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Syd
Lv 4
Syd asked in Beauty & StyleFashion & Accessories · 1 decade ago

Is there any way to tell if a diamond is real or not?

I bought a old ring at a thrift store for a dollar. It was mixed in with a bunch of old jewelry that the owner had no idea where it came from, but to me it looks kind of like an engagment ring. I don't really care if it's worth anything; I bought it because it was pretty and it fit my finger, but I thought it would be interesting to know if it were real or not.

It has four small 'diamonds' on either side of two bigger ones, and it's in a silver band. Inside the band has '925' stamped into it... Does that mean anything?

Like I said, I'm just kind of asking for fun, I don't want to take it to a jeweler's or anything.

Anyone have any ideas?

Update:

The stones are set too deep in the setting to scratch glass, but thanks for the answers! :-)

Update 2:

Thanks for all the tips, guys! I looked at it a little closer, and it does have prongs on it on the smallest ones, but not on the top two, and underneath the stones is open.

It must have been dusty, too, because I cleaned it with a little soap and water and it's sparkling like crazy, which is impressive because it's pretty dim right here by the computer.

I think I will take it and have it looked at by a jeweler, but it's pretty no matter what.

13 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The 925 means it is 92.5% silver, also known as sterling silver.

    If you own a blacklight, place the ring under it, and turn it on, if the "diamonds" show color, they are not real.

    Most people will say to scratch glass with it, but if they are tiny, what you are doing is scratching the mounting holding in the stone against the glass.

    Don't use vinegar and water to clean the ring, because the vinegar will tarnish the silver. Use an old toothbrush with a drop of toothpaste to clean the stones and ring. After you clean it, if you have a strong magnifying glass, you can see if there are imperfections in the stones. If the stones are tiny, you wouldn't be able to tell, if there are, usually it means they probably are diamonds, but not always.

    I would clean the ring, then ask someone at a pawn shop to look at it. They could tell you if it is or is not worth anything.

    Good luck. I found a Rolex watch worth $7,000 at a garage sale for a dollar. It had no second hand or crystal, I got it fixed, and the man told me what it was worth, so to make sure, I took it to a couple of other places to confirm it.

  • 1 decade ago

    Personally, I would take it to a jeweler and ask for an appraisal on the ring and then you will know for sure if the stones are real or simulated. Plus if it is real an appraisal is great for insurance purposes. The 925 on the ring is the metal and 925 is for sterling silver so that answers one of your questions.

  • well usually if the gold it is made from is real it will have a carat sign on the inside like 10kt. or whatever it is. cubic zirconia is a fake daimond. u can tell the diffirence because a cubic zirconia looks much more sparkly. it has almost a rainbow effect to it and is very sprakly and glittery. where as a diamond is sparkly but not really in a rainbow color fashion but more of like small bits of glits in the diamond here n there. but the best way to find out is by taking it to a jeweler and just asking them their opinion. they can't charge u for that.

  • minus
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Drop it. If it cracks the diamond is fake. Use the diamond to scratch glass. If the glass scratches the diamonds are really. Why? Because diamonds are the hardest surfaces on earth.

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  • Diamonds are mounted on points to enable it to breathe. Fake diamonds are mounted flush to the ring with no space between it and the ring

  • 1 decade ago

    if u go to Kohl's, or a jewelery department/store, they should have a little machine (shaped like a pen), and what they do is press it against the gem. if it beeps and the light turns green, it is a diamond.. if it turns red, it is fake. something like that :)

    used to work @ kohl's :)

  • 1 decade ago

    nothing will cut glass but a real diamond

  • UVRay
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Yeah. Scratch glass with it. That's one way for sure.

  • 1 decade ago

    only diamonds will cut glass

  • 1 decade ago

    Take it to a appraiser.

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