The Proposal Jewel

When it comes to engagement rings or wedding rings, the most sought out jewel people look out for is the diamond. We see it in all forms of popular media like TV shows, commercials, movies, and we see it in real life as well.

Although modern day couples have started using other gems and precious stones for engagement and wedding rings, nothing beats the classic beauty of the diamond. Its ethereal, transparent gleam is simply incomparable to other gems, and for a long time it has established itself as the gem to use for special rings or jewelry.

Get the Real Deal, Don’t Settle for Fakes

It is quite easy to identify a diamond from other kinds of gems, as all gems have their own distinguishing appearances. However, like all other gems, the diamond is not immune to counterfeits that are sometimes sold for the same price (or lower) than an actual diamond.

Of course, for something as significant and special as an engagement or wedding ring, having a fake diamond is the last thing you would want to give to your beloved. The question is, how can you tell between a real diamond and a fake?

You can always go to a professional jeweler and ask for his advice on whether or not the diamond on your jewelry is fake or not. However, there are other DIY methods for telling apart a real diamond from a fake, and here are some of these methods:

• Newspaper. Grab a piece of newspaper and place it on any flat surface. Lay the diamond upside down on the newspaper and see if you can still read the letters through the diamond. It you can still read the letters on the newspaper, it is a fake. Real diamonds are transparent, but not that transparent that you’re still able to read letters through it.
• Fogging. You know how when you breathe on a mirror it creates a fog that can be wiped away? Fogging is actually one other way for you to test if a diamond is real or fake. Similar to how you would fog a mirror, place the diamond in front of your mouth and breathe on it. Real diamonds don’t stay fogged very long, and by the time you bring the diamond to eye level the heat would have already dispersed. Fake diamonds stay fogged for a longer time of two to four seconds.
• Coldness. Diamonds are known to be resistant to heat, meaning they don’t heat up. In fact, diamonds are said to be cold to the touch.
• Loupe. Loupes are special magnifying glasses used to examine jewelry, and these can be bought at any jewelry store. Examine the diamond for imperfections and sharp edges using the loupe because this indicates a real diamond. Fake diamonds tend to look too perfect, and instead of sharp edges, they have round edges instead of sharp. Ironic, isn’t it?
• Use a karat/gram scale. If you have this scale, it can come in pretty handy for testing all kinds of diamonds. This will help you be on the look out for a stone called cubic zirconia, the most common stone used to make fake diamonds. By using this scale, you can tell if it’s a real diamond or a cubic zirconia because the latter is known to be 55% heavier than an original.

Don’t Be Fooled Anymore!

Keep these tips in mind to do your own diamond examinations, but if you want professional advice, you can always consult your local professional jewelers. For those in Cagayan de Oro with “questionable diamonds”, they can head over to Golconda Jewels to have it tested for authenticity.

If you’re also interested in a selection of authentic jewels, you can also visit the jewelry shop’s website at www.golcondajewels.com