Yes, real diamonds can be set in 925 sterling silver, especially smaller stones, vintage pieces, or designer jewelry (like David Yurman), but it's less common for large, significant diamonds because silver is softer than gold or platinum, risking the stone falling out, with cubic zirconia (CZ) being a frequent substitute in cheaper silver jewelry. While traditionally reserved for precious metals, modern designers use silver for fashion pieces with real diamonds, and vintage items sometimes feature them, though it's always best to have stones and settings professionally verified.
Sterling silver is trickier: sometimes diamonds are set in silver. A designer piece (like David Yurman, John Hardy, Lagos, etc.) is likely to have real diamonds, but cheap silver will likely have diamond simulants.
If you see a 925 stamp on jewelry featuring diamonds, it usually means the stones are set in sterling silver instead of gold or platinum. Since most genuine diamond pieces are crafted with 14k or 18k gold, a 925 mark often suggests the stones are cubic zirconia or another diamond alternative.
While many jewelers don't use stainless steel to set larger-carat diamonds, there is no rule that states that diamonds cannot be set within stainless steel. In fact, this metal choice is incredibly durable and can securely hold any gem or diamond you choose.
The number “925” on jewelry means that the metal is sterling silver. The number refers to the percentage of pure sterling silver, which is 92.5%. The remaining 7.5% can be composed of various metals to increase the durability or strength of the piece.
Because gold was so expensive during the Georgian period, most diamonds were set in silver that was backed with gold in order to protect the silver from tarnishing over time. One distinguishing factor of the Georgian Period is the shape of the stones used.
The Aquamarine name comes from the Latin word for seawater and is said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. It is sometimes referred to as a poor man's diamond because of the pale color.
Flashlight Test
To tell if a diamond is real with a flashlight, observe how the stone refracts light. Shine a flashlight directly at the diamond. A real diamond will reflect white light brilliantly, while a fake stone may not reflect as intensely or at all.
Pure diamond is not magnetic.
Some counterfeiters may try to pass off their jewelry as genuine by stamping it with "S925" or other similar marks. However, these stamps may not be accurate, and the piece could still be made of a cheap metal.
925 sterling silver is affordable because it's an alloy (92.5% silver, 7.5% cheaper metals like copper) that provides durability for jewelry at a lower material cost than pure gold or platinum, while silver's general commodity status and industrial demand also keep its base price lower than gold, making it accessible for everyday wear and collections.
Other common stamps and their meanings:
"D" stands for Diamond. "ct" stands for the measure of weight used for gemstones. One carat is equal to 1/5 of a gram (200 milligrams). Stones are measured to the nearest hundredth of a carat.
The Dish Soap Method
All Canadian diamonds sold by Peoples are mined in accordance with the highest environmental standards in the world. Designed to protect its magnificent natural resources, Canada has established rigorous environmental laws. All Canadian diamond mines meet and often exceed adherence to these laws.
Mobile apps may mimic testing, but they can't match the accuracy of professional instruments. Your phone won't replace a professional appraisal, but it can assist. Use the flashlight to observe how the stone handles light. A real diamond will produce sharp flashes and concentrated brilliance.
Blue is the most common color you can expect to see from diamond fluorescence. However, it is also possible for diamonds to have a yellow, pink, or red fluorescence as well. And, the color is not always extreme. It's really only if you have a stone with strong or very strong fluor, coupled with high UV.
No, a jeweler generally cannot tell if a diamond is lab-grown just by looking at it with the naked eye; they need specialized, lab-grade equipment like GIA iD100 or X-ray luminescence (XRL) testers to detect subtle differences in growth patterns, impurities, or fluorescence, as lab-grown diamonds share the same chemical and optical properties as natural diamonds. While some jewelers have machines to test, professional grading labs (like GIA) use advanced methods to identify them, often relying on laser inscriptions and grading reports for confirmation.
In order to assess the grades of colour, coloured diamonds are placed into one of nine categories: faint (least valuable), very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy dark, fancy intense, fancy deep and fancy vivid (the rarest and most expensive).
I1 clarity simply means “Included to the 1st degree” and describes the clarity of a diamond with small inclusions visible to the naked eye. For many buyers, I1 clarity diamonds offer an affordable alternative to high-clarity diamonds priced higher than included diamonds.
Real Diamonds Are Set in Precious Metals
However, a "925" stamp suggests the metal is sterling silver, which is less common for authentic diamond settings but does not necessarily mean the diamond is fake. Also, beware of a “CZ” mark, which usually indicates cubic zirconia, a popular diamond alternative.
The value of an antique diamond will only grow over time. Specifically we are seeing Old Mine and Old European cut diamonds selling for the same per carat price as a Modern Cut with the same specs. In some cases, when an old cut diamond is exceptional, it will sell for more than a similar modern stone due to rarity.
Diamonds could have been used to adorn a newly created Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:13). Though quite rare, they are not mentioned in the Bible as one of the many precious minerals God will use to create the twelve foundations needed for the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:19 - 21).