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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to the most popular questions...
Got a question for the Diamond Guy™? Chances
are many people have asked it already. This list will save you time
scrolling through the thousands of Q & As in the Ask the Diamond
Guy™ section. So check these FAQs first, and if your question
isn’t answered here, go ahead and Ask the Diamond Guy™!
1a. How can I tell if a diamond is real or
fake (cubic zirconia, moissanite, etc.)?
Wow! Am I ever asked this question a lot. Not
a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me if they got the real
thing. This question has been so popular I’ve devoted a whole
article to all the tests and tricks you can perform on your stone
to know if you got the “Real McCoy.” 
to be magically transported to the article.
1b. What are all the different types of simulants
and synthetics used to create fake diamonds (cubic zirconia, moissanite,
quartz, etc.)? What is your opinon of each?
Hands down cubic zirconia (c.z.)is the most popular
simulant on the market. There are two types: machine-manufactured
and hand-cut. The ones punched out by machines are hazy looking
with poor facet arrangement and poorly polished. The hand-cut ones
are the best looking. Some of the more popular companies that sell
these are Van Graff, Diamonelle, and Better Than Diamond. These
goods have a retail value of about $20.00 to $30.00 a carat but
can easily be obtained for $5.00 to $10.00 a carat from wholesalers.
Warning: A lot of people are advertising hand cut c.z.’s as
super diamond simulants and selling them for upwards of $400.00
a carat!! Don’t be fooled.
Moissanite is another popular imposter for a diamond running as
high as $500.00 a carat. They are more durable than hand cut c.z.’s
but still no match for the hardness of a diamond. They are made
by synthesizing carbon hence making them doubly refractive. The
biggest down side to these is their inability to obtain nice colors.
All the moissanite I’ve seen has a grayish dull overtone. Other
simulants like paste, glass, yttrium aluminum garnet, white corundum,
and quartz are not popular anymore due to the fact they are a distant
third in the ranking of fakes to hand cut c.z.’s and moissanite.
Synthetics – the only company making real man-made diamonds
(yellow ones) is Gemesis in Florida. They say synthetic whites will
hit the market in eighteen months. We’ll see…
2. What’s the diamond I have or the one
I’m thinking of buying worth? What should I pay?
What most people don’t realize is how much
information I need to know about the diamond in question to get
an exact best price. I need to know the measurements in millimeters,
(For rounds, minimum and maximum diameter and depth; for all other
shapes, length, width and depth), table percent, crown angle, crown
height, maximum girdle thickness, pavilion angle, pavilion depth,
total depth percentage, polish, symmetry, certificate date or appraisal
date, clarity grade, color grades and type, fluorescence, weight,
shape, treated or not, natural or not and warranty package (bonded,
partially bonded, as is). All of this information can be found on
either the certificate, appraisal, megascope or Sarin report, colorimeter
tape and warranty package. If you’d like a free evaluation,
fill in our Diamond
Value Work Sheet to the best of your ability.
3. How do I find a particular diamond, local
appraiser, jeweler, cutter or diamond dealer that best matches my
needs? Can you tell me if a jeweler in my area is reputable?
Everyone wants to know where to find the best,
most reputable, trustworthy, and bonded jewelers in their area (especially
in Chicago and New York City). These questions show up so often
I’ve built a special service called My Gemologist™ to
satisfy all these requests. By using the MyGemologist™ program,
you will have a personal advisor to help you find the best jeweler
for your needs.
to learn more.
4. How do I clean my diamond? How often should
I clean it? Where can I find diamond cleaning products?
to view a catalog of my favorite diamond care products.
The easiest method of home cleaning is ultrasonic.
An ultrasonic sends sonic waves through a cleaning solution to literally
vibrate the dirt off your jewelry. Every morning you can place your
jewelry into the cleaner and in ten minutes it’s ready to wear.
You can buy an ultrasonic cleaner for under $50 in specialty store.
*NOTE: Not all ultrasonic cleaners are safe for
all gemstones. Read the directions to be sure yours is safe for
your jewelry.
You can also clean your jewelry by hand. Purchase
a plastic container with a lid (24 oz.), a bottle of Parson’s
Sudsy Ammonia, and a medium toothbrush. Fill the container with
two parts water, one part ammonia. (Keep the lid on this solution
– the fumes are pretty strong!) Each day, place the jewelry
in this solution and let it soak for at least ten minutes. Take
the jewelry out of the solution and scrub it with the toothbrush,
making sure your scrub underneath as well as on top. Rinse with
warm water, shake off the excess water, then dry with a lint-free
cloth.
5. Is it safe to buy a diamond on the web?
There are a lot of pros and cons. To learn more
read my article, “Buying Diamonds on the Internet.”
6. Why are bonded diamonds the most sought
after?
Read my article “Bonded Jewelers” to
learn the secrets to finding the best diamond in the world.
7. What is a “warped” diamond?
A warped diamond is a diamond where the sum of
the crown height percentage, maximum girdle thickness percentage
and pavilion depth percentage doesn’t equal the total depth
percentage. (i.e. the sum of ones parts should equal the whole)
A warped diamond rarely gets over 40% light return versus non-warped
diamonds that can return a maximum of 91% light return. Read the
article “Warping” to learn more.
8. I don’t want to be a cheapskate but
I also don’t want to go overboard; what is a fair amount to
spend on an engagement ring?
I’ll leave “fair” up to you but
let me give you some averages. Out of all the women who will get
engaged this year 76% will get a ring. Sixty-six percent of those
will get a brand new ring and approximately 6-10% will wear an inherited
ring. The average size of a new engagement ring is .38ct (less than
a carat) and the average spent is $1,500 to $1,700. I find a good
rule of thumb to be about one month’s gross salary.
9. What is an “ideal” cut diamond?
The term is supposed to signify a diamond cut
to the perfect proportions for a round diamond. But since it is
not a regulated term by the FTC, anybody can call their diamond
ideal. For accurate proportions, for maximum light return read my
article, “GIA Classifications.”
*NOTE: All the angles and measurements given in
the article can be proven mathematically to determine refractivity,
brilliance, dispersion, and critical angles. For an in-depth analysis
and mathematcial formulas (for all you engineers), Ditchburn’s
book of “Light” is fantastic optional reading.
10. How do I sell a diamond that I don’t
want?
This has been such a huge question I ended up
writing an entire chapter about it in my book, How to Buy a Diamond.
Then I ended up writing a whole book titled Diamonds for Profit
to deal with secondary market diamonds.
to read “How to Sell a Diamond.”
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