It also has an HCA Score of 1. I have been looking for an engagement diamond for a long time, and this seems to check all of the boxes. All 5 are on the left diagram; 1 is on the table, with the rest on the crown but near the table. There is a lot more drawn on the diagram than other VVS2s I have seen. Is this something to be concerned about? If there are this many inclusions on the diagram, but it is graded a VVS2, does this mean that the clouds are very minimal and I should pay attention to the clarity grade, not the diagram?
It may or may not look worse than intended but the thing is, if it was bad, this would be a Si2 or I1. Click here to cancel reply. The Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender. Diamond Prices — Are You Overpaying? White Flash. Share This Page on Social Media! You Need To Read This!
Is a Cavity in a Diamond of Durability Concern? What Our Readers Say…. Gina -. Paul Gian -. What does inclusion mean? Do we say for the crack also inclusion? What does flawless mean? Howie -. Hello Paul, I have been shopping around for a 0. My theories are, 1. Please tell me what you think…. You are over complicating things and misguided in your beliefs. The most severe inclusions are always listed first in the grading report. Batsogile Keamogetse -. Marcus -. Would you mind giving me your opinion of these three diamonds, please?
Not great diamonds. Abhishek Gautam -. Benjamin -. Based on the amount of clouds and their location, what are your thoughts on light performance? Tanya -. Depends on clarity grades and case by case basis. Luke -. Thank you so much! Natasha -. Hi Paul I am looking to buy a 0. Michelle -. Huy -. Gary -. Kang -. Any help would be appreciated. Kevin -. Hi Paul, I am about to purchase a diamond put a deposit down to hold it.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Kevin. Leave A Comment Click here to cancel reply. Join Us On Social Media! Visit The Gallery For Ideas! This is done to retain carat weight that would otherwise be lost in removing the natural completely. Typically they are small and confined to the girdle area, but can be rather large if the cutter was taking liberties. Concrete vs Transparent Inclusions. Some diamond inclusions, such as crystals, can be very concrete in nature. They have a well-defined shape and are commonly opaque.
Other inclusions such as clouds, twinning wisps and graining are amorphous in nature and are often very transparent. As such, many shoppers prefer these type of inclusions to more concrete and easier to see types. Cloud inclusion. A report from a top tier diamond grading laboratory like GIA and AGSL will provide an abundance of information that will verify the diamond is natural, positively identify the diamond, and provide qualitative analysis in an attempt to communicate the appearance and performance of the diamond.
However, diamond reports have limitations as well. Seeing the diamond, being able to view video and advanced diagnostic images of the diamond, and getting consultation from a trained expert are all important additions to the data contained on a lab report. In addition to the carat weight, dimensions, and cut, color and clarity grades the Stone Plot and Keys to Symbols map the features that support the clarity grade and positively identify the diamond.
It is important to know that not every feature is necessarily mapped- only enough to accomplish those two specific goals. The inclusions listed under the stone plot are listed in order of their impacts on the clarity grade. The first feature listed is said to be the grade setting inclusion. Features listed last are the least impactful. There, important aspects of the diamond are mentioned that may not be covered elsewhere in the report.
For instance if the diamond is inscribed, a detail of the inscription will be found there. Also, clarity features that may be pertinent to the appearance of the diamond may be noted there. For instance, features not included on the stone plot will be mentioned in the "Comments" section. It is sometimes necessary to understand the stone plot combined with Comments to better understand the appearance of the diamond and any potential issues.
This means different things to different people, but essentially it is a diamond with no inclusions visible to the naked eye. The general feeling is that a diamond can have inclusions they are even preferred to keep the price down , but an inclusion that is obvious to the naked eye is a non-starter for many shoppers.
However, there is quite a bit of subjectivity in this issue. Is that a deal breaker or do you just want to make sure that the first thing you see when you look at the diamond is not an obvious flaw jumping out? If you are very near sighted or care about visibility at closer distances or other viewing angles, you should communicate that to your vendor.
This is especially true if you are buying online. Light Performance and Clarity Characteristics. One of the more subtle but important negative impacts of inclusions takes the form of diminished transparency. We tend to think of diamonds as being perfectly transparent, but in fact some diamonds have a slight fogginess to them that often goes unnoticed by the untrained eye.
And only by comparing side by side with a diamond of full transparency can the issue be confirmed. But a diamond with a transparency problem will never have peak performance in terms of brilliance and fire, even if eye clean and perfectly cut. It is therefore important to understand what signs to look for to spot potential transparency issues.
A laboratory report does not grade transparency directly a shortcoming of the grading process. However, there are some things to look for on a lab report that can signal a problem of this nature. This typically occurs in Si and below grades, but can sometimes be an issue with a VS2 that is borderline. This is the biggest red flag for transparency issues for diamonds that otherwise look good on paper. Many times the diamond is completely eye clean, and can even be difficult to resolve any inclusions under magnification by those with limited experience.
This is particularly true of those diamonds that have stone plots that are almost entirely or entirely free of markings. This indicates that the cloud or clouds are basically present throughout the stone. This will almost certainly cause the diamond to have a slightly hazy appearance as light is being scattered and not propagated through the stone and back to the eye without interference.
A somewhat lesser set of clues can be deciphered by looking at the stone plot and Keys to Symbols of the plot. The grade setting inclusion is listed first, so if it is of the type that can scatter light such as a cloud, twinning wisp, or graining there is a possibility of a transparency issue. This potential is elevated if in the comments section there is mention of other clouds, twinning wisps or graining not shown.
Again, this issue is only a concern in the Si and below grades. It is a good idea when purchasing a diamond with any of these indications on the lab report to have the diamond carefully inspected by an experienced and credentialed third party professional.
This advice is particularly relevant to any shopper looking for outstanding cut quality. Cut grading does not take this factor into account. A diamond can be perfectly cut and still suffer loss of performance from the inherent transparency deficits of the diamond crystal from which it was cut. Peace of mind comes with due diligence. It is really not a specific type of inclusion, it just happens to be located in a place within the diamond that gets mirrored around the diamond making it look like multiple inclusions.
This is often the case when looking at the diamond from the pavilion side. A diamond might just have one small black crystal, but it appears to be peppered with crystals. When looking at advanced diamond images like a hearts image or pavilion side ASET, a reflector can make the diamond look very messy.
But in reality, the diamond may face up splendidly and may even be completely eye clean. Another type of reflector that is not actually an inclusion at all is the reflection of a laser inscription. Since the laser inscribes the girdle of the diamond and leaves black vaporized carbon in the tiny etching, sometimes the inscription can be reflected back to the eye, particularly at certain tilt angles.
This is usually not an issue, but in certain cases, particularly in some fancy shape diamonds, it can be an unwelcome effect. Reflection of a laser inscription in a radiant cut is easier to see in the Ideal Scope image above left.
Less common diamond inclusions. There are a number of inclusions that are less frequently seen in high quality diamonds such as cavities, knots, etched channels, and laser drill holes. Cavities are often associated with knots which are crystals that come to the surface. In some cases they can be dislodged, leaving a cavity. Think of a knot in a piece of lumber and how that knot can be punched out, leaving a knot hole.
With diamonds it is not so easy to dislodge a knot, especially if it is well imbedded in the diamond. It is unlikely that a knot will come out leaving a cavity during wear. This usually happens during the cutting process. An etched channel is a linear cavity caused by chemical processes during formation.
Like cavities, if they are small enough they are not a significant issue. However, they can sometimes increase durability risk depending on their size and location. They can also trap dirt, possibly making them more visible over time. A professional cleaning will remove the buildup, but cavities and etched channels can be difficult to clean at home. Laser drilling is a treatment that results in a small threadlike tunnel in the diamond. A laser beam is aimed at a dark inclusion and a hole is drilled so that a strong acid can be introduced under pressure to dissolve the inclusion.
This does not improve the clarity grade but can make some inclusions much less noticeable. Interesting Crystal Inclusions. There are any number of other minerals and crystals that can be trapped inside a diamond during formation. Sapphires, rubies and garnets are not uncommon to see.
Sometimes they are quite beautiful under magnification. And a really good specimen add collector value to folks enamored by such rarities. As we have seen, the clarity grade is based largely upon the number and size of the inclusions in a diamond.
But in the upper reaches of the clarity scale there is no practical difference in terms of beauty, despite an increasing price. Clarity is all about rarity, at least in the top four or five grades. Perhaps this is why the most popular clarity grades are VS2 and Si1 where diamonds are usually eye-clean with no deleterious effects on transparency or durability, and are priced more affordably. In a practical sense diamond inclusions are good things!
See our page on Si1 diamonds to learn more about finding great value on your diamond journey. What are the worst inclusions in diamond? Inclusions in and of themselves are not inherently bad. Almost all diamonds have some inclusions. It is mostly a matter of degree. Theoretically, surface breaking inclusions such as feathers, knots, and cavities cause some concern for durability in certain cases.
But if they are small enough, such concerns are usually not warranted. Diamonds with a clarity grade of VS1 and above are almost always immune from durability or transparency issues. In most cases, diamonds graded Si1- VS2 are also free of durability concern with some exceptions. It is in the Si2 and below clarity grades that both durability and transparency issues must be evaluated carefully.
Diamond inclusions to avoid? What type of diamond inclusions are there? Bearding Hair-like lines that often occur during the cutting of a diamond and extend from the girdle into the surface of the stone.
Chip A small, shallow opening on the surface of a diamond often found near the girdle, culet or facet junctions. Crystal A crystal inclusion is quite literally a mineral crystal that is contained within the diamond.
Feather A small crack or fracture within the diamond. Graining Caused by irregular crystal growth, internal graining may appear milky or hazy, like faint lines or streaks. Knot A white or transparent crystal which reaches the surface of a polished diamond. Knot inclusions sometimes resemble raised areas on a facet surface or group of facets.
Needle A long thin needle-shaped inclusion that is usually white or transparent in color and visible at 10x magnification. Pinpoints These are very small white or black crystals that are embedded inside a diamond. Twinning wisps This inclusion is a series of pinpoints, clouds, or crystals that form while a diamond is growing. Photography from GIA. Find a diamond Choose a stone shape to begin your search. View results. Speak to an expert Get in touch with us using one of the options below:.
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