The best way to tell if a diamond is real is to take it to a certified jeweler. However, you can do some at-home tests to check for authenticity. The most common ways to test a diamond's authenticity are by using a magnifying glass, performing a breath test, using a black light, etc.

The diamond breath test makes it easy to determine if your glitzy bauble is authentic. With your breath, fog up the surface of the stone. If your diamond looks cloudy for a few minutes, it is likely bogus. Real diamonds clear up quickly because they distribute heat instantly. This makes it almost impossible for real dazzlers to fog up.

A simple method to use is the diamond reflection test. All that is needed is natural sunlight. The way diamonds reflect light is unusual: the inside of a real diamond stone should sparkle gray and white, while the outside should mirror a rainbow of colors onto other surfaces. However, a phony diamond will have a rainbow of colors that you can see in the interior of the stone.

This is a quick & simple method. Find a glass and fill it ¾ of the way with water. Drop your diamond in water. If the sparkler subsides, it's real bling. If it floats underneath or at the water's surface, you have a bogus rock on your hands. A diamond has a high density, so the glass of water experiment shows if your stone matches this density level.

Did you know that a diamond is one of the strongest substances on earth, making it easy to cut through glass?

Sometimes a diamond scratch test can help you decide if the bling in question is, in fact, a genuine stone. You will need a glass plate and a loose diamond for this test. Use the questionable diamond to scratch the surface of the glass. If it scratches the glass, the chances are good that your rock is authentic. It's important to note that scratching the surface of the glass with a diamond could damage your precious gem in the process.

Look at the questionable bling under a microscope. Position it next to a genuine stone and compare the two. All diamonds contain an external or internal flaw, known as a diamond inclusion, in one form or another. Phony diamonds, however, don't have inclusions. If a bauble is too perfect and clear, it is likely phony.

You'll need a black light for this one. Once you get it, switch off the lights in your home and place the diamond beneath a UV light. Then, wait for its reaction and analyze the color it reveals; almost all diamonds will emit a blue-colored glow, but not all of them — some diamonds don't glow beneath UV light. If you see a faint fluorescent glow in a green, gray, or yellow color instead, this usually means that the questionable gem is not a diamond. However, bear in mind that the blacklight test for diamonds is not conclusive, and not all diamonds show a blue hue, so it is better to get a diamond specialist to test the dazzler using their advanced equipment.

A loupe is a tiny magnification device used by jewelers to see minor details up close. Most jewelers use loupes to examine diamonds for their class and clarity. While artificial ice is perfectly constructed, a natural diamond will have tiny imperfections called inclusions that appear under a loupe's intense magnification.

You can typically determine the authenticity of a diamond by examining the metal quality of the setting.

A pure diamond is usually set in a premium metal like gold or platinum, so look for an engraving that says 10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, or Plat. Diamonds are a considerable investment, so it is doubtful that a substantially sized diamond's setting is anything other than premium metal.

If it is a loose diamond, you can use the diamond newspaper test to determine if it is genuine or not. Then, with the flat side down, place the gemstone on a piece of newspaper. If you can read the letters through the diamond, it is faux ice. A true diamond, because of how it refracts light, you will not be able to see straight through it.

Place your hand over the flame of a candle and heat your diamond for about a minute. You should feel no heat, and the stone should remain cool to the touch. Real diamonds have a higher thermal conductivity than glass, so they can get hot quickly--but they can't store that heat in their structure.

You can typically determine the authenticity of a diamond by examining the metal quality of the setting.

The easiest and most accurate way to identify a real diamond—aside from bringing it into a certified jeweler—is to purchase an at-home diamond and gem tester. They are usually affordable and deliver quick/ reliable results.

All you are going to need is an electronic scale. Diamonds, all carbon, have a unique density of 3.52 grams per cubic centimeter. The weight of the diamond should match up with other diamonds with equivalent carat weight, color, and clarity grade. If the weight is off even slightly, you may be dealing with an imitation.

This is not the most accurate way to test a diamond, but it can give you a quick idea of whether or not what you're looking at is real. Diamonds have a very distinct sound when tapped with a metal object. For example, if you tap your diamond against a glass surface and make a solid, high-pitched chinking noise, it is probably a fake. A real diamond makes a dull thud noise when tapped against glass.

As you can see, there are a few ways that you can test to see if a diamond is real. While some methods are more reliable than others, it is always best to consult with a certified jeweler to get an expert opinion. With their help, you can ensure that your diamond is the real deal!