Diamonds are loved by all because of the unique beauty and “timeless” quality they have. However, as they cost a pretty penny, they have to be tested in order to find out whether they are fakes or not. It is important to buy your stone or jewelry from a jeweler who is trustworthy. One should make sure to ask for the stone’s certification, which is got from a diamond “Grading” authority that is recognized. Checking the stone for scuffs, scratches and other damages through a magnifying glass will help.

There are different methods of testing diamonds and knowing whether your stone is a genuine diamond or a cubic zirconia. Use a Diamond electronic tester that can usually check most types. The weight test will tell you if it is real or fake because cubic zirconia is almost 50% more than the genuine diamond even if it is of the same shape and size. A carat or gram scale will help you to evaluate the stone. Use the transparency test by flipping the stone upside down over a newspaper and see if you can read clearly. A real diamond will not let you read the print clearly. Fog the stone by breathing over it. A real diamond will disperse heat very rapidly and clear up very quickly where as a fake will stay foggy.

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If you have happily bought a diamond ring for yourself or to gift it to the person of your dreams then this move could turn into a nightmare if you find out that the diamond is a fake. However, if you know the right manner in how to test your diamond ring then you could get an assurance that you have paid the right amount for your ring or even catch your crooked jewelry dealer in unethical action.

The price of a diamond is based on its clarity and purity. A flawless diamond devoid of any spots, blemishes or imperfections will be priced astronomically. Thus any diamond ring that you buy will surely have a microscopic flaw unless you are ready to pay a very high price. However, cubic zirconia diamonds that are in reality lab created diamonds can easily be created without any flaws. Although it originally started out in the fashion industry as alternative jewelry so that people that wanted to gift inexpensive diamonds could buy these real-looking diamonds at an extremely cheap price, it has also been hijacked to a small extent by unscrupulous dealers out to make a fast buck. If you are buying a diamond ring or have recently bought one then it is time to subject it to a battery of tests to confirm if you indeed have paid for a real diamond or a fake that has near-identical properties but hardly costs anything in comparison.

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People in the past believed that as long as their diamonds could scratch glass it was genuine. However, today it is a known fact that there are many other methods and tests to ascertain the authenticity of a diamond. Many modern techniques help you to find out if the stone you wish to test is actually a clever imitation or the real thing. Treated diamonds and diamond simulants – the cubic zirconia have fooled many people including jewelers who test diamonds with their naked eye into believing that they are real diamonds.

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If you want to pop that crucial question to the love of your life or want to give your lover an exquisite gift then a real diamond fitted in an exclusive ring will enable you to take that important step forward in a classy manner. However, you should know how to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond since they physically look very much alike but the cost of a cubic zirconia or CZ is ridiculously low as compared to a real diamond.

While an actual diamond takes countless years to get formed and is extracted from deep within the earth, CZ diamonds are synthetic diamonds that were created by the Russians to mimic the qualities of an actual diamond so that they could be used in several industrial applications including their laser machines. However, the uncanny resemblance of these lab created diamonds did not go unnoticed by jewelry designers that quickly started to order and incorporate these inexpensive but sparkling beauties into various types of jewelry. The result was an entire new market that catered to countless people that wanted to buy real diamonds but could not afford them. These synthetic diamonds knock off several zeroes off the price of a similar sized diamond but yet display almost identical characteristics as a real diamond. If you want to buy a real diamond for a special occasion then you will need to tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond so that you do not end up getting cheated by a deceitful diamond dealer.

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Nowadays it is getting more and more difficult to be able to tell a real diamond from a cubic zirconia because these synthetic stones look so much like the genuine stone. If you do not want to spend too much money then it is okay to buy a cubic zirconia that looks just like a real diamond. However, those who spend a lot of money on a diamond would like to know if it is indeed real and that they are not being cheated.

To really understand why it is easy to get fooled into buying a cubic zirconia instead of a diamond, you should learn more about this particular stone and understand why it is mistaken for a genuine diamond. Zirconium dioxide is used to make cubic zirconia. This synthetic material is very strong, hard, almost flawless, and colorless (though it can also be produced in various colors).

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If you want a diamond, why do you need to know about moissanite? The reason is that it can be even hard for jewelers to tell the difference between diamond and moissanite when determining real diamond jewelry. If they can be fooled, couldn’t you? That’s why it’s important to pick a diamond merchant with a solid reputation.

Moissanite vs. Diamond

Moissanite is actually Silicon Carbide, a material that in crystallized form resembles diamond closely. It was first discovered in a meteorite sample and mistaken for diamond until further tests were done. It was named after its discoverer, Dr. Henri Moissan. Its hardness is close to diamonds and it has a thermal conductivity that is also similar to diamonds. Later it was manufactured, as the natural occurrence of moissanite is rare, but it’s easy enough to duplicate in the laboratory. It’s for that reason that it’s often used in manufacturing applications where diamond may be too prohibitive. In jewelry, it is referred to as a “diamond simulant” and for that reason can sometimes be passed off as a real diamond.

Similar but Different

That’s about where the diamond resemblance ends. It’s not actually diamond, nor is the value similar to a natural diamond. It’s used in fake diamond jewelry to mimic the real thing, but it has no where near the value of real diamonds. It appears fierier than diamonds and some experts say that it has a greenish or gray hue under natural light. The choice to buy a moissanite ring rather than a diamond ring is personal, but it should be stated up front that it is a simulated diamond, and not the real thing.

Shop With Reputable Jewelers Online

You should get a certificate with your diamond that proves it’s a real diamond, to keep you from getting conned with fake diamonds that are close the real thing. Select only companies or jewelers who have a good reputation and have it in their best interest to keep the public informed about diamond simulants out on the market today. While it is difficult to tell a real diamond from moissanite, it is not impossible. The experts should be able to tell you whether you are purchasing a real diamond or a moissanite stone.

There is quite a bit of interest in one particular raw uncut diamond on the market today. This extremely large 507-carat raw uncut diamond was speculated at having the ability to bring in over $30 million on the open market last fall, and today it has been recorded that this rough diamond managed to be sold for a total of $35.3 million, which makes it the absolutely highest selling price for any raw uncut diamond on the market today or in the past. When examining the overall value of this rough diamond, one can break down the worth to a remarkable $69,557 per carat. Nowhere in the world will any individual find a more precious stone that can reap as much as this particular raw uncut diamond. It seems that with this rare diamond, the Petra diamond company is quickly rebounding back from the recession lows that it had experienced in the past year.

The Petra diamond company who possessed this precious gem had it appraised previously at over $25 million by several special analysts and is known as one of the top 20 largest raw uncut diamond gems in the world today. Found last September at the Cullinan mine in South Africa, the Petra diamond company has reflectively named this precious rough diamond the “Cullinan Heritage”. Raw diamond mining at the Cullinan mine near Pretoria in South Africa has been known as one of the best sources of biggest diamond finds, yielding the world’s largest diamond that was discovered back in 1905. This other rare diamond sits at an outstanding 3106 total carats that currently belongs in Britain’s Crown Jewels.

This egg-sized rare diamond find is quickly becoming known not only for its large size but also its remarkable color and clarity as its more significant attributes. Currently there are no plans in place for any further jewelry design ideas or how one would proceed with such a large rare gem, but effectively this celebrity diamond can yield a remarkable ‘D-flawless’ clear and polished stone anywhere between 170-180 carats. A diamond of such beauty can also fetch a significant resale price on the open market. Before any individual of the general public has the opportunity to view and possibly purchase the Cullinan Heritage diamond, it will be certain that much analyzing will occur. Teams of diamond experts and cutters will have to be assembled so that they are sure to scrutinize every possible solution and strategy for how the Cullinan Heritage diamond could be cut and made presentable for possible resale.

The Cullinan Heritage raw diamond was recently purchased by a tender from Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Ltd. The purchase and sale of the Cullinan Heritage diamond puts specific emphasis on the interest that China has on the global diamond market and how they are growing contributors, bouncing back from the economic crisis of past years. Many are recognizing China with significant interests in the global diamond market, overtaking Japan as the second most influential country for rare gems. It is not known currently what the plans are for this remarkable rare diamond find, but the ability of this rare diamond to be cut into many other rare stones is a possibility, while keeping the diamond intact can also bring forth an extraordinary treasure for many jewelry designers.

Even though depleting markets and the global recession over the last few years has touched many individuals and businesses, many rare gems including the Cullinan Heritage have sparked a high level of interest, significantly more than first assumed. The diamond market today is currently increasing back to levels seen in 2008 before the economy had suffered a negative impact. Many feel that this raw uncut diamond is just a small step in helping the diamond market regain its notoriety and continues to grow for the open market as part of a successful economy. The interest in raw uncut diamonds is quickly growing, helping make rare diamond finds such as the Cullinan Heritage an even larger find due to its worldwide interest.

Although it may be difficult to imagine such a large rare gem being bought and sold for such a substantial amount of money, many individuals are sure to see other raw uncut diamonds come from diamond mines in South Africa that have been known to produce such rare gems.

We have all admired diamonds, and anyone watching a red carpet event is sure to see a whole spectrum of these precious wonders. That is because diamonds come in every color of the rainbow, and some colored stones are actually far more valuable than even the most beautifully cut colorless stones. The increase in attention and popularity of colored diamonds can be attested to by the fact that most of the highest-priced and valuable diamonds in the world are fancy color diamonds.

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Vintage diamonds are known for their antique cuts, that while not as sophisticated as newer ones, still retain a charm and mystery that newer cuts lack. Gemstone cutting is an art that has grown more sophisticated over the years, and the use of technology has revolutionized the diamond cutting industry to make new cuts that were impossible only years earlier. There is something intriguing, however, about the older cuts that were highlighted in antique settings and can bring you a piece of history and romance of times gone by. Continue reading »

When buying a diamond, people have numerous things to consider, some more important than others. For instance, the girdle is actually something any person buying a diamond needs to understand. In fact, a girdle is a key element to a diamond so learning about this element is crucial. Additionally, people will hear words such as a “frosty girdle diamond”, which is also something a buyer should know.

The girdle is the outer edge of a diamond. Depending on the cut chosen, the girdle may be extremely easy to see or more difficult. In the case of a round brilliant cut, the frosty girdle diamond or polished diamond would be very visible. The various characteristics of the frosty girdle diamond will have a direct link to the way in which the stone ultimately looks, as do the other finishes. Continue reading »