Post subject: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 9:56 am
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:16 am Posts: 3
Hi all
I have heard that CZ or moissanite can be picked up as diamond by diamond tester, when they are coated with some material probably some special chemical. If that is the case then how to identify fake from real ones without sending the stones to lab?
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 4:28 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 11:00 am Posts: 1133 Location: Monterey, CA
MJ_curious wrote:
Hi all
I have heard that CZ or moissanite can be picked up as diamond by diamond tester, when they are coated with some material probably some special chemical. If that is the case then how to identify fake from real ones without sending the stones to lab?
Just look at the stone and estimate the B:D ratio.
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 2:53 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 4:12 am Posts: 102
Believe me Barbra, you cannot trust any gem equipment which will fool you exactly when your in need, specially presidium ii...tested and failed. Such broken rough pieces of different kind of stones are found scattered in Gilgit & Kashmir mountain ranges. Shepherd's usually pick up these 5 to 10 ct chunks laying on the ground. Mostly used as for necklace beads..
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:16 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 4:12 am Posts: 102
Don't know from whom you bought those topaz or other crystals, anyway, i'm from Punjab Pakistan and i do not deal any mineral dealer/seller who is selling on line ...Because i do not know them, i have my own reputable sources. You should find good dealers in Pakistan,
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 7:31 am
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:16 am Posts: 3
My diamond tester can distinguish between diamond, moissanite and CZ. The stone i checked was of 3 carat, room temperature and indicated as diamond on tester. but SG was different.
Many a times we dont have SG measuring equipments, how to avoid scenarios like this and what the heck was that stone?
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:38 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 11:29 am Posts: 142
Specific Gravity shouldn't be too hard to measure! All you need is a scale, some wire to bend into a jig, and a cup or beaker of water... Weight the stone on the scale. This is the dry weight of the stone. With my platform scale, I have a wide circle of copper wire on the scale. From there, I come up, and bend the wire over and down a little. I either bend or solder a small basket on the end of the wire. A cup of water is then brought up into the basket (I usually mark a spot on the wire and then "tare' it there, unless I'm using a chemistry ring stand or other repeatable jig to immerse the stone. Once I "tare" this, I then drop the stone into the basket to get a wet weight. Subtract the wet weight from the dry weight, then divide the dry weight by this difference in value. This is your specific gravity. Not really much to it. It's good to have a very accurate scale for this!
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 4:15 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 11:00 am Posts: 1133 Location: Monterey, CA
Tom Herman wrote:
Specific Gravity shouldn't be too hard to measure! Not really much to it. It's good to have a very accurate scale for this!
One does not need an accurate scale of any kind to measure SG. One can simply use a stick, a piece of thread, a couple of washers and istructions for making a Hanneman Relative Density Balance, which I will send to anyone who sends their name, address, and a self addressed stamped envelope to me at 264 Soledad Dr. Monterey, CA 93940.
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:59 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:55 am Posts: 543
I was always taught not to trust any one reading. Take two or three, S.G., hardness, R.I. if you have a calibrated microscope and see where they all point.
Post subject: Re: can diamond tester be fooled by some chemical
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:39 pm
Established Member
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:06 pm Posts: 17
Thats funny I just posted about this in the "diamonds" section. There's a new type of lab-grown stone called "Amora Gem" which can fool both Diamond AND Moissanite testers! I've actually tested them myself.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum