knowledge about Diamond Clarity
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Diamond clarity is the measure of flaws found in and on the outside of a diamond. Because issues with diamond clarity are often undetected when looking at a diamond, some people consider this to be one of the least of their concerns when selecting a diamond to purchase.
It ranks diamonds based on a grading system it created that ranges from flawless diamonds, to imperfect diamonds, with many different grade ranges in between.
Inclusions are flaws that effect diamond clarity. Pinpoints effect diamond clarity because they are white dots along the surface of a diamond. Pinpoints are the most common of all diamond flaws. Clouds effect diamond clarity because they cause what look to be cloudy areas within the gemstone. Feathers effect diamond clarity by causing cracks to form within the diamond, that look similar to that of broken glass.
Clarity Enhancements
Diamond clarity flaws can often be fixed or reduced by using a variety of clarity enhancement treatments. Having enhancements done to improve diamond clarity decreases the overall value of the diamond, but can improve it’s appearance. Diamond certificates should indicate that enhancements were done on the diamond, so ask to see documentation before making a purchase. While most enhancements just cause the diamond to look nicer, some may actually cause the diamond to be weaker, and more prone to breakage than a diamond that has not had any treatments
