"It's perfectly possible to get a real bargain and buy a cheap diamond engagement ring, for example, on eBay."

It is essential that we know how to tell diamonds from their fake counterparts. With the new duplicates that are rampant in the market, even jewelers make unpardonable errors in detecting fake diamonds men's rings and other jewelry. Below are some steps that explain how to tell diamonds from fake stones.

Always ask if they are genuine diamonds or cubic zirconia or moissanite. A reputable jeweler is likely to tell you the truth. If not a diamond, it is likely to be set in inferior metal, and may bear nicks and scratches, since they are not as durable as diamonds. The jeweler knows best how to spot fake diamonds. Looking through a jeweler's loupe, he can spot fake stones right away. They also have other instruments to verify authenticity. A certificate from the Gemological institute of America is the best bet though.

However, if fake diamonds are mounted in 18-karat gold or platinum, you are in a tricky situation. Besides, ever since moissanite hit the market in 1998, the task of ensuring safety from facsimiles has become even more difficult. The stone sells at one-tenth of the price of a diamond.

We are often of the idea that the fake stones are lighter than actual diamonds. This is wrong. Diamonds are lighter than their fake counterparts, which are also denser. There really is no rule on how to spot fake diamonds. A report from the GIA is the best way out.

If however you are in a situation where you need to do a quick test, here is what you should do.
- Breathe on your diamond. The fog on real diamonds disappears instantly, while it lingers on a fake CZ.
- If you try writing on the stone's surface with an ink pen, the ink coagulates on a fake CZ while it remains a line on real diamonds.

Tips on how to tell diamonds from fake stones:

- An X-rayed diamond does not show up, since it is transparent. A fake does.
- A grading report from the GIA and a money back guarantee is essential.
- If the stone is unmounted, place it on a book or newspaper. If you can read through it, it's fake. Real diamonds refract too much light to read anything through it.
- Diamonds are the hardest known substance and will not be scratched by sandpaper. If it does, you are looking at a fake stone.

Moissanite stones are the best alternative to actual diamonds. Moreover, they even test positive on a standard electronic diamond tester. Jewelers are thus compelled to have special moissanite testers to detect fake diamonds men's rings and other moissanite ornaments. However, this stone's price and remarkable diamond-like features has made it very popular and sought after. For those who crave for a gem like a diamond, but lack the required resource, moissanite rings are the ones to go for!