How to Find a Fake Diamond
- 1). Place the stone under an eyeglass to look for any black marks in the stone. These are traces of carbon that did not crystallize during the formation of the stone. Cubic zirconia stones will be clear of these marks because they are not natural formations. If black marks are visible, the stone is most likely a real diamond.
- 2). Observe the color of the stone. A diamond will have yellow or brown tinge to it. This is nitrogen that has seeped into the stone during formation. Cubic zirconia will be white or clear in color. Place the stone under bright sunlight. If it is a fake diamond it will appear to be slightly gray in color. This does not happen with real diamonds because of the natural impurities in the stone.
- 3
Cubic zirconia jewelryDiamond Set in Box image by Lucy Cherniak from Fotolia.com
Examine the stone under an eye glass; look for inclusions. These will appear as slight indentations. A diamond will always have inclusions because it is a natural material. They are most commonly either rectangular, triangular or square in shape.They are the result of tiny crystals embedding themselves into the stone during formation. Cubic zirconia will have a flawless appearance as it is a man-made stone. - 4). Weigh the stone. Cubic zirconia will weigh approximately 1.7 times more than a diamond of similar size. For example, a 1-karat diamond weighs approximately 0.7 oz. A cubic zirconia of a similar size weighs 1.19 oz.
- 5
A colored diamonddiamonds 2 image by Renato Francia from Fotolia.com
Look at the stone under an ultraviolet light. If it reflects a blue, red, green or mauve, it is probably a diamond. Slowly move the stone while it is under the light. The colors should change if it is a diamond. The most common color reflection in a diamond is blue or yellow. Cubic zirconia will not reflect color under UV light, regardless of how much the stone is moved. This is because there are no impurities present.
