diamonds

[sengas]

please can anyone tell me how l can tell if the stones in an old ring of mine are diamonds, without going to a shop is there anyway l can find out any test etc.,

[rowanwitch]

If you know it is a very old ring try scratching a piece of glass with them not a definitive test but if they mark the glass it's likely they are diamonds also what are they set in? if its platinum its even more likely. This isn't a good method for modern jewellery as some of the modern synthetic stones are pretty much as hard as diamonds

[Johnysid]

Rowanwitch is right, diamonds scratch glass. Diamonds also get a very fine layer of grease on their surface after a few days of wear without cleaning, experts can spot this immediately. If you have a jeweller's lens you should also spot tiny black inclusions inside the stone if it is real and not the very best quality. Diamonds are almost always set in gold, white gold or platinum so look for a gold or platinum hallmark on the metal. If the ring is silver (slight blackening visible in the crevices of the silver metal) it is unlikely that you have a diamond.

Other than taking the ring to a jeweller you could compare it with other stones that you know are not diamonds such as glass (paste), white sapphire, quartz, white topaz and zircons - ask your friends for samples.

[rowanwitch]

Diamonds were often set in silver in Victorian times and earlier I have a diamond and siver brooch mearly caught me out as I didn't expect the stones to be real. Platinum became popular in the Edwardian period when the fashion was for lighter and more delicate settings.

[daffy654]

Any jeweller can tell you if it is a diamond and they don't usually charge for it. I know you said you didn't want to take it to a shop but it is the only way you can know for sure.

[whiskeysheri]

I worked for Ernest Jones and we didn't ever charge to tell you if they were real, sengas. They have "diamond testers" they hold on the stone that bleep if they're real.

[joko]

if you do take it to a shop, dont let them keep hold of it or take it out of your sight though - most places are trustworthy but you may be unlucky and get one that swaps the stone and tells you that its a fake...

[daffy654]

What ridiculous paranoia joko!

[Mick-Talbot]

OOOOOH you.re brave, daffy
I was going to say that but .....well I was scared.

[daffy654]

I have just asked my oh (works in a jewellers) how long it would take to change a stone in a ring and he says an hour MINIMUM! There is no way it could be done while you wait if they are supposedly just testing the stone.

[ChuckFickens]

But you might walk into a jewellers that has a secret sleep ray hidden below the counter....

Though a tin foil hat should protect against that.

[daffy654]

Lol@ Chuck :)

[Brinjal]

The jeweler will tell you straight away if they are diamonds or not. No need to leave it with them. If you do leave jewelry for repairs or valuations then the jeweler will write on the receipt what the stones are when excepting the piece in.

[chrissa1]

A simple test is to breathe on them with a "huh". Glass will mist up, diamonds don't.

[joko]

lol... not paranoia at all - i did note that it was pretty unlikely - but that sort of thing can and does happen...google it.
if you leave the stone with them for any length of time they 'could' switch it ... and you would never know ... or are you suggesting that dodgy things never happen?

MT - stalking me again i see... ? lol

[StevenJameson]

There are ways to know if it's a real diamond but if I were you I'll try to check it with a reputable jeweler than guessing if it's real or not. Joko is right, there are things that might happen while checking so never ever leave the jewelry out of your sight! You know how money can change the whole world so just be aware.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/20/opinion/selby-diamond-heist/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.diamondspark.com/how-buy-diamonds