced security
measures, a refined cut grade and is able to be retrieved and
downloaded online. The HRD Antwerp Certificate Link allows all HRD
Antwerp diamond certificates,diamond-identification reports and
diamond-color certificates issued after Jan. 1, 2005, to be retrieved
online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week..To access the certificate link, visit HRD Certificate
Link:
www.hrdantwerplink.be
IGI gives the same Online Data Retrieval
Check and track real diamond certificate online
:
www.igiworldwide.com/IGI_ONLINE/Client
GIA Report: Check and track real diamond certificate online:
www.gia.edu/reportcheck
Be aware for confusing genuine GIA certificates and others issued by independent professional GIA gemologists.
Secure sealed diamonds to avoid switched diamond:
HRD, GIA and IGI do seal the certified diamond in a transparent secured case to avoid switched diamonds!.
When
the seal is broken the text "broken seal" will be visible on the
backside of the secured case. This does not mean that the diamond
is a fake but that you do not have any guaranty about the quality of the
diamond or eventualy a fake in the broken secured case. View image of
broken seal:
Laser inscribed diamonds:
Laser inscribed diamonds
showing the name of the Diamond Laboratories such as HRD, IGI, GIA and
the number of the certificate is most secure. The difference between a
natural and treated, HPHT and synthetic diamonds is only detectable by
Diamond labs.
HP HT Processed diamonds:
You
may buy a HP HT treated diamond to improve it's color and clarity at
the correct price. You can only know if a diamond is HP HT processed by
inscription on the diamond certificate from HRD, GIA and IGI and laser inscribed on the girdle. HP HT treated diamonds
Buyback guarantee:
Trust:
Important notice.
Outsiders
and non-professional diamante please be wise and resist the
temptation of purchasing a rough diamond. It requires many years of
experience to valuate the stone. And an expensive Sarin equipment to estimate the yield from rough. Too many ignorant buyers have bought nice pieces of glass!
diamonds@knightsbridgemetals.com
CONTACT
hardness