All diamonds are gorgeous but brown diamonds are nothing short of extraordinary. With their earthy hue and stunning sparkle, these gemstones can enhance your look in a subtle almost seamless manner.
If you’re planning to shop brown diamond jewelry, it’s important that you’re able to tell a real brown diamond from a fake one. So let’s dive in and learn how to tell if a brown diamond is real.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Real and a Fake Brown Diamond
When it comes to spotting the difference between a real and fake brown diamond, it’s all about the details. Real brown diamonds will have a natural, earthy sparkle, while fake ones often lack that true shine. One way to explore how to tell if a gemstone is real is by checking its certification—authentic diamonds always come with one! While it’s always recommended that you get your gemstones examined by a professional, there are tests that you can carry out at home to tell the difference.
1. Examine the Hardness
Diamonds, whether white or brown, score a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them one of the toughest natural materials out there. This means they can easily scratch other substances. However, it’s a good idea to leave the scratch test to the professionals!
2. Conduct a Breath Test
To start, hold your brown diamond about an inch away from your mouth and breathe gently on it. If the fog doesn’t clear up within 5 seconds, there’s a good chance your gem isn’t real. Fake diamonds, often made of glass, tend to hold onto moisture longer than real diamonds, which clears up almost immediately.
3. Observe Under a Microscope
Place your gem under bright light and inspect it through a microscope. Real diamonds usually have tiny natural inclusions, while fake diamonds often show perfectly round bubbles just under the surface. If you spot these bubbles, it’s likely not a real diamond.
4. Try the Newspaper Test
Want an easy fix that shows you how to check if a brown diamond is real, grab a newspaper. Then, place your gemstone on a newspaper and try reading the text underneath. If the letters appear blurry or distorted, your diamond is most likely real. Real diamonds don’t let light pass through in the same way glass or fake gems do, so they create an effect that blocks your view of the text.
5. Explore the Touch Test
Gently touch the surface of the gemstone with your finger. If the diamond feels cool to the touch and retains that coolness for a moment, it’s most likely real. Diamonds are excellent heat conductors, so they don’t warm up easily. Fake stones such as glass, warm up quickly under your finger.
6. Take It to a Professional
At the end of the day, only a jeweler will be able to tell the difference between a real and fake brown diamond with 100% certainty. So, remember to have your piece professionally checked as soon as you receive it.
So, that’s how to tell if brown diamonds are real or not. Next, let’s explore some steps you should follow while buying brown diamonds.
Precautions to Take Before Buying Brown Diamonds
Unfortunately, one can come across several fake websites and sellers when searching for their perfect piece. To avoid getting duped, we recommend taking the following precautions before buying brown diamond jewelry.
1) Verify the Seller
You can do this by looking at the reviews written under their social media posts on various customer rating websites like Bizrate and BBB, for example. Apart from this, we also suggest going through all the uploaded certificates on the company’s website and ensuring that they are up to date.
2) Read the Return Policy
This is one of the most important pointers when it comes to buying a brown diamond. Remember that a good return policy is one that’ll enable you to return or exchange your stone if it is damaged or doesn’t match the specifications mentioned on the website in any way.
3) Check the Certificate of Authenticity
At its simplest, the certificate of authenticity is a document that contains essential information about the gemstone. This includes key facts like the quality grade of the brown diamond and enhancements (if any). Needless to say, with this document, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting and will be in a better position to notice any differences between the same and the physical product.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helps you make an informed decision when buying brown diamond jewelry. Knowing how to tell if a brown diamond is real can save you from any potential doubts. When purchasing, always opt for a trusted seller such as Angara, who provides certified diamonds with detailed information about their authenticity. This ensures that you’re getting a genuine, high-quality diamond.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking to gift a loved one, take a moment to buy only real brown diamonds that add timeless beauty to any collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does a brown diamond sparkle like a white diamond?
Brown diamonds have a warm, earthy brilliance, but their sparkle is less intense than a colorless diamond due to their hue.
2. Are brown diamonds naturally occurring?
Yes, brown diamonds are naturally occurring. Their color results primarily from plastic deformation, which are structural irregularities within the diamond’s crystal lattice that develop during formation.
3. Do brown diamonds pass the diamond tester?
Yes! A real brown diamond conducts heat and should pass a thermal conductivity test using a diamond tester.
