HELP! How to tell if earring are real or not??

[Ilmb]

Going to jewellers to try to get some cash for some jewellery. Have spoken to them over the phone but I have a problem. I have a pair of silver ‘diamond’ stud earrings bought by ex. I told him at the time I could only wear gold as my skin goes funny otherwise. They are Ernest jones.... and I thought they wouldn’t sell silver or cubic zirconia but Iv just been on their website and they do!! Any way of telling (like a ring has the mark) before embarrassing myself at the jewellers trying to get cash for silver fakes??

There should be a carat (ct) marking if they are real, along with a 925 silver stamp.

On the stem there is a tiny sort of indented bit but it’s too small to see if it’s any numbers?

I've never heard of diamonds in a silver setting.
I don't suppose they could be white gold or platinum?
Honestly I've a couple of zirconium dress rings and I'd be pushed to tell the difference from my diamond rings, zirconiums can look really good.
Don't be embarrassed just explain you're not certain .
Did your ex say they were diamonds ?

As above plus it would be unlikely to be real diamonds in a silver setting imo - good luck

Zirconia , I'm an idiot

That’s what I mean, a jeweller wouldn’t put real diamonds in sterling silver? I can’t remember what he said to be honest (spouted so many lies) perhaps it is a mark on the post, the stone is quite bit (well bigger than my engagement ring stone!) so I doubt they are real? It’s the weight of gold though that they pay for... the stones won’t be worth much even if they are real

Sterling silver may not be hallmarked as they'd be under weight (7.78gm)

White gold would be as hallmarking minimum weight for gold is 1gm.

Check the mounts, the marks can be tiny but under a jewellers loupe they should see them.

The stones can be tested. Again, under loupe its obvious if they are diamond

Just ask them. They'll be able to tell very quickly.

If it's below a certain weight they don't have a hallmark. Normally on earrings the hallmark would be on the butterfly (back part) if it's a stud. 925 for stetlong silver. Gold will have a hallmark of the carat. theassayoffice.co.uk/help-with-hallmarks/anatomy-of-a-hallmark
To figure out if they're diamonds or not breath warm air on them, cz will fog up like glass which diamonds won't. Also look at it on the light, czs have more colours inside the stone and appear "sparklier", it can be hard to tell if you don't have a real diamond to compare it too, but if you do then compare them both in the light.
If you bring them into earnest Jones they should be able to tell you too.

Sterling silver*

I have sterling silver hoop earrings set with loads of real diamonds, they are only small 0.05 ct per stone though, if the stones in yours are big they are unlikely to be real, and if they are small and real they are unlikely to be worth a great deal of money second hand. Diamonds lose a huge % or value the moment you walk out of the shop with them, much like buying a brand new car.

The stones fog up so not real! I know the stones wouldn’t pay much anyway as it’s the gold they want. I have them plus a ring definitely 18ct white gold but has small diamonds in a row so I know that will reduce value, just sitting in a draw so even if I only got £50 it all helps!