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Spotting a fake diamond for your sweetheart

Many people will spend billions of dollars on jewelry, according to the National Retail Federation. Diamonds will be one of the most popular purchases. One of the ways to tell if you're getting a real or fake diamond is to head to the professionals.

TYLER, Texas — Many people will head to the stores to buy their sweetheart something nice for Valentine's Day. 

One of the most popular buys will be jewelry and perhaps a diamond ring.

But can you spot a fake?

"Most people are not aware [of a fake diamond]," Steve Neel, certified gemologist, said. "They inherit stones or they buy a stone at an estate sale and they're not sure what it is." 

If you place two diamonds side-by-side, chances are you won't be able to tell the two apart.

"It's hard to tell the difference just visually," Neel said.

As a certified gemologist, part of Neel's job is to identify stones using a microscope, looking at characteristic inclusions in the stone and other optical properties. 

"The first thing that I do is identify it as a diamond or not a diamond," Neel explained.

Neel will also take into consideration weight of the stone.

"Another thing I'll do is heft it because cubic zirconium is very dense and heavy material," Neel said. "A lot heavier than diamonds."

Neel says the color of a diamond can also fool you.

"Now they perfected the color process where they're more colorless and they look more like diamonds," Neel said.

Ultimately the best way to tell if you are buying or getting the real thing is to speak to the experts.

"I think the easiest thing is to come into a professional jeweler," Neel said. 

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