When it comes to men, women do have a choice. Some would like guys who are chivalrous, others would go in for bad boys, some would find the studious, serious kinds interesting while others would want that outgoing, funny guy who makes everybody laugh. But when it comes to diamonds, women do not really have a choice, do they? Diamonds are so beautiful that they simply take a woman's breath away. Their timeless, gorgeous and everlasting appeal makes all women swoon over them. It is every woman's desire to own at least one of these beautiful rocks. There is only one hitch though, when a woman either gets or buys a diamond, she often wonders how to tell if a diamond is real! She often wonders, whether the diamonds that she is about to buy, those rare pieces that come from the ground or are they fake, created in a lab somewhere? For women who find themselves in such a dilemma, there are certain ways to determine a diamond's authenticity.

How can You Tell if a Diamond is Real or Not

Certification
If while buying diamond jewelry a question like "how to tell if a diamond is real?", is going on in your mind, then ask for a certificate from the jeweler to prove its authenticity. The certificates should be from diamond grading authorities such as PGGL or AGSL or GIA, who have genuine diamond grading systems. If not, then they should be from an appraiser who is associated with organizations such as American society of appraisers.

Refractive Index Test
Refractive index refers to how much light the stone bends when it passes through it. So, a good test of how to prove a diamond is real, is to simply look at it and determine its refractive index. If it's a diamond, which has a very high refractive index, the stone will sparkle a lot as diamonds bend the light very sharply. On the other hand synthetic diamonds or stones like quartz or glass bend very less light and thus, do not sparkle as much as a real diamond.

Water Test
These days many jewelers, in order to fool customers, cap fake diamonds with real diamonds on top. In order to keep a check on this practice, simply drop the stone in a glass of water. In the water, joints between the real and the fake diamond can be easily seen and thus, you will be able to identify the fraud.

Transparency Test
Another simple way to determine a diamond's authenticity is by turning it upside down and keeping it on a newspaper. If you are able to read or even see the newspaper print through the stone, then it may not be a diamond as diamonds are not transparent like some other stones. If the diamond is mounted, then to check its authenticity, simply look at its bottom. If it's real, you should not be able to see it from top.

Breath Test
One of the ways to tell if a diamond is real is by using the breathing method. All you have to do is to breathe on the diamond, if it becomes very foggy and the fog stays on it for more than four seconds, like what happens when we breathe on glass, then it probably is one of the simulated diamonds. A diamond, unlike other stones, is formed from extremely compressed carbon molecules, making it very hard by nature. That's why it does not stay foggy for long like other stones.

The Scratch Test
In Hollywood movies, when the characters wonder, "how to tell if a diamond is real?", we see that one of them scratches the diamond with a mirror or glass to find out the truth. The same method can be replicated in real life too. So, the next time you go to buy a diamond, carry along a piece of mirror with you. When you scratch the stone with mirror, if it's a diamond, it would abase the mirror as diamonds are very hard. If the mirror remains unaffected or if the stone gets damaged, it's a sure sign that it is not a real diamond
In the end I would just say that instead of getting all worked up thinking how to tell if a diamond is real, just enjoy wearing your jewelry. If it's a gift from someone, appreciate the sentiment behind it rather than thinking about its monetary value. If the piece of jewelry is looking good on you, it is all that matters.     By Aastha Dogra

Diamonds are undoubtedly a girl's best friends and till recently, this precious stone was not exposed to any kind of competition as far as its value, romantic implications and importance in specific occasions are concerned. However, along came competition in the form of moissanite and its various diamond-like gemological characteristics loomed large over the future of original diamonds. Before we embark upon dissecting the various aspects of moissanite vs diamond to uncover the similarities and differences between these mineral based gemstones, let's get to know each of these contenders a little more closely. Before we proceed, let me disclose one interesting fact about moissanite - most moissanites that we get today are synthetic as they are artificially synthesized in laboratories, owing to the extreme rarity of the naturally occurring mother mineral.
Moissanite is also known as silicon carbide as the former is a synthesized form of the latter. Silicon carbide was first artificially synthesized in the laboratory by Jons Jacob Berzelius to produce moissanite. The naturally occurring, extremely rare mineral moissanite was first discovered by Henri Moissan, after which it is named. Moissanite is one of the hardest known substance standing second only after diamond as far as its hardness is concerned. It was first produced as a substitute for diamond and meant to replace diamond as an abrasive agent and a cutting material. Its crystalline characteristics are also similar to diamonds as the covalent bonds that hold it together are surprisingly similar to those of diamonds.
Diamonds, as the majority of us know, is a carbon allotrope which is the hardest known substance on Earth and is mostly used in the jewelry as a precious stone and is industrially used as an excellent abrasive and cutting agent. The most unique quality of diamonds as gemstones is their fire which enhances their ornamental appeal and is attributed to its heightened ability to disperse light rays. Moving on to moissanite vs diamond, let's see if the former can really substitute the latter in terms of aesthetic appeal, industrial utility and - the biggest point of concern - cost.

All this means that although moissanite is more brilliant than diamonds and has more fire, diamond is still the hardest substance of all and it still occurs in the pure, white form which indicates an absolute absence of metallic impurities. Now, as far as moissanite vs diamond cost is concerned, a moissanite jewelry set would cost you only about 10% of what an identical set of diamond jewelry would cost you. That clearly means that moissanite is way cheaper than diamond but are as beautiful as the latter as far as aesthetic appeal is concerned. This is the reason why moissanite crystals are often known as simulated diamonds. In fact, unless you are a qualified gemologist or a veteran jeweler, you will never be able to make out the difference between the two!

Moissanite or Diamond?
Well, that depends upon a lot of things - your budget, your taste, the occasion. If you want to dazzle at that oncoming social gathering but are not comfortable spending a fortune for it, then moissanite jewelry is just the thing for you. Unless you tell anyone, no one's gonna guess that those aren't diamonds that you are wearing as moissanite does not contain many of the evident flaws carried by most synthetic diamonds. However, and this is my personal opinion, if you're shopping for a rock to wear on a very personal (read intimate) occasion such as your engagement or wedding, nothing equals the romance of a diamond! It's more than the rock itself, it's about all those romantic and passionate associations that diamonds come with that makes it so special during these events.

So, that concludes the various aspects of the debate on moissanite vs diamond. Being cheap substitutes of diamonds and having a strikingly similar appearance (though packing more brilliance) to diamonds, moissanites are swiftly garnering a lot of popularity. However, that doesn't threaten the popularity or preference for diamonds in any way as there are those moments in our lives which never seem complete unless they get reflected upon the facets of a well cut diamond. So, while you may consider gifting your girl a moissanite pendant this Valentine, don't think twice to head for that diamond ring when you propose!            By Ishani Chatterjee Shukla