Forgeries and enhancements of diamonds

Hello!
Today I wanted to write a post about various types of imitations, fakes and "improvements" of natural diamonds. While refreshing my perspective on this topic, I came across an excellent and comprehensive answer to this question from a top-notch diamond market pros!
I decided that this is the best answer possible, which means it is worthy of your attention. And yes, did I get the author's consent to use this text?


Maxim, YouTube channel "Maximum Faces":
 

Even 70 years ago, all diamonds, like fruits, were natural. In 1950, a customer bought either a natural diamond (from the mine) or a fake. Later, there were various methods of influencing natural diamonds and synthetically created diamonds. The stores are now presented:


1. Fakes, imitation diamonds. They have nothing to do with a diamond, neither in physical and chemical properties, nor in origin. There are about 10 types of them. The only protection is a certificate from at least some laboratory. You can't buy it, because no one will eat fake fruit.
 

2. Synthetic diamonds. Grown in the laboratory. They have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural diamonds. Once they have been cut, it is no longer possible to find out their origin with a magnifying glass or microscope. These are like hydroponic plants. Outwardly they look the same as ground vegetables, or even better. But the taste and smell are not the same, and most importantly, they are much less useful than ground ones. To distinguish them, you need a VERY good laboratory certificate. Probably such stones are not worth buying, and even if they are, then only at a low price. Like hydroponic vegetables.

3. Natural diamonds, the purity of which has been changed by filing, drilling out inclusions and cracks, followed by filling the resulting voids with one or another synthetic substance, usually liquid glass. This can be determined by an experienced gemologist who has already encountered similar fillings in the past. You can't buy that. It is like a walnut, from the shell of which the nut itself was taken out and put inside the clay.

 

4. Natural diamonds whose color has been changed. This is another matter. The fact is that approximately 6% of the total number of natural diamonds can improve their color when placed in favorable conditions. The diamond was originally graphite. Under the influence of temperature and pressure, it turned from black, brown to white. It takes millions of years. If it is placed again in the same conditions, but not natural, but artificially created, it will improve its color and become whiter. It is like fruit grown on a tree, which was picked unripe, not green, but unripe, and during transportation was placed in a temperature regime that promotes ripening. Many ground vegetables and fruits sold in the market ripen this way. Only the most reliable laboratories can determine the signs of ripening. Can you buy such stones? Everyone decides for himselfif you know about it and the price is attractive, yes. After all, this is a natural stone, without any additives.

 

5. Natural cut diamonds only. It's like the grapes you picked in the old vineyard. Berries with a long history and precise taste. ?

 

And what am I talking about? About emotion .. And about the fact that the purchase, of course, must be deliberate .. But a diamond is not an investment, not an investment, not a tribute to tradition .. These are just the feelings that you put into it. Therefore, you need to know everything about buying in order to discard prejudices.