Diamonds have been a popular part of jewelry for a long time now. However, it’s only in recent years that black diamonds have got their fair share of attention.
Nowadays, black diamonds have been the go-to type of diamond for many people. The black diamond offers something different to the jewelry – and many people prefer it if they prefer an alternative look.
To be fair, all that poses the question about the quality and the origin of the black diamond. Are black diamonds real diamonds? Do black diamonds pass the diamond tester?
To find out, continue reading our article!
What Are Black Diamonds?
Everyone knows that white diamonds are created under pressure, deep below Earth’s surface. Is it the same with black diamonds or not? So, let’s talk about black diamonds and what they truly are.
Black diamonds, also called Carbonados – are the natural black diamonds found in this exact, black-colored state in nature. The natural black diamond can only be found in Brazil and parts of the Central African Republic. They are one of the oldest things on Earth, too – some of them were created 3 billion years ago!
However, not all black diamonds are natural black diamonds – some of them are treated to be more “black.” The reason for that is that not all black diamonds are completely black, to begin with, and they have a brownish, grayish color to them, instead.
So, to enhance their color, some of these diamonds are treated with radiation or heat to darken them.
Generally speaking, you can do this with any diamond, not just a genuine Carbonado, making these diamonds very resilient.
A natural, genuine black diamond is polycrystalline – which means that one diamond is made out of more differently oriented crystals. Because of that, the black diamond has a lot of inclusions – but with the advantage of being shinier than other diamonds.
The inclusions are a term used to describe the tiny particles of other materials trapped inside the gem.
Black diamonds themselves are not too expensive, but cutting the black diamond is a special process – and only the best jewelers can tackle the black diamond.
The reason behind that would have to be that these diamonds have a pitted surface, along with lots of inclusions in the stone itself. Enhanced black diamonds have even more inclusions thanks to the heat treatment, and they can often have many surface cuts as well.
Related Read: What Are Enhanced Diamonds?
Because these diamonds are so fragile, it’s essential to pick them carefully because they can – and will – break if not taken care of properly.
They are getting more and more popular because they offer something unique for engagement rings or other pieces of fine jewelry.
Learn More: Black Diamond Vs. White Diamond: Comparison Guide
Do Black Diamonds Pass The Diamond Tester?
Diamond testers are fun and pretty affordable these days, meaning you can get one for a chunk of change in many shops – and on the Internet – if you have some gems that need testing.
These diamond testers have a needle on one end – and the tip is used to detect the authenticity of the diamond. How does it work?
The needle will test for thermal connectivity to give an accurate result and reveal whether the diamond is genuine or not.
To work the diamond tester, all you have to do is place the needle against the diamond and keep it there for a few moments. The thermal connectivity will calculate the levels, and if the readings are positive, the tester will show positive results.
Congrats, your diamond isn’t fake!
Some diamond testers will even show the levels fluctuating on the meter, but some will only show a positive or a negative result. Even more so, some diamond testers make a sound to indicate that the test is over, while some will only show the readings on the meter.
It all depends on the model. Learn More: How Much Is A Diamond Tester?
Either way, the process will be over in a few moments.
These devices are relatively accurate at testing white diamonds and such – but how good are they at detecting black diamonds?
Well, to be entirely honest – black diamonds won’t pass the diamond tester. Or, to rephrase that, it’s not likely that your black diamond will pass the diamond tester, despite being a genuine gemstone.
Wait, what?
That’s right; accurate readings are harder to get with black diamonds.
The problem with diamond testers is that they work perfectly on transparent, white diamonds. On the flip side, black diamonds are opaque and don’t reflect as much light as regular diamonds do.
Because of that, using a diamond tester – even on a certified, genuine black diamond – can show that the black diamond is not real. In fact, the tester will likely show that the gemstone is moissanite – even if you know that it’s not.
The reason for that is, again, that black diamonds are completely opaque.
Since regular, white diamonds are transparent, the thermal connectivity of the diamond tester works on them. However, the thermal connectivity doesn’t pass through the black diamond.
Because of that, you will have to rely on other methods to make sure your black diamond is a real diamond – and not moissanite or cubic zirconia.
On that note: If the price of the black diamond is too good to be true, it’s likely because the stone is not a genuine black diamond.
Learn More:
How To Check If The Black Diamond Is Real?
We have determined that the diamond tester doesn’t usually work on black diamonds. Of course, that’s an issue since many people rely on the diamond tester to show the authenticity of the diamond – and could make a costly mistake with one of these devices.
Many people will opt out of buying a black diamond because the diamond tester will show negative results or indicate that the gemstone is moissanite.
On the flip side, the diamond tester could show that moissanite is a real diamond, making it an even bigger issue. Of course, all that depends on the diamond tester type, but most diamond testers won’t work on black diamonds. Our advice to you is that you ask a professional for help there.
You don’t want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a stone that is worth little to nothing.
So, we advise you to pay a visit to the local jeweler or, better yet, a certified gemologist. As for the jewelers, we recommend you be careful because many jewelers – especially those from small, unknown stores – aren’t as skilled at evaluating the stones.
Meaning, some jewelers can make a mistake evaluating the stone. Many jewelers will perform a test using regular diamond testers that check the light reflections inside the diamonds. Of course, that test works flawlessly on white diamonds, but black diamonds? Not so much.
So, they’d essentially make the same mistake you would’ve made by testing the diamond at home. Because of their opaque appearance, black diamonds will not pass this test.
So, what is the best way to check whether the black diamond is genuine, then? Believe it or not – using sandpaper! That’s the easiest and the quickest way to check out the authenticity of a black diamond. If the stone is passed off as a real diamond and it’s, in fact, moissanite, it will scratch with sandpaper.
And if it’s real, it will stay perfect even after using sandpaper. Black diamonds are very strong and very resilient, and sandpaper cannot damage a Carbonado one bit.
See Also: Do Black Diamonds Scratch Easily?
How To Buy A Genuine Black Diamond?
That may seem like a tricky question because often, people check the authenticity of the black diamond only after they have already purchased it.
So, how can you avoid the mistake of unknowingly buying a fake diamond?
Well, the first thing you’ll need to do is avoid good deals on the Internet, especially those coming from sketchy or unknown stores. Stick to the well-known, reputable jewelry brands to make sure you don’t spend your savings on an engagement ring that’s worth so much less.
After their first research on black diamonds, many people find out that these diamonds are far cheaper than their white counterparts. That may seem like a warning sign that the black diamonds in question aren’t real – but it doesn’t have to always be the case.
Black diamonds, in general, are more affordable because they’re completely opaque and reflect less light than “regular” diamonds. That makes them a less popular choice than the classic white diamond.
Anyway, stick to the stores that have a good reputation and only sell authentic stones.
Genuine black diamonds have certificates that prove their origin and their authenticity. Of course, if you do buy something that you’re positive is a black diamond and still want to check out if it’s authentic, please do!
We recommend that you take your time finding the right gemologist or a jeweler who can help you identify the gemstone. Some jewelers don’t know that black diamonds cannot be tested with traditional diamond testers because they will show inaccurate results.
Are Black Diamonds And Black Moissanite The Same?
Well, at first glance, genuine black diamonds and black moissanite look virtually the same. However, the harsh reality is that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The moissanite and black diamonds – when you examine them carefully – are entirely different gems. The black diamonds are found in their exact state in nature, while moissanite is primarily synthetic.
Because of that, moissanite seems so perfect – without any inclusions or cuts, and it reflects the light perfectly. Compared to moissanite, a black diamond seems more “real,” with its differences in color, cuts, and sheen.
It comes with many defects usually, and only rarely will you see a pitch-black diamond.
What’s more, even if you do see a perfect black diamond, it will come with a higher price – close to the price of a white diamond. Because of that, moissanite was created to mimic the black diamond but at more affordable prices.
What Is Moissanite?
First things first – moissanite is a genuine stone that is extremely rarely found in nature. Even more so, at the time moissanite was discovered, it was mistaken for a diamond – understandably so.
However, with further examination, it was discovered that moissanite is a gem-quality silicon carbide rather than a diamond. Albeit pretty similar in appearance, moissanite is still very different from the diamond in many ways.
Later on, scientists discovered that moissanite could be made in the lab, and then the mass production of the gem started. So, the main issue with moissanite is that it can pass the diamond tester.
It’s lab-grown, meaning it was created to resemble a genuine gemstone, and therefore can pass a standard diamond tester easily.
That’s a cause for concern for many people who believe they hit the jackpot, buying a black diamond at a low price, all because it passed a diamond tester.
But unfortunately, it was moissanite.
Our official advice is: Don’t trust the diamond tester when it comes to black diamonds – you can make a great mistake. Instead, let a certified jeweler or a professional check out the stone before you purchase it.
Another thing you can do is to always purchase your shiny goods at reputable stores, where you will receive the needed certificates for them.
Sometimes, moissanite and black diamonds look almost the same, and someone who isn’t a professional will not see the difference.
So, when it comes to this stuff, leave it to the pros!
Read Also: Do SI Diamonds Pass Diamond Tester?
Bottom Line
So, do black diamonds pass the diamond tester?
To conclude, no, black diamonds cannot pass the diamond tester. The diamond tester is a great, neat little device, but it only works on white diamonds.
For black diamonds and other colored diamonds, the diamond tester can show inaccurate results, and for someone who doesn’t know much about diamonds, it can lead to unnecessary stress.
To avoid unpleasant surprises when buying black diamonds, buy from reputable, licensed dealers!
Remember, only a good jeweler or a gemologist can tell if your black diamond is real; a diamond tester won’t be of much use here.
Learn More: How Does A Diamond Tester Work?