Shopping for jewelry can be a somewhat intimidating experience, and not knowing how to distinguish between whether a diamond is real or not is one of the many minefields that wary consumers must navigate. However, it does not have to be this dramatic! Besides the fact that the vast majority of diamond sellers are reputable and do not look to take advantage of consumers, you should also know how to tell if a diamond is real, if only to help give you a certain amount of knowledge that may help you find the perfect diamond.

Diamonds have certain giveaways that do help you to determine not only whether a diamond is real, but also what the relative quality of the diamond is. You can tell this by using various visual tests. For instance, the reflections can help you, as shades of gray are most likely with real diamonds, rather than the colorful reflections you may find with a fake or lower quality version.

Another hint is the weight of the diamond, as cubic zirconium weighs more than diamonds do, many times by 50% or more! You can even put a diamond in water and see if it floats. Real diamonds do not float, and will sink instead. By breathing on a diamond, you may be able to tell if a diamond is authentic, as well. A stone that retains a foggy look after being breathed on- even for a few seconds- is unlikely to be authentic. Of course, cubic zirconium can be covered with diamonds to keep this from happening.

Of course, there are circumstantial ways to determine whether something fishy is going on, too. If a diamond that appears to be very nice is used in a cheap mount or setting, there is probably something amiss. This is why many buyers of cubic zirconium shell out a bit more for a nice ring and setting; it gives the ring a much more authentic look.

Really, the best way to tell if a diamond is real is to ask for a certificate that shows the diamond’s authenticity. The certificate should come from an independent or professional grading authority, and is important especially when buying jewelry over the internet.