Do They Put Real Diamonds In Sterling Silver?

Diamonds are clear stones that are sparkly and beautiful. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The larger the diamond the more valuable it is (in general).

Usually you will see yellow, white, or rose gold jewelry featuring this shiny gemstone, but do they ever put real diamonds in sterling silver?

There can be real diamonds in sterling silver jewelry, but they will normally be tiny diamonds known as melee diamonds. Jewelers don’t usually set a large or valuable diamond in sterling silver but rather in 14k or 18k gold since sterling silver isn’t as valuable as gold jewelry pieces. 

If you like the look of sterling silver and want a large diamond as well then you will want to look into white gold jewelry. It looks similar to silver jewelry but it is actually made of gold. 

Diamonds are valuable and everyone knows that they are very durable. In fact, diamonds have the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material. It’s no wonder we love diamonds. 

Women especially adore diamonds wearing them in rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc. If you, like so many others, love diamonds, then you will be fascinated by these interesting facts about them. 

1. The very first diamond was found in India back in the 4th century. From there they became highly valued for their durability and sparkle.It wasn’t until the 18th century when people found out that India wasn’t the only source of diamonds. A diamond was found in South Africa which then grew to become one of the leading diamond suppliers.

2. Diamonds have grown to be the most popular stone chosen for engagement rings. They are used in many engagement and wedding rings for their glittering beauty and strong durability and our eyes can’t resist their sparkle and shine.

3. The largest diamond ever found weighed 530 karats and is now a part of the Crown Jewels of the U.K. It is known as the Star of David or Cullinan I and is the largest colorless uncut diamond in the world.

4. In the 1950s, diamonds were created in a lab by scientists to provide an alternative to natural diamonds. These are eco-friendly, inexpensive and look like the real thing. Today, these synthetic diamonds are a threat to natural diamond’s popularity. 

5. When purchasing a diamond, you should look for the 4 Cs. Cut, color, clarity, and carat. These can tell you how valuable and high quality the diamond is. Other things like the shape and certification can also be useful when diamond shopping.

Sterling silver refers to silver that is 92.5 percent pure. You may see the stamp .925 on silver jewelry and this means that it is sterling silver. .925 sterling silver is not pure silver as pure silver means it is anything above 99 percent pure. However, it is made by mixing pure silver with copper. 

Silver that is entirely pure cannot be made into jewelry because it is too soft and can be easily damaged. If you see a diamond on a .925 sterling silver ring, then chances are it is fake (or the ring is white gold and not sterling silver). That is, unless the diamond is very small. 

Pure silver won’t be able to hold up the weight of a large diamond and since it isn’t as valuable as gold, jewelers won’t put large valuable diamonds on sterling silver. Melee diamonds are diamonds that are very small weighing only about 0.15 karats. Since these diamonds are small, they can be put on sterling silver jewelry. 

Larger and more valuable diamonds are usually set in gold or platinum. Melee diamonds still sparkle and shine and they can be made into some creative designs. So, real diamonds are sometimes sold in sterling silver jewelry, but since the metal isn’t very strong, they are melee diamonds not large or valuable diamonds.

To see some of the most popular jewelry pieces that include diamonds just click here. 

How Do You Tell If Sterling Silver Diamonds Are Real?

So, sterling silver can be set with tiny diamonds. These aren’t as valuable as larger ones but can still be beautiful. If you aren’t sure if your sterling silver piece of jewelry features a real diamond, you may want to know. 

So, how do you tell if sterling silver diamonds are actually real?

There are several ways that you can tell if a diamond is real or not. You can perform some at home tests, but the best way is to take it to a jeweler to have it appraised. This way you know if it is indeed real or a fake diamonds.

Some at home tests that you can try with your diamonds to see if they are real or fake can be found below. Not all of these will work with smaller diamonds though so you can also get a diamond tester instead. 

A diamond tester is a battery powered device that you can use to test all of your diamonds to see if they are real by simply pressing the device onto the stone. To see the most popular diamond tester just click here. 

5 ways to test your diamonds at home without a tester are:

1. Place the diamond over some news print. If you can clearly see and read what the words say underneath the diamond, then it is most likely a fake. Real diamonds will scatter the light and make the newspaper impossible to read. Some small or shallow cut diamonds may be transparent. If you have a thin diamond then this test won’t be clear.

2. Place the dimensions under a fluorescent light. Diamonds give off a bluish reflection, but moissanite (a stone similar to a diamond) will reflect green, gray, or yellow. If you don’t see a  reflection at all, then this doesn’t mean it isn’t a diamond. Some higher quietly stones won’t reflect any color. This test doesn’t definitely identify a diamond.

3. Check out the stamp on the diamond ring. Its hallmark will tell you if it is made with real silver or gold. Gold rings will feature how many karats it is (14k, 18k, etc) and silver rings will feature its percentage of purity (.925=92.5 percent pure silver, etc). .925 sterling silver is too soft to have large diamonds set in them. So, if you find a large diamond on a ring made out of pure sterling silver, then the diamond is most likely a fake.

4. Fog the diamond with your breath. If the fog from your breath sticks to the stone for more than a few seconds, it is a fake diamond because real diamonds will quickly disperse heat and won’t stay fogged for very long.

5. Take your diamond in for a professional appraisal. This is the best way to find out if it is truly real or not. This will cost a fee but it is recommended to verify the authenticity of your diamond. They can expertly tell you if your diamond is indeed real or fake.

For more at home tests to find out if a diamond is real or not, click here.

Final Thoughts

If you aren’t sure if your diamond set in sterling silver is real or fake, take it in for an appraisal to find out for sure. 

Melee diamonds are usually used in sterling silver. This is because sterling silver is fragile and can’t hold larger diamonds. So, they do put real diamonds in sterling silver but they rarely (if ever) put large diamonds on a sterling silver ring.