| They say diamonds are forever. They say that | | | | diamonds that are different in color, so one must |
| diamonds are a girl's best friend. Well, whatever it | | | | not be surprised to come across with blue, green |
| is that they say, diamonds are an expensive | | | | or red diamonds. These are commonly irradiated, |
| investment, so one has to take care not to get | | | | and in any way, secure the guarantee of the |
| fooled when purchasing one. You might be lured | | | | diamond's color and clarity. There is nothing better |
| into buying a seemingly cheap one, but do not | | | | than being sure about your diamonds. |
| jump right ahead and buy it. You might end up on | | | | The Cut of the Diamond |
| a losing end especially if you do not how to | | | | And fourth is the diamond's cut. This is also |
| differentiate a fake from a real diamond. | | | | referred to as the shape of a diamond, which |
| So how does one differentiate the two? To begin | | | | could be oval, pear, or round. A diamond reflects |
| with, one has to understand first the basics of | | | | light more brilliantly if it is proportionately cut. Cut |
| diamonds before shopping for them. This will help | | | | is measured by percentages, so when you ask |
| you to avoid purchasing a fake diamond and | | | | about the cuts percentage, 60% is a descent |
| giving yourself the ability to identify them. This | | | | percentage and is reasonably balanced for most |
| can save you a lot of time and money, so take | | | | shapes. |
| some time first to understand what diamonds are | | | | Identify Real Diamonds |
| really are. | | | | Now that you know the qualities of a diamond, |
| The Carat of the Diamond | | | | you are all set to determine whether a diamond is |
| Diamonds have four characteristics, which are | | | | a fake or the real thing. The first test that you |
| carat, clarity, color, and cut. First, the carat is the | | | | can do is to do the newspaper test. To try this, |
| weight of the diamond. There are five carats | | | | put your diamond over the print on any |
| from every gram of diamond. With this, bigger | | | | newspaper. See if you can read the newspaper |
| diamonds tend to increase in carats, thus making | | | | through the stone you are trying to test. If you |
| them more expensive. In weighing diamonds, one | | | | cannot read it, do not worry, because chances |
| has to take the exact weight, for every point is | | | | are the diamond is a real one. Otherwise, if you |
| important. To digress, one carat is 100 points, so | | | | can perfectly read every word, then the diamond |
| if someone urges you to buy a diamond a few | | | | you are looking through is definitely a fake. |
| lines away from one gram, do not buy it as one | | | | The next thing that you can do is to do the fog |
| gram. The carat of a diamond must be measured | | | | test. Real diamonds clear away quickly when |
| with accuracy and precision. | | | | exposed to fog. Other precious stones linger |
| The Clarity of the Diamond | | | | longer. If the diamond you have just fogged is |
| Second is the clarity of a diamond. There is a | | | | taking a bit longer to shed off its fog, then it |
| system of range in measuring the clarity of a | | | | must be a fake. |
| diamond, which is by the way, answers how clear | | | | Using a diamond tester and a jeweler's loop can |
| it is. A diamond with perfect clarity is said to be | | | | also help in detecting fake diamonds by checking |
| flawless, although there are also internally flawless | | | | the refraction of the light and any scratches on |
| diamonds, which means they still have minor | | | | the diamond, respectively. Try to subject |
| blemishes, but only on the outside. Diamonds | | | | diamonds to as many tests as possible. If the |
| classified as VVS1 or VVS2 have very, very | | | | results are rather vague, secure the diamond's |
| small inclusions, with the latter being more visible | | | | certification. The most reliable certifications are |
| than the former. VS1 and VS2 have very small | | | | issued by the European Gemological Laboratory or |
| inclusions while SI1, SI2, and SI3 have small | | | | the Gemological Institute of America. Certified |
| inclusions. I1, I2, and I3 have inclusions that could | | | | diamonds are more expensive because the |
| be seen without using any instrument. | | | | certification process generally costs at least $100. |
| The Color of the Diamond | | | | Yet, this certification helps create peace of mind. |
| Third is the diamond's color. This can be classified | | | | Buying diamonds is both an investment and luxury. |
| using the letters starting from D to X. the whitest | | | | Before indulging in this activity though, know your |
| diamonds are classified as D, and the color | | | | real diamonds first and protect yourself from |
| changes, the classification does too. There are | | | | fake ones. |