It’s the fairytale come true! You found your handsome prince and thank heavens, this time he likes you too! So much, he has put a rock on your finger to prove his love and commitment! The moment was magical and your heart is still aflutter but why are those bells ringing sounding more like an alarm bells than the church bells?
If you have doubts about the genuineness of your engagement ring you probably can’t think of anything else. It’s right in front of you all day long. There is no escaping it, it’s big, it’s beautiful, everyone wants to admire it but why doesn’t it sparkle like it’s supposed to? Here are some signs to help you if you are stuck between a rock and a hard place…
Sign 1
The old method of testing a diamond on a mirror to see if it leaves a scratch isn’t as reliable as people think. Many fake diamonds will also scratch the surface so it isn’t accurate. It may also damage your precious stone so it’s not recommended. A better way is to fog the stone with your breath, the genuine article will clear immediately but if it’s stays foggy it’s fake. A real diamond can disperse the heat by the time you look at it. Unfortunately this method isn’t completely reliable though, as if there is any oil or dirt on the stone it doesn’t give a clear indication. Also, it won’t work on a stone that is a doublet – were the top of the stone is diamond and the bottom half is cubic zirconia.
Sign 2
Does your engagement ring feel light or are you fingers getting a work out under this new adornment? If you can get hold of a carat or gram scale, the noticeable difference in weight will shed light on the situation. Cubic Zirconia, which is the most popular imitation, weighs 55% more than a diamond so let’s hope you’re not feeling heavy handed!
Sign 3
Most diamonds turn fluorescent blue when examined under ultra violet light. So if your ring turns blue then you know you it’s the real thing. However, you should hope for a light shade of blue, as a more intense blue indicates less value.
Sign 4
If you have good eyesight and a strong magnifying glass there are some signs that will give away your diamond’s true identity! Study the cuts on the top of the diamond to see how well they are joined. If it’s not an impersonator, they should appear sharp.
Sign 5
No one is perfect and real diamonds aren’t either. Under the microscope, check if there are any flaws such as cracks or pinpoints. These are a sure sign it’s the real thing as it is impossible to imitate this.
Sign 6
If your ring doesn’t carry a stamp you may be worried about if it’s genuine. However, don’t panic as if it has been repaired, resized or well worn the stamp may not be visible. If it does have a stamp of "10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, Plat" that indicates the setting is real gold or platinum. This means there is a good chance that the stone is real too. However if you see a ‘CZ’ stamp it means the centre of the stone is not a diamond.
Sign 7
If in doubt, the best way to verify is to take your ring to a reputable jeweller for a reliable assessment, but there are some ways you can check at home. Apply liquid foundation and a layer of powder to the back of your hand and then rub your ring against it. If you see a dark or black mark this means it is likely your ring is real. If nothing happens, it is likely to be fake.
Sign 8
If you are worried your gold ring isn’t the real thing, drop it in a just of water and see what happens. Gold is heavy and should sink straight to the bottom, if your ring can swim it may not be the Olympic gold you had hoped for.
Sign 9
Does the colour of your ring disappoint you? Why does it seem less vibrant than you had imagined? The colour of the gold is a good indication to the quality. Gold of 22k or 24k will appear brilliant, bright yellow, 18k is a strong yellow, 14k is less and 9k is quite pale. If you ring doesn’t shine like the sun, it may just be a dead ringer for the real thing.
Sign 10
The last and most obvious sign is the dreaded telltale mark left on your finger. This is a sure and sorry sign that it’s fool’s gold.
Photo Credit: ringoblog.com