Technology has advanced so rapidly over the past few years it is almost no longer possible for the average consumer to tell a genuine stone from a laboratory created one, and in the case of fine jewelry an unfortunate shopper can be out thousands of dollars if they do not know what to look for when shopping for a larger diamond or semi-precious stone. Ice.com, an amazing source for quality diamonds and jewelry, has prepared a list of things to watch out for, and questions to ask when you make your next diamond purchase.
Skip the Scratch Test
There is probably a pretty good chance that at one time or another you have heard that the easiest way to tell if a diamond is real is to cut glass with it, but this test shows absolutely nothing except you have some type of hard stone. Diamonds are not the only gem that will cut through glass, and despite their indestructible reputation this type of test can damage a diamond. There are plenty of safer, more reliable methods to verify that a diamond is genuine, so there is absolutely no reason to take a chance of damaging it.
Ask to Use a Jeweler’s Loupe
If you are looking at a diamond under magnification and it appears flawless, then it should have a four to five digit price tag on it. Small inconsistencies are common even on very highly rated diamonds, so if they’re simply not there then you’re probably looking at a cubic zirconia instead. It is often helpful to ask the jeweler how the rating was determined and ask them to point out the flawed sections; if they seem hesitant or can not easily spot them, you may want to consider shopping elsewhere.
Check the Weight
Another quick way to spot a cubic zirconia is by weighing it; on average they weight 55% more than real diamonds. Of course, you probably do not know what a real diamond is supposed to weigh; it’s 1/5 of a gram. Since you can not easily tell the difference in weight between the stones, do not hesitate to ask for a scale when dealing with a jeweler. They may become offended, but nowhere near as much as you’ll be if you purchase a fake stone.
Also while gazing at the stone, pay special attention to the reflective qualities. The higher the diamond the less colored reflections will be visible, so if it looks perfect structurally but shows you rainbows when you move it then it is suspect. High quality diamonds reflect a grayish light, while lower quality diamonds will show slight hues throughout the spectrum.
Request a Certificate of Authenticity
All high quality stones have passed through the hands of a licensed appraiser at one time or another; and some of the better known appraisers are the EGL, GIA, AGSL, and PGGL. If a certificate is not available, walk away from the deal.
Set the Diamond Ablaze
One reason that diamonds are so valuable is their ability to disperse heat almost instantly, so ask the jeweler for a heat probe test. A fake diamond will crack or even melt after about thirty seconds, but a true diamond should remain cool to the touch. Likewise, one of the easiest ways to determine that a diamond is genuine is to breathe on it. On almost any other surface a fog would show up for a few seconds but the diamond should displace the heat almost instantly. If it’s still foggy after two to four seconds, it is either a very low quality diamond or an imitation stone.
Use Ice.com Coupons to Save
For more information on identifying real diamonds or to inquire about purchasing fine diamond jewelry, contact Ice.com directly or through their website. If you do locate the perfect stone while shopping with them, make sure that you visit MoneyJibe.com and click through using one of their Ice.com coupons. Using one of the Ice.com coupons or a promotional code can to save you 15%, 20% or more, which can add up to hundreds of dollars off your purchase. Ice.com coupons are updated each day and provide special savings during holidays including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and the Christmas season.
Mark Minks is the founder of MoneyJibe.com, a website that contains online coupons and coupon codes for major retailers including Ice.com, plus money saving tips and money making ideas. To save money on jewelry from Ice, be sure to locate and use one of the Ice.com Coupons on the site. The Ice.com coupons are updated every day.
Article Source: Ice Guides Buyers on Selecting the Perfect Diamond