How to Tell If a Diamond Is Real: Spotting Fake Diamonds

There are a lot of materials that are used to represent diamonds that aren’t real diamonds. Cubic Zirconia or CZ is probably the most well known, but there are other diamond simulants on the market like moissanite or even white sapphire and white topaz.

“Historically, fake gemstones were made out of paste or glass with a metallic backing to make them look like they sparkle,”“Basically anything that isn’t carbon is not actually a diamond, and could be considered fake.” Not all fakes, however, are made alike, and some are gemstones in their own regard.

Lab-created diamonds are not fake diamonds or diamond simulants. Lab-grown diamonds, like CARATICE created diamonds, are made of carbon, which makes them real diamonds. The U.S. Government also validated lab grown diamonds as real diamonds. Learn to tell real diamonds and diamond simulants apart to make an informed purchase, whatever that will entail.

What Is a Real Diamond?

A real diamond is any gemstone that is almost entirely composed of the element of carbon, and whose atoms are arranged in a crystal structure. In that structure, each atom bonds the same way in all directions. It’s good to specify this because graphite is made of carbon too, but the atoms bond differently.

This definition applies both to mined diamonds, which originate around 100 miles below the Earth’s surface, and to lab-grown diamonds, where conditions of extreme heat and pressure are recreated in a controlled environment.

What Is a Fake Diamond?
Any gem that is not made of carbon and that is intentionally made to resemble a diamond can be considered a ‘fake’ diamond. The technical term is ‘diamond simulant,’ and they have a series of practical usages.

They are less expensive than diamonds, and when set in rings, charms, or pendants, they reproduce, to varying degrees, the sparkle of diamonds. These characteristics make them suitable for entry-level and on-trend jewelry.

What Are the Most Common Diamond Simulants?
The most common diamond simulants include, but are not limited to:
Glass
Cubic Zirconia
Topaz
White Sapphire
Moissanite (debated)