Bride's Guide: Discerning the Value of Your Diamond

Your engagement ring is a purchase full of emotional weight. You’ll show it off in pictures and in person, recounting the romantic story of how you or your partner popped the question. It should last a lifetime, but no one should rely on just hoping for the best.

Discerning the value of your diamond becomes more straightforward with tips like these. See how your ring holds up to a few at-home examinations.

Diamonds are a famously dense crystal. Authentic diamonds typically have a density of 3.51 gm/cm³, making their crystal form harder than their graphite form. If you drop your diamond in a glass of water, it will sink to the bottom if it’s real.

When you hold your diamond up to your lips and breathe on it, does condensation appear? Real diamonds conduct heat five times better than copper, making condensation impossible. It would expel the heat instead of containing it. Only cubic zirconia rings will condense under a warm breath.

Hold a magnifying glass to your diamond ring. Do you see internal imperfections? These are known as inclusions and devalue the diamond. High-quality, .99ct diamonds retail for $5600 for a decent grade, so a higher price is likely

A jeweler’s loupe is a different type of magnifying glass. It uses multiple internal lenses and requires no handle. It can provide a better view of your diamond and spot tinier imperfections that indicate a lesser-value quality.

When you hold your diamond under a black light, it may glow. The elements in diamonds reflect black light and glow with either a dull or bright blue light. Brighter diamonds receive higher price tags.

It’s worth noting that this shouldn’t be your only test. On average, 25-35% of diamonds exhibit little to no fluorescence because of their natural makeup. It can still be a high-grade gem without glowing under black light.

These tests assist with discerning the value of your diamond, but you can always take your engagement ring to a trusted jeweler for another opinion. With a close eye and a few tests, you’ll know if your diamond will last or if you should replace it with a higher-quality ring.