How Can You Tell if an Uncut Diamond Is Real?

On our blog, you have often had the opportunity to read about cut and uncut diamonds, the difference between them, their characteristics, and many more.

When you own something unique and valuable, you often question its originality. Therefore, if you have uncut diamonds, you have probably wondered the following: How can you tell if an uncut diamond is real? The most straightforward answer to the question would be:

Examine the diamond with a magnifying glass or microscope to check for rounded edges with minor triangular dents. An original uncut diamond should have a vaseline-like coating on it.

But what does that mean? First, we must consider that there are different diamonds of different colors, shapes, and values. You must adopt universal rules to the type of diamond, so it is necessary to adjust the way to check whether the diamond is real or not.

In addition to magnifying glasses and microscopes as tools used for testing, additional tests can lead you to a match related to the diamond you own. Therefore, we have set aside tests for you to do yourself at home.

If you want to get a detailed procedure for checking if your rough diamond is real and to learn more about uncut diamonds, we recommend you to continue reading this article!

The Raw Uncut Diamonds And Their Characteristics

First, let’s start with what uncut diamonds are, their characteristics, and their value so that we can better approach the topic of observing uncut diamonds and trying to discern whether a diamond is real or not.

Unpolished stones, or those that have not been expertly fashioned into a specific size or form, are known as raw, uncut diamonds.

The colors and shapes of natural rough diamonds vary greatly. As natural diamonds exist in colored and colorless varieties, rough diamonds are available in various hues, including pink, gray, blue, and black.

The most common shape for uncut diamonds is an octahedron. However, before being used in jewelry, they still need to be cut and polished, even though their quality is often high once mined. As a result, the diamonds in your diamond bracelets or rings seem very different from raw, uncut diamonds.

Uncut diamonds resemble translucent or transparent crystals. These might be colorless or have a brownish or yellowish tint. The edges of a natural diamond may be angular or rounded.

The cut has a significant role in determining a diamond’s value. Carat, color, and clarity are the primary determinants of an uncut diamond’s price. Carat is a measurement of weight. Hence the higher the carat, the more expensive it is. But, of course, this is predicated on the notion that its caliber is also excellent.

Now that we’ve clarified what uncut diamonds are and many more things, let’s move on to the main topic: How to know if a rough diamond is original and authentic or not?

Let’s get started!

How Can You Tell If An Uncut Diamond Is Real?

There are several ways to determine whether the uncut diamond you own is real. We have singled out for you the methods that are most commonly used today and that lead to a solution in just a few steps.

So let’s see what those methods are!

1. Count The Sides Of The Crystal By Looking Down At Its Top

If we look at a diamond and its top, we can get an answer to our original question. If you are wondering how this is possible, let’s clarify!

Diamonds are cubic, whereas quartz and other stones are hexagonal. You should count the number of sides by looking down at the crystal’s tip. There is a chance that the crystal is a diamond if it has four sides. If it has six sides, it is probably a quartz crystal.

The visual test is not conclusive, but it is a simple approach to rule out other gemstones. For example, if the crystal has four sides, utilize additional techniques to confirm that it is a diamond.

2. Rub The Crystal Against A Corundum Disc

Another crystal that is just somewhat less hard than a diamond is a corundum. Buy an inexpensive chunk of corundum, or invest in a kit to evaluate minerals containing corundum.

Scrape the alleged diamond against the corundum while holding it hard against a surface. The crystal is a diamond if it leaves a clear scratch. It is a different gemstone if it does not leave a scratch.

The crystals are scientifically ranked by hardness using the Mohs scale. On the scale, corundum is a 9, while diamonds are a 10. Because of this, when you brush the two crystals together, it leaves a scratch.

Remember, the difference between a diamond and corundum exists. So pay close attention when you buy!

3. Look For Defects And Flaws Inside The Diamond Using A Magnifier

A loupe is a specialized magnifying glass used for diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry that you can get from any jewelry store. What will a magnifying glass reveal to you to get information about your diamonds?

Examine the diamond with a loupe to check for rounded edges with minor triangular dents. On the other hand, cubic diamonds will have parallelograms or squares that have been rotated.

A genuine uncut diamond should also have a vaseline-like coating on it. A diamond will have tiny flaws known as inclusions. However, people may expertly make a fake diamond. So be careful!

4. Gravity Test

It would be imprudent for anyone interested in learning how to spot a raw diamond to ignore particular gravity. Simply put, specific gravity is the ratio between a substance’s density and that of a standard liquid. This liquid typically has a 1 g/mL density and is pure, distilled water.

The specific gravity of diamonds ranges from 3.53 to 3.5. Quartz, in contrast, has a specific gravity between 2.6 and 2.7. With confidence, you may use a gemstone’s specific gravity to determine if it is a raw diamond.

For Example: Calculate 16.84 g (0.594 oz) / 4.8 g (0.17 oz)=3.51 g/cm3 if your stone weighs 16.84 g (0.594 oz) and the weight of the stone floating in water is 4.8 g (0.17 oz).

Doing so might confirm that your stone’s density is consistent with that of diamonds.

Using shaker tables or other devices with a similar function, you may also use this characteristic of diamonds to distinguish them from other jewels.

5. Hardness Test

The hardest mineral that exists in nature is diamond. Talc, the softest mineral, is scored as one on the Mohs Hardness Scale, whereas diamond, the hardest material, is listed as ten. People use this scale to rank all minerals.

Diamonds can scratch all other minerals, but only diamonds can scratch other diamonds.

The crystal quartz, which has a Mohs hardness of 7, is most likely to be mistaken for diamonds when it is uncut raw. Although hardness test kits are available, they only measure materials up to Mohs Hardness 9, which is corundum.

Corundum scrapes itself, and everything becomes softer. Hence diamond is the only mineral impervious to corundum’s abrasiveness. In contrast, a mineral that is scratched by corundum is not a diamond.

Problems with the hardness test include specimen damage and the requirement to evaluate a brand-new, unweathered surface. If the surface being tested is worn, a reduced hardness reading will be recorded. However, diamonds are resistant to weathering.

What about sparkle tests? Let’s take a look!

6. Sparkle Test

Diamonds have a unique quality of light reflection: While the diamond will shine white and gray inside the stone (this is called “brilliance“), it will reflect rainbow hues outside the stone onto other objects (this dispersed light is known as “fire“).

Reflectivity includes the fire (colored light) and brightness (white light sparkle) that emanate from a diamond’s table. A false diamond would have a rainbow-colored inside that is visible.

Contrary to popular belief, diamonds don’t glitter like a rainbow. They certainly glitter; However, the hue is grayer. It might not be a diamond if you notice anything with rainbow hues inside the stone.

Use the sparkle test to gauge reflectivity: The only equipment needed for the sparkle test is your eyes. Place the contested diamond under a standard bulb. Observe how the stone reflects light. Do you see how the diamond reflects brilliant shimmers of white light? Do you also see multicolored light reflections?

A real diamond has extraordinary brilliance because of how beautifully it reflects white light. Diamonds also brilliantly reflect colorful light, commonly known as fire.

You may see a marked contrast between the sparkle of white and colored light that a real diamond emits and that of a fake diamond, such as cubic zirconia.

Related Read: Why Does A Diamond Sparkle?

7. Scratch Test

Fortunately, the scratch test procedure is trustworthy and efficient for individuals who wish to know how to recognize a raw diamond on the spot.

Usually, a synthetic ruby or sapphire (corundum) plate is used to rub the putative diamond against.

Rubies and sapphires are the ideal materials to evaluate a potential diamond with since they are only a little softer than diamonds on the hardness scale.

No other substance could ever scratch such a plate. It stands to reason that a stone is a genuine diamond if it scratches the plate.

We are nearing the end, so let’s see what possibilities we have left!

Related Read: Can You Scratch A Real Diamond?

8. Microscope Test

People who wish to know how to identify a raw diamond are frequently relieved to learn that they can do so simply by glancing at the stone.

However, it is also essential to utilizing a microscope or, even better, a 10x jeweler’s loupe. When attempting to identify a diamond, there are two key things to look for:

The first is how it seems; when seen under a microscope, diamonds appear to have a thin layer of Vaseline.
Indented triangles, parallelograms, and rotated squares are a couple of other marks to keep an eye out for.

Now that we have gone through all the possible options for testing the originality of the diamond, we are left with only one more option, which is to turn to an expert!

9. Take The Diamond To A Professional For Evaluation

It is okay to try more tests at home, but if you are unsure about your assessment, test result, or something else, it might be a good idea to consult a professional.

So, if you’re still doubtful, have the diamond evaluated by a specialist. If you run the tests and believe you have a diamond, take it to a jeweler to have it graded and authenticated to guarantee its quality.

Additionally, they can get a letter of authenticity and unique report number from GIA or another diamond grading agency. The only surefire method to know if your crystal contains a diamond is to have an expert inspect it.

Related Read: How Do I Get My Rough Diamond Certified?

It is time to end the article about tests and procedures we have set aside for you. Let’s conclude all this together!

Final Thoughts

We believe we have addressed the initial query: How Can You Tell If An Uncut Diamond Is Real? The straightforward solution and the answer to that question will be:

To examine the diamond under a microscope or magnifying lens to look for rounded edges and little triangular dents. A vaseline-like covering should be on an original, uncut diamond.

Although we have given you as much information as possible regarding uncut diamonds, their characteristics, and many tests in this article, we hope we managed to entertain you as well.

We have tried to explain in detail in this article how to find out if an uncut diamond you own is original and authentic or if it is fake. Lastly, if you are unsure of any of the tests you have performed yourself, contact a professional for help.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed creating it!