How to Accurately Test Lab Grown Diamonds: Your Complete Guide | Linjer Jewelry
Lab grown diamonds are diamonds created in a laboratory by replicating the heat and pressure that forms earth-mined diamonds. Just like natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are made of 100% pure crystallized carbon and are chemically, physically and visually identical to earth-mined diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds, the only difference between them and earth-mined diamonds are the origin! Moreover, just like earth-mined diamonds, there are proper methods to differentiate our lab grown diamonds from fake ones. At our factories, we rely on machines specifically made for lab grown diamonds (LGD machines), which are costly but guarantee reliable results unlike testing pens that frequently make errors and misread our diamonds as fake, or moissanite. Read on to understand how diamond readings work!
Are Lab Grown Diamonds the same as Moissanite?
No, lab grown diamonds and moissanites are not the same. Although both gems are created in laboratories, they have several distinct differences. Lab grown diamonds are chemically composed of pure carbon like earth-mined diamonds, whereas moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral made of silicon carbide. Lab grown diamonds rank a 10 on the Mohr’s scale (hardest known natural material), and moissanites are a 9.25, making them just slightly softer. Finally, diamonds have a ‘brilliance’ and typically reflect white, whilst moissanites are known for ‘fire’ – colorful flashes of light that happen when the stone reflects.
How Does a Diamond Testing Device Tell Apart Real Diamonds From Fakes?
A ‘Diamond Tester’ is a device that is used to distinguish diamonds from other gemstones and faux materials. These machines use three types of testing—UV fluorescence testing, photoluminescence spectroscopy and ‘DiamondView’.
The first type is according to light emitted by a diamond. All diamonds emit light, whether naturally mined or lab grown, but with varying intensity and fluorescence color. Diamond Testers will analyze these fluorescent properties to understand which are lab grown and not.
Photoluminescence spectroscopy is a technique where light is shone on a diamond to analyze the emitted light and understand the impurities and defects of the crystal structure which gives insight into its origin.
Finally, DiamondView is an instrument that uses deep-UV imaging to see growth patterns inside the diamonds. Earth-mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds have different patterns, which can again show the origin of the diamond.
Can a Lab Grown Diamond Pass a Diamond Tester?
Yes, lab grown diamonds can pass a diamond tester but it depends on the type of tester that is being used! As we’ve mentioned, earth-mined diamonds and lab grown diamonds are composed of virtually the exact same properties including thermal and electrical conductivity, which means they will pass heat-based testers as a diamond. However, some lab grown diamonds, especially those produced using a specific method that utilizes high pressure and high temperature, may continue trace amounts of metal as a consequence, which can sometimes make electrical conductivity testers produce a false negative. To make sure you always get the most accurate and reliable reading for lab grown diamonds, it is crucial to use the proper tools and machines for the most precise readings!
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Do Diamond Testing Pens Work?
Diamond testing pens typically rely on thermal conductivity and can normally work when distinguishing real diamonds from cubic zirconia. However, when it comes to identifying moissanite and lab grown diamonds, they can face some limitations and present false negatives. Depending on factors such as the cleanliness of the stone, its size, and the quality of the testing pen, the result may produce a false positive, misidentifying lab grown diamonds as moissanite.
How to Tell if Your Lab Diamond Is Real
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds that are composed of the same pure carbon and physical properties of earth-mined diamonds. Therefore, to tell if a lab grown diamond is real or not there are two methods: one – testing your diamonds at a reputable gemological laboratory and two – using specialized testing equipment. Reputable labs like the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute use advanced equipment that can detect differences between lab grown diamonds and earth-mined diamonds. Using specialized testing equipment is the key to distinguishing whether or not your lab grown diamonds are real. THe equipment tests very minute differences to determine the origin of your diamonds!
Can a Diamond Tester Mistake a Diamond for Moissanite?
Yes, a diamond tester can mistake a diamond for moissanite. Diamonds are very good conductors of heat, and moissanites also have a relatively high conductivity for heat. If a diamond tester that only measures heat transfer is used, this can cause moissanites to incorrectly present as a diamond.
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How Can Jewelers Get Accurate Readings for Lab Grown Diamonds?
Jewelers should use multiple tools and techniques to assure accuracy of diamond readings. Firstly, jewelers should use testers that combine thermal and electrical conductivity. To distinguish lab grown diamonds from other diamonds and gemstones, these are some of the most reliable methods as lab grown diamonds have miniscule differing properties to earth-mined diamonds.
Jewelers can also use spectrometers, DiamondView or fluorescence lamps. All of these devices analyze different features of the diamond from emitted light, growth pattern of the crystal and fluorescence patterns to generate an accurate reading for lab grown diamonds. Highly experienced jewelers can also utilize high-powered microscopes to see the growth pattern of the diamond, which shows whether the diamond is lab grown or not.
Finally, jewelers without access to any equipment should work with reputable and certified laboratories that have the equipment to prove if a diamond is lab-grown, and will provide documentation detailing diamond readings. The technology for detecting lab-grown diamonds is also constantly evolving, so jewelers must stay informed about the latest advancements in testing equipment and techniques.
How to Choose the Right Diamonds for You?
As we’ve laid out, there are numerous reliable and proper methods to properly test your lab grown diamonds for authenticity! It’s important to purchase your diamonds from reliable sellers or jewelers that will convey accurate information about how and where they diamonds are sourced from.
At Linjer, we are glad to always offer our customers high-quality and authentic lab grown diamonds to fulfill your desire for sparkle without sacrificing quality, sustainability, ethicality or accessibility! Obviously, whether you choose to ultimately purchase lab grown or earth-mined diamonds is up to you, but we do embolden you to consider the following factors! Firstly, lab grown diamonds are conflict-free and less harmful to the environment, letting you consume consciously. Lab grown diamonds are equal quality to earth mined and have extremely high brilliance, all whilst being 50% or 75% cheaper than earth-mined diamonds. Finally, for those looking for a specific diamond color like pink, red or blue, these fancy colored diamonds are very hard to find in nature at a high quality, but these luxurious colors can be easily obtained with lab grown alternatives!
Shop our Diamond Collection now knowing you will receive a forever stunning piece at a fair price, made conflict-free and guaranteed authentic.