All kinds of imitations and fakes of diamonds are not so rare in our time. Of course, only a qualified specialist can give a final conclusion about the authenticity of a diamond. But if there is an urgent need, conduct a preliminary study of the properties of the stone at home.
It is necessary
- - 10x magnifying glass;
- - butter;
- - hydrochloric acid;
- - quartz lamp;
- - sandpaper or needle;
- - newspaper.
Instructions
Step 1
Take a close look at the piece of jewelry in which the stone is set: to achieve maximum brilliance and play of light, the diamond is usually placed in an open setting. This fastening method also allows you to easily see the lower edges of the cut diamond. A mirrored finish on the bottom edges is a sure sign of a fake.
Step 2
A diamond conducts heat perfectly. To test this property, place the investigated stone in a cold place. Then breathe on it and observe its surface with a magnifying glass. You won't see any hazy marks on a real diamond, while imitation diamonds will fog up with your breath.
Step 3
Diamonds are capable of adhering to certain types of fats. Test with butter: dip a stone in it and place it on a glass surface. A real diamond will stick to the glass.
Step 4
Even the strongest acids and their mixtures have no effect on the diamond. Dip the tested stone in hydrochloric acid and evaluate its appearance. Traces of acid will surely appear on synthetic fakes, and a genuine diamond will remain unharmed.
Step 5
One of the important properties of diamonds is luminescence in ultraviolet rays. Suitable lighting can be found, for example, in a disco or under a conventional quartz lamp. If, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, a bluish or yellow-green glow appears in the stone, then this is a real diamond. If the glow of a different color (or is completely absent), this can be either a feature of this diamond or a sign of a fake. In any case, additional research is required to establish the authenticity.
Step 6
Check the stone for hardness: try scratching or rubbing it with something sharp (needle, sandpaper). The unique hardness of the diamond protects it from such superficial damage, so there will be no traces of your manipulations on a genuine diamond.
Step 7
Use a magnifying glass to examine the appearance of the stone. A lot of small chips, micro-scratches, pitted edges should make you think of a fake. You can also identify a real diamond by the presence of internal defects in it: black dots of graphite, tiny bubbles, light dots. Imitation of a diamond, as a rule, does not have such inclusions.
Step 8
Take a newspaper and place a loose diamond on top of it. Now try to see the printed letters through the stone. Crystal or glass will allow you to do this without difficulty, while a real diamond refracts light enough to make text invisible.
