Can inclusions be removed from a diamond

These treated stones are called laser drilled diamonds. First a very tiny laser hole is drilled to access an unsightly inclusion.

Once a passageway has been opened up, the diamond is boiled in acid or other chemicals to bleach the inclusion. Sometimes the inclusion is removed by burning it away with the laser. Laser drilling diamonds will leave a small, but detectable tunnel from the surface to the inclusion in addition to the original inclusion, which is now less visible. Despite the additional tunnel, the fact that you can no longer see the prominent black inclusion improves the apparent clarity grade of the diamond.

The change in appearance of the laser drilled diamond is permanent. GIA will grade laser-drilled diamonds, marking the laser drill holes on the inclusion plot. Browse In Stock Diamonds. In this article we will discuss the most common types of diamond inclusions and their impacts.

We will also touch on laboratory clarity grading and how to read a laboratory report to fully understand the characteristics of a diamond under consideration. Click below to navigate to a specific section of this article:. What are Diamond Inclusions? Among the top 5 clarity grades there is no difference in performance or beauty, all other factors being equal. Yet, there are price differences sometimes significant between each one. Why are the higher clarities more expensive if nobody can tell the difference?

Diamonds with fewer inclusions are rarer in nature than those that have more inclusions. Therefore, these harder to find diamonds command a premium even though most observers cannot see a difference. For this reason the astute shopper looking for best value can easily trade down to the VS and even Si grades to find diamonds that are just as beautiful for much less money than the technically more pure grades. What are diamond inclusions?

A flawless diamond is pure carbon arranged in a crystal lattice that is essentially free of any other minerals. The range of impurities possible is quite large. Small diamonds and other gem crystals such as sapphire and garnet can be trapped within a larger diamond, as well as other minerals and elements. Disruptions or breaks within the carbon lattice such as feathers, twinning wisps and graining are also considered inclusions.

Any of these features, if visible to a trained grader at 10x magnification, are defined as inclusions. The most common diamond inclusions. The most common inclusions that you are likely to see in a diamond are crystals, clouds, feathers, twinning wisps, pinpoints and graining. They are so common that many diamonds contain just about all of them! In and of themselves, either separately or in combination, there is nothing inherently bad about any of them.

The extent to which they should be of concern is in how much they impact the beauty or durability of the diamond. The clarity grade assigned by the lab provides some clues. The diamond inclusion scale below is known as the clarity grading scale. In the upper clarity grades, particularly in VS1 and above, the inclusions are so minor that it is difficult to see them even with magnification. In these grades, the type of inclusion is of little consequence.

They have no appreciable impact on performance, beauty, or durability. It is in the lower clarity grades that distinctions become important. The following are magnified images of common inclusions with extra magnification highlighting the feature. Below each image is the stone plot from its grading report to illustrate how the inclusions are listed.

The feature listed first under Keys to Symbols is considered the most impactful in terms of the clarity grade assigned; the grade setting inclusion. Crystal inclusion under the table that is reflected in the crown facets. Cloud and Crystal inclusions.

Large indented natural inclusion. Twinning wisps inclusions. Diamond inclusions that break the surface include feathers, knots, naturals, cleavages, and chips. In the vast majority of cases, inclusions and blemishes do not present an inherent problem. For the most part, gem diamonds are incredibly durable and can easily stand up to normal wear in jewelry. That said, a surface breaking inclusion can, in certain cases, increase durability risks.

Diamonds do occasionally break or crack, but it is unusual to happen during normal wear. The most common way a diamond is damaged is in the setting process as the jeweler must put pressure on the diamond to securely set it. Small feather inclusion at the girdle. Diamonds with points require special attention. Well cut round brilliant diamonds are incredibly durable. Even diamonds with surface breaking inclusions in the Si range likely pose negligible durability concerns with a well cut round.

However, diamonds with very thin girdles and diamonds with points are a different story. Cutting a diamond to a thin edge or a point provides an opportunity for an inopportune impact to cause damage. Inclusions such as feathers, chips, or naturals at vulnerable locations can be cause for concern. A stone plot with a feather running across a point on a princess cut or a pear shape, should be carefully examined for elevated risk. The biggest danger in such a diamond occurs during the setting process, as the jeweler must put pressure on that area in order to securely set the diamond.

A shopper is wise to only buy such a diamond from a vendor who will also be taking responsibility for setting the diamond. And this point is subject to damage during handling as a loose stone.

But no pressure is ever put on that point during setting, and when set, the culet is completely protected from wear and tear. So a feather near the culet is not a cause for a durability concern.

Inclusions are defined as features internal to the diamond. They may also extend to the surface. Blemishes are confined to the surface of the diamond and are usually minor in nature. Inclusions are plotted on a grading report in red whereas blemishes are plotted in green. Examples of blemishes are chips, scratches, nicks, abrasions, bruises, polishing marks and naturals. Unless unusually large in size or number, blemishes rarely have any impact of performance or beauty.

A natural is a surface feature caused when the cutter leaves a small part of the raw diamond crystal on the finished diamond in order to keep from having to remove material all around the perimeter to maintain symmetry.

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. The problem with this solution is that it reduces the carat weight of your diamond and you end up with a smaller and cheaper stone. The simplest way to get rid of annoying diamond inclusions is to exchange your stone for a better one and pay the price difference.

All clarity enhancement methods have costs associated with them in terms of service fees or a reduction in the value of the stone. Ask yourself whether the additional money you will pay to trade your old diamond in is commensurate with the costs of the other solutions. If you are about to buy a diamond, you should keep in mind that since fracture filling is a treatment that is considered impermanent, the seller is obligated to disclose it to the customer.

On the other hand, if a diamond has undergone only laser drilling, this enhancement is not required to be explicitly disclosed as it is deemed to have a permanent effect. However, laser drilling is indicated on the diamond grading reports issued by the GIA — the laser drill holes on the stone are listed there, so if you want to find out whether a diamond has been enhanced, ask to see its certificate. From the GIA :. GIA will issue reports for diamonds that have been laser drilled or HPHT processed, disclosing the presence of treatments on the report.

He should take the time to explain the make-up of that diamond and give you as much detail as possible, letting you look through his magnification tools to see for yourself. Even with a trustworthy jeweler, however, it is wise to get an independent appraisal from a third party. Some sellers provide this service through a third party at no charge to customers buying a diamond. If not, many jewelers provide independent appraisals on pieces not sold in their store. Diamond flaws and inclusions are a natural part of almost every gem, and they don't have to detract from its beauty or value.

Instead, they can make that diamond become more unique. Many times a distinctive flaw creates a focal point within the stone, giving it a characteristic truly unique to that one jewel.

Diamond flaws and inclusions can also be used to identify individual gems, insuring that your stone is not replaced or misappropriated during repairs. There are many types of diamond flaws and inclusions. While not all of them are desirable, many smaller imperfections can be easily repaired or removed. Furthermore, while blemishes lower the financial value of the stone, they can heighten its sentimental value by making it even more unique.

Engagement Rings Diamond Basics Diamond Flaws and Inclusions Perfect diamonds are rare and very expensive; diamond flaws and inclusions are present in virtually all of the diamonds that you will see in your local jewelry store. Types of Diamond Flaws and Inclusions There are basically two types of inclusions found in natural diamonds. Cleavage inclusions are basically straight cracks.

If they are serious enough, they can actually split a diamond apart, especially if they are hit in a certain area or subjected to high pressure. Bearding : Bearding is stress hair-like lines. These lines may occur during the cutting of a diamond, and they generally appear around the girdle, which is the area of the anatomy of a diamond that the prongs grasp.