Can GemID tell if my diamond is real?

Short answer: no. No app can confirm from a photo whether a diamond is natural, lab-grown or an imitation.

What the imitation check does

From two or three close-ups, GemID looks for features more typical of imitations such as glass or cubic zirconia: rounded or worn facet edges, a "CZ" stamp inside the band, or unusually strong rainbow flashes. You get one of three outcomes: signs consistent with an imitation, no visible signs of an imitation, or can't tell from these photos.

What it can't do

• Diamond or moissanite: they look alike in photos. A jeweler's diamond tester can tell them apart in about a minute.
• Natural or lab-grown: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Only a gem lab can separate them.
• Treatments, quality grade or value.

What to do next

1. Ask a jeweler to test the stone with a diamond tester.
2. If it has a lab report, add it to the piece in GemID and check the number on the lab's own website.
3. Before buying or selling, get a report from an accredited gem lab.