| Diamond clarity is an important diamond | | | | optical illusion that makes them |
| characteristic you'll hear about when | | | | invisible to the naked eye. |
| you shop for an engagement ring or other | | | | Fracture filling is not a permanent |
| diamond jewelry, but clarity isn't | | | | treatment. Heat from repairs, cleaning, |
| always natural--it can be altered by | | | | and sunlight can erode the filler or |
| mechanical treatments--and clarity | | | | darken its color. |
| enhanced diamonds may be among the | | | | Signs of Fracture Filling |
| gemstones offered to you. | | | | Some signs of fracture filling can be |
| The terms used to describe diamond | | | | seen using a 10X jeweler's loupe and |
| clarity focus on the absence or presence | | | | others require a microscope. |
| of inclusions inside or blemishes on the | | | | With magnification, you might see |
| surface of the diamond. A perfect | | | | flashes of color where cracks have been |
| natural diamond with perfect | | | | filled. The flashes aren't like the |
| clarity--clearness--is very rare, but | | | | typical brilliant colors you see when |
| many flaws that exist in jewelry grade | | | | rotating a stone. Instead, they follow |
| diamonds cannot be seen without looking | | | | the lines and shapes of the filled |
| at them through a microscope or | | | | cracks. |
| jeweler's magnifying loupe. | | | | Trapped air bubbles are a sign of |
| Inclusions | | | | fracture filling, either singly or in |
| Imperfections inside a diamond, such as | | | | groups that create a cloudy appearance. |
| tiny spots of white, black, or other | | | | Unfilled cracks in diamonds can also |
| colors; large or small cracks; colored | | | | produce color flashes. The Gemological |
| and uncolored crystals. | | | | Institute of America (GIA) advises that |
| Blemishes | | | | unfilled cracks are easiest to detect |
| Flaws on a diamond's exterior surface, | | | | when looking at them from a |
| such as nicks and scratches. | | | | perpendicular angle, while filled breaks |
| Naturals, leftovers of the rough, uncut | | | | are more obvious when looking at them |
| and unpolished surface of a diamond. | | | | from a parallel perspective. |
| Clarity Enhancing Treatments | | | | If you're buying a diamond engagement |
| Laser Drilling | | | | ring or other diamond jewelry that will |
| A tiny laser beam is used to drill into | | | | be worn continuously, a fracture filled |
| the diamond, tunneling-in to remove | | | | stone may not be the best choice, since |
| inclusions | | | | the treatment is not permanent. |
| Some inclusions are dissolved by | | | | The Term "Enhanced" |
| chemical solutions that are placed in | | | | Be wary if someone insinuates that the |
| the tunnels. | | | | word enhanced is a positive gemstone |
| Signs of Laser Drilling | | | | feature. It does sound more desirable |
| Laser drilling typically leaves lines | | | | than the term treated, but it means the |
| that resemble tiny jet trails, visible | | | | same thing. Find out which treatments |
| under side-view magnification. You'll | | | | were used and how those treatments |
| see a tiny white dot when viewing the | | | | affect the value of the diamond, its |
| trails from the top of the diamond. | | | | long-term appearance, and the care you |
| A newer type of laser enhancement | | | | should give it. |
| creates cracks around inclusions near a | | | | Treatments allow us to own a diamond |
| diamond's surface. The imperfection is | | | | that appears to be of a higher quality |
| removed, and the marks left behind look | | | | than it truly is, and there's nothing |
| more like natural flaws than laser | | | | wrong with buying a treated diamond if |
| trails. | | | | those treatments are disclosed and you |
| Laser drilling removes inclusions | | | | pay an appropriate price for the stone. |
| permanently and does not alter the | | | | Jeweler Disclosure |
| strength of a diamond. Normal cleaning | | | | Knowledgeable, reputable jewelers always |
| and the heat produced during setting | | | | disclose that treatments were made to |
| repairs won't change the appearance of | | | | the diamonds they offer for sale, but |
| the stone. | | | | let's face it, not everyone is |
| Laser drilled areas that are filled-in | | | | knowledgeable or reputable. The solution |
| with a clear substance are more | | | | is to arm yourself with as much |
| difficult to detect, but the filler | | | | information as you can before you shop |
| should not be considered permanent. | | | | for diamonds. You won't become an expert |
| Fracture Filling | | | | overnight, but you will have a better |
| Fracture filling is a treatment used to | | | | understanding of what you're looking at |
| fill-in tiny cracks with a clear, | | | | and you'll know which questions you |
| glasslike substance. The cracks don't | | | | should ask before you make an important |
| disappear, but the film creates an | | | | purchase. |