Diamonds are a gift that are passed from generation to generation. They are an important heirloom that is appreciated by many. This makes them a long term investment that requires thought and care. One wants to be certain that they are buying a real diamond and not a fake diamond. Though there are many discount sales offering diamonds at unbelievable prices, one needs to do their homework to insure that they are getting a quality real diamond. Otherwise, you may be wasting your money.

So how does one differentiate the two? To begin with, one has to understand first the basics of diamonds before shopping for them. This will help you to avoid purchasing a fake diamond and giving yourself the ability to identify them. This can save you a lot of time and money, so take some time first to understand what diamonds are really are.

The Carat of the Diamond

Diamonds have four characteristics, which are carat, clarity, color, and cut. First, the carat is the weight of the diamond. There are five carats from every gram of diamond. Bigger diamonds will increase in carats, thus making them cost more money. In weighing diamonds, one has to take the exact weight, for every point is important. One full carat is 100 points, so if someone tries to sell you a diamond a few lines away from one gram, do not buy it as one gram. It is important that the carat of a diamond is measured with precision and accuracy.

The Clarity of the Diamond

Second is the clarity of a diamond. There is a system of range in measuring the clarity of a diamond, which is by the way, answers how clear it is. A diamond with perfect clarity is said to be flawless, although there are also internally flawless diamonds, which means they still have minor blemishes, but only on the outside. Diamonds classified as VVS1 or VVS2 have very, very small inclusions, with the latter being more visible than the former. VS1 and VS2 have very small inclusions while SI1, SI2, and SI3 have small inclusions. I1, I2, and I3 have inclusions that could be seen without using any instrument.

The Color of the Diamond

Third is the diamond's color. This can be classified using the letters starting from D to X. the whitest diamonds are classified as D, and the color changes, the classification does too. There are diamonds that are different in color, so one must not be surprised to come across with blue, green or red diamonds. These are commonly irradiated, and in any way, secure the guarantee of the diamond's color and clarity. It feels wonderful to be confident about your diamonds.

The Cut of the Diamond

And fourth is the diamond's cut. This is also referred to as the shape of a diamond, which could be oval, pear, or round. A diamond reflects light more brilliantly if it is proportionately cut. Cut is measured by percentages, so when you ask about the cuts percentage, 60% is a descent percentage and is reasonably balanced for most shapes.

Identify Real Diamonds

Now that you know the qualities of a diamond, you are all set to determine whether a diamond is a fake or the real thing. The first one you can try is known as the newspaper test. To try this, put your diamond over the print on any newspaper. Try to read the newspaper through the diamond. If you cannot read it, do not worry, because chances are the diamond is a real one. If you can not read the newspaper, don't worry as the chances are higher that the diamond is a real one.

The next thing that you can do is to do the fog test. Real diamonds clear away quickly when exposed to fog. Other precious stones linger longer. If the diamond you have just fogged is taking a bit longer to shed off its fog, then it must be a fake.

Using a diamond tester and a jeweler's loop can also help in detecting fake diamonds by checking the refraction of the light and any scratches on the diamond, respectively. Try to subject diamonds to as many tests as possible. If the results are rather vague, secure the diamond's certification. The most reliable certifications are issued by the European Gemological Laboratory or the Gemological Institute of America. Certified diamonds are more expensive because the certification process generally costs at least $100. Yet, this certification helps create peace of mind.

Buying diamonds is both an investment and luxury. Before indulging in this activity though, know your real diamonds first and protect yourself from fake ones.

Many enjoy diamond stud earrings as a beautiful accent to almost any outfit. They are one of the most desired gifts one can give.

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