Diamonds

[tamborine]

how can you tell the difference between a diamond and saphire. Friend was flashing a 2c diamond but it didn't sparkle more than my cheapo Tesco glass

[237SJ]

Diamonds are white and saphires are blue

[hc4361]

Usually a diamond is white (clear) and a sapphire is blue, although sapphires can come in different colours.

[tamborine]

I've seen white saphires.....similar today are called crystal

[hc4361]

Do you mean cubic zurconia, which is a fake diamond?

Sapphire is a valuable gemstone, never confused with diamond.

[hc4361]

Sapphire does not naturally occur in white. That is glass.

[tamborine]

google white sappphire- I cant post the site as am on a Mac that I cant work. Surely a diamond doesn't need artificial lighting before it flashes ?

Is there a sure proof test ?

[boxtops]

Crystal's different, sapphires come in many shades but I have never heard of a white one. However I have just looked it up and the site I found says that white sapphires do exist and are "a cheaper substitute for diamonds". White sapphires, it says, are made by heating blue ones to get the desired colour.

[boxtops]

Diamonds will cut glass tambo....

[squarebear]

White sapphires are normal sapphires that have been heat treated.

[boxtops]

I looked here http://www.wisegeek.c...is-white-sapphire.htm

[tamborine]

I cant test her ring by cutting glass - she'll cut my throat (I know you hate me) !

Give me another method :0)

[boxtops]

It's probably hard to tell tambo, without getting a jeweller to look at it. Fakes are very effective!

[hc4361]

Just be happy for your friend and accept what she tells you. You don't need to prove anything unless you are thinking of buying it from her.

[sara3]

you often can't tell the difference unless you have a good magnifying glass. almost all diamonds have inclusions, anything man made will not.. but glass doesn't sparkle.

a good jeweller could test it ;o)

[boxtops]

Borrow it from her and take it for a valuation ;-)

[sara3]

or.. ask her if you can borrow it.. if she says yes, it's a fake!

[tamborine]

glass it is then.

[Trotbot]

There is a huge variety in the quality of diamonds, based on cut, colour, clarity, carat (and certification). A big stone (2 carat in this case) can be (relatively) cheap if it is a poor colour (normally yellowish) or poor clarity (faults, the worst of which would be visible to the naked eye, but normally would need a lens. A good quality 2 carat diamond would cost upwards of 20,000 pounds. If you interested and what to risk offending her, ask her the type of certificate she got (ie who issued it) as that can have an impact, different standards can be applied.