Naturally-mined diamonds that have perfect (Flawless, FL) or near-perfect (Internally Flawless, IF) clarity are extremely rare, and are, not to mention, extremely expensive. Most earth-mined diamonds will have inclusions that, depending on degree, will affect the brilliance of the stone.
Nowadays, "clarity-enhanced" diamonds proliferate the market. These are diamonds that, in most likelihood, originally had eye-visible inclusions that are perceptible by the naked or unaided eye (in the absence of a 10x loupe) prior to treatment or clarity enhancement. In other words, these were stones that had a clarity grade that fell within the Included range (I1-I3). The clarity enhancement of such diamonds involves the treatment of the stone to make what were originally eye-visible inclusions "invisible." Clarity enhancement of diamonds can be done in either one of two ways, namely fracture-filling and laser-drilling.
Fracture-filled Diamonds
The process of fracture-filling involves the insertion of a microscopic amount of material into the feather inclusion. In order to render the inclusion "invisible," the material must have the same optical properties as the diamond itself. the material merely fills the crack. The inclusion still exists, only now it is virtually unseen.
It is possible to determine if a diamond has been clarity-enhanced. The filling generally leaves a faint or strong neon color in the stone. When observed face up, this filling is either invisible or could easily be mistaken for the spectral colors that are observed when looking at a stone face up. However, when the diamond is observed face down under a scope the neon colors distinctly stand out.
This enhancement process was discovered by prominent Israeli scientist Zvi Yehuda in 1982. Yehuda Diamond Company backs up its lifetime guarantee for their diamonds to never lose their enhancement with extensive research conducted by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). GIA has determined that normal wear and tear cannot harm the enhancement. The following three things are the only circumstances which will cause the filling to come out:
Laser Drilling
This process involves the use of an infrared laser to bore very fine holes into a diamond to create a route of access to the black carbon crystal inclusion. In order to initiate the drilling process of a diamond which is transparent to the wavelength of the laser beam, a coating of amorphous carbon or other energy-absorbent substance is applied to its surface. The laser then burns a narrow channel to the black carbon inclusion, and once it is reached, the diamond is soaked in sulfuric acid to dissolve the black carbon crystal. This turns the black carbon crystal inclusion transparent or, in some cases, slightly whitish opaque.
Microscopic inspection can reveal the fine drill or bore holes, but are not distracting and do not affect sparkle or brilliance of the diamond. Because the channels are microscopic, dirt or debris cannot travel down the channel. The surface-reaching holes can only be seen by reflecting light off of the surface of the diamond during microscopic viewing such as a jeweler's 10x magnifying lens or loupe and are invisible to the naked eye.
The bottom line is, clarity enhanced diamonds sell at lower price points when compared to similar, untreated diamonds. Because enhanced diamonds are originally lower quality before the enhancement is performed, they are priced at a substandard level. In essence, you are paying for the quality that the stone was prior to enhancement. After enhancement, the diamonds may visually appear as good as their non-enhanced counterparts. If you think a deal is too good to be true, don't hesitate to ask if the diamond in question has been enhanced. Jewelers are ethically bound to disclose this information prior to point of sale.
Nowadays, "clarity-enhanced" diamonds proliferate the market. These are diamonds that, in most likelihood, originally had eye-visible inclusions that are perceptible by the naked or unaided eye (in the absence of a 10x loupe) prior to treatment or clarity enhancement. In other words, these were stones that had a clarity grade that fell within the Included range (I1-I3). The clarity enhancement of such diamonds involves the treatment of the stone to make what were originally eye-visible inclusions "invisible." Clarity enhancement of diamonds can be done in either one of two ways, namely fracture-filling and laser-drilling.
Fracture-filled Diamonds
The process of fracture-filling involves the insertion of a microscopic amount of material into the feather inclusion. In order to render the inclusion "invisible," the material must have the same optical properties as the diamond itself. the material merely fills the crack. The inclusion still exists, only now it is virtually unseen.
It is possible to determine if a diamond has been clarity-enhanced. The filling generally leaves a faint or strong neon color in the stone. When observed face up, this filling is either invisible or could easily be mistaken for the spectral colors that are observed when looking at a stone face up. However, when the diamond is observed face down under a scope the neon colors distinctly stand out.
This enhancement process was discovered by prominent Israeli scientist Zvi Yehuda in 1982. Yehuda Diamond Company backs up its lifetime guarantee for their diamonds to never lose their enhancement with extensive research conducted by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). GIA has determined that normal wear and tear cannot harm the enhancement. The following three things are the only circumstances which will cause the filling to come out:
- Exposure to fire;
- Exposure to strong acids or bases;
- Re cutting the diamond.
Laser Drilling
This process involves the use of an infrared laser to bore very fine holes into a diamond to create a route of access to the black carbon crystal inclusion. In order to initiate the drilling process of a diamond which is transparent to the wavelength of the laser beam, a coating of amorphous carbon or other energy-absorbent substance is applied to its surface. The laser then burns a narrow channel to the black carbon inclusion, and once it is reached, the diamond is soaked in sulfuric acid to dissolve the black carbon crystal. This turns the black carbon crystal inclusion transparent or, in some cases, slightly whitish opaque.
Microscopic inspection can reveal the fine drill or bore holes, but are not distracting and do not affect sparkle or brilliance of the diamond. Because the channels are microscopic, dirt or debris cannot travel down the channel. The surface-reaching holes can only be seen by reflecting light off of the surface of the diamond during microscopic viewing such as a jeweler's 10x magnifying lens or loupe and are invisible to the naked eye.
The bottom line is, clarity enhanced diamonds sell at lower price points when compared to similar, untreated diamonds. Because enhanced diamonds are originally lower quality before the enhancement is performed, they are priced at a substandard level. In essence, you are paying for the quality that the stone was prior to enhancement. After enhancement, the diamonds may visually appear as good as their non-enhanced counterparts. If you think a deal is too good to be true, don't hesitate to ask if the diamond in question has been enhanced. Jewelers are ethically bound to disclose this information prior to point of sale.