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How to Spot a Fake Diamond

Diamonds are elegant, beautiful, and timeless, that is why they are in such high demand to give a special someone during momentous occasions like anniversaries, engagements, birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc. but, not many people know how to differentiate a fake diamond from a real diamond.

Knowing the difference between fakes and real ones can be a huge game-changer as it will save you money, have peace of mind, and the assurance that you are wearing an authentic diamond that is meant to last.

How can you know what is real and not? Do you have the knowledge to spot out little clues and information while picking out a diamond?

When buying a diamond, what do you look for? Do you understand what the 4C’s are all about? Do you have any idea about diamond certification? How about paying the real price for the real value of the diamond?

Understand the 4 C’s

No two diamonds are the same as each diamond is unique. Just like a person, each diamond has its own characteristics that can distinguish it from the rest.

The 4C’s of a diamond stands for carat weight, cut, clarity and color, and they are the globally standard features in assessing the quality of a diamond.

  • Cut

    The cut is very important to the diamond as it has a huge impact on how the diamond’s facets interact with light. It’s determined by symmetry, polish, and proportion. For a diamond to truly showcase its beauty, the cut plays a huge role.
    Even if the diamond has a high color grade or clarity, if the diamond has a poor cut, the diamond can appear dull and will not sparkle as much. That is why the cut needs to be properly handled by an expert jeweler for it to have the best possible results.

    Types of Diamond Cuts:

    • Brilliant cut
    • Step Cut
    • Mixed Cut
  • Clarity

    The clarity of the diamond determines how rare it is and its purity. For the diamond to be truly flawless, it needs to have no inclusions, which are internal flaws, and no blemishes, which are imperfections on the surface.

    A diamond that has a poor clarity grade can severely impact how a diamond will sparkle. The inclusions found on a diamond can hinder the refraction and return of the light when it hits the diamond. When a diamond has the lowest clarity grade, it can appear cloudy and dull.

  • Color

    The color refers to the tinge of color found in natural diamonds. It is rare to have a diamond that is completely colorless and therefore they are harder to find. The international standard of grading a diamond’s color is from the letter “D” which is colorless, to letter Z, light yellow diamond.

    Color is important as it affects how the diamond looks. Diamonds that have a low color grade can appear yellow rather than the desired colorless stone.

    Related: Everything You Need to Know About the G Diamond Color

  • Carat weight

    Contrary to popular belief, the carat weight of a diamond refers to its actual weight and not its size. The carat weight can differ among the different diamond shapes such as the round brilliant, emerald, pear, marquise, cushion, princess, oval, heart, radiant, etc. so, a diamond with a lower carat weight can look larger than other diamonds. A diamond with the same weight can also vary in size, depending on how it was cut.

    If the diamond has a higher carat weight does not necessarily mean it has a higher value if other factors such as color, clarity, and cut are poor.

    So a one-carat diamond can have differences in its prices depending on its cut, clarity, and color. So a diamond that has a high carat weight and has high grades on other 4C’s is the rarest of the rare.

Know What to Look for in a Diamond

  1. Shape

    Diamonds can be cut into any shape, and over time, many modern shapes were fashioned to show the changes in people’s tastes.

    Shapes are a huge part to look for in a diamond as it shows the buyer’s preference and style. The shape indicates the outline or external figure of the diamond.

    Common Diamond Shapes:

    • Round
    • Princess
    • Oval
    • Cushion
    • Emerald
    • Pear
    • Marquise
    • Asscher
    • Heart
    • Radiant
    • Trillion
  2. 4C’s

    Diamonds on a Black Background - Shira DiamondsThe 4C’s ( carat weight, cut, clarity, color ) are important in a diamond as they determine its quality. The 4C’s are the 4 vital components in a diamond that impacts its overall beauty and value. A diamond’s quality is graded by experts through its 4C’s on an international standard scale.

    The GIA ( Gemological Institute of America ), and the AGS ( American Gem Society ) are two internationally well-known institutions that grade diamonds. Diamond sellers will often determine the price of a diamond based on its certification or report from these two institutions.

  3. Diamond Certification

    By checking the official GIA or AGS certification of the diamond you will know exactly the worth of the diamonds and it’s value when you pay for it.

    Related: Are All Diamonds Certified by GIA?

    Diamonds that are certified by well known institutions have a greater chance of being resold in the future as the certification proves its genuineness.

Recognize How Diamonds are Graded

  1. Color Grade

    Types of Diamond Color Grades:

    • DEF – Colorless
    • GHIJ – Near colorless
    • KLM – Faint yellow
    • NOPQR – Very light yellow
    • STUVWXYZ – Light yellow
  2. Clarity Grade

    Types of Clarity Grades:

    • FL – for flawless diamonds
    • IF – diamonds are internally flawless
    • VVS1 VVS2 – very, very slightly included
    • VS1 VS2 – very slightly included
    • SI1 SI2 – slightly included
    • I1 I2 I3 – imperfect diamonds
  3. Cut Grade

    Cut Grades of Diamonds:

    • Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    • Fair
    • Poor

Consider the Price of the Diamond When Purchasing One

Buying a diamond can be confusing as a 1 carat diamond can be more expensive than a 2 carat one. The best thing to do when you want to compare prices and are confused is that one is more expensive than the other is to look for the diamond’s certification or report.

So even if the diamond has a low carat weight consider its price and look for what makes it so expensive, it could be that it has a high grade on cut, clarity, and color therefore, you are buying a diamond of the finest quality rather than a diamond that is larger but receives poor grades on its 4C’s. Don’t be fooled by the size, look for its price and why it is that way.

Ask for a Certificate With Your Purchase

If you are buying diamonds a GIA certification makes the job easier for you as you can compare diamonds that look the same with each other unbiasedly. The certification will help you make a decision as you look for the different clarity, color, cut, or carat weight of each diamond. Shira Diamonds offers real and certified diamonds in Dallas, TX. Contact us today for more info!

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