Diamond Fell Out (Easy Ways to Find It)

Do you have your grandmother’s wedding ring or a beautiful engagement set that has gone a little too long between prong tightenings? Regardless of the reason, you may have experienced the dreaded loss of a diamond. While it can be scary at first, there are several solutions.

The most basic way to find your missing stone is to immediately sweep the area. If that does not work, consider posting your diamond’s identification number so that other retailers can be on the lookout. Beyond these measures, this guide will offer location and replacement strategies for the loss of a diamond.

As terrifying as it can be, there are many possible solutions when a diamond has been lost. While this guide walks you through several easy steps to locating your missing stone, you should know that you may not find the diamond.

If that is the case, no worries! There are ways to replace the stone with one that is nearly identical in appearance, including through your diamond’s initial appraisal and the use of a jewelry expert.

Diamond Inscription Numbers

Diamonds come with laser-inscribed numbers, which show their unique grading report and certificate of authentication. These are unique numbers that can be potentially used to track down your diamond if it goes missing.

While it is unlikely that your missing diamond will turn up at a reputable jeweler, these numbers are also useful in replacing your original stone as they can help you match the quality.

Do Diamonds Fall Out Easily?

While diamonds do not fall out easily, the prongs that hold them in place can be loosened over time. For this reason, it is recommended that you get your ring rechecked at least every year. Sooner if you have knocked the diamond against a hard surface.

Beyond ring tightenings, you may consider adding additional prongs (or even a basket setting) for an extra secure fit. While 4 prongs is often enough for a diamond, the 6 prong hold offers more strength and resilience to loosening.

What Machines Can Detect Diamonds?

Metal detectors will not pick up gemstones such as diamonds, but there are machines available that can look for diamonds. These include the GER Detect Diamond Hunter, GER Detect Titan 500, and the GOLD AKS Diamond Finder.

However, depending upon the cost of these machines relative to your stone, it may not be worth the purchase as many of these machines start out in the low thousands mirroring the price point of many diamonds.

Now that you know about inscriptions, prong settings, and diamond detectors, you may be wondering what other options are available to you when your stone goes missing.

What to Do If Your Diamond Falls Out?

First, don’t panic! If your diamond has fallen out recently, immediately begin looking around the area. If you don’t spot it within a few minutes, check out some of these simple methods for finding your lost stone and give it time.

While you may not find your diamond right away, you should consider giving yourself at least a month for it to reappear. Remember: the soft pads of your hands and feet and the shine of a light can be your resources during the search.

Methods to Find Your Diamond

Fluorescent lights

Sweep the room where your diamond was last seen with a fluorescent black light. Since diamonds give off a colored luminescence under ultraviolet rays, this can be the perfect way to spot your missing stone.

Hands and Feet

Diamonds are notoriously hard and sharp. Use the sensitive pads of your hands and feet to search around for your missing stone.

Flashlight

These gems are known for their sparkly nature. For this reason, a flashlight can be a great way to locate your missing stone. Simply shine it around your house and see if you spot a glimmer.

Grease

Because diamonds stick to grease, if yours was lost through the garbage disposal, it may not be as far down as you think.

Sweep Your Floors

If your home features lots of hardwood surfaces, try sweeping around the house to see what appears in the dust bin. While diamonds can be hard to spot on their own, they will likely glitter in a larger pile.

Check your purse or bags

If your diamond was already loose in its prongs, it’s possible that you lost the stone while slipping your hands into a grocery bag or your purse.

Go through the contents of the bags and empty them completely to be sure your missing diamond isn’t hiding in the crevices.

Diamonds Roll

This may surprise you, but your diamond will not have bounced the way you probably expected it to. Due to the nature of its material and shape, it may have rolled or bounced much farther than you anticipated.

This means even if you are certain of where you were standing when your diamond dropped from its settings, you should still broaden the search area.

What to Do If You Find Your Diamond?

If the steps above worked for you and you have found your diamond, simply take it to a jeweler and they will be able to place it back into your ring for you.

Whatever you do, don’t put the diamond and the jewelry back in the box. You are more likely to lose the diamond all over again as it is so small and easy to misplace.

When Should You Buy a New One?


If you have been on the lookout for your diamond for at least a month with no luck, it may be time to purchase a new one. Particularly if the diamond has fallen out of an everyday piece of jewelry such as your engagement ring.

But don’t worry, it is quite easy to replace your diamond’s style with one that looks almost identical.

If you have an appraisal on your diamond, you should start there as it will tell you the exact features of your stone. Additionally, if you had an insurance policy taken out, you should start the claim process to see how much is covered.

Without an appraisal, you will need to pay careful attention to your options to make sure you are purchasing the right replacement.

What Should You Look for in a Replacement Diamond?

Similar Style

If you still have your earring or band, you will likely want to ensure your diamond is of a similar style. This matters because you will want the replacement diamond to match the aesthetic of your jewelry.

Diamond Quality

When shopping for a replacement diamond, you will also want to pay attention to the 4Cs to make sure you are purchasing a similar quality diamond. The 4Cs stand for: cut, clarity, color, and carat.

These are all extremely important features as they determine the overall appearance and look of your piece of jewelry.

Color: try to find out the exact color of your original diamond. Ranging in grade from “D” to “Z”,

Ds represent the highest quality colors for white diamonds (and indicate that your stone would have been colorless in appearance).

Clarity: how clear and reflective is your diamond? This will determine its clarity. If you are unsure and have other diamonds on your ring or earring, consider having them appraised for a similar quality look.

Cut: this is crucial to the appearance of your jewel. For rings, cut can determine the brilliance, shine, and overall energy of your piece. Be sure you are selecting the same cut if you want a similar appearance. Check out some best cuts that can match your diamond’s sparkle.

Carat: Carat is the weight measurement of a diamond. While you can always upgrade the carat size of your ring, if you would like the new stone to fit perfectly onto your band, you will likely want to opt for the same carat size.

Best Online Retailers for New Diamonds?

If you are going to purchase your replacement diamond from an online retailer, you should make sure you are selecting a reputable service.

Blue Nile, Zales, and Leibish are all quite reputable names and would be perfect for purchasing your replacement stone.

Visit a Professional

If you are interested in purchasing a new diamond online or if you are unsure what the right diamond is for your piece of jewelry, you should visit a professional.

They will be able to take a look at the missing spot in your ring or necklace and help you figure out which diamond cut, size, and color would work best as a replacement.

Final Thoughts

While it can be rare, losing a diamond happens! The best way to prevent this from occurring in the future is to have your settings checked regularly and to consider opting for a 6 prong instead of 4 prong setting for the most secure hold.

If it is too late for preventative measures, this guide offers several simple solutions for locating your stone, including metal detectors, placing notices with the diamond’s identification number, and sweeping along its last seen location. No matter what happens, know that your stone can either be found or replaced with one th