Diamond Flaws 101
Knowledge is the key to shopping for diamonds. The more you know, the better the result will be. Most people focus on color, carat weight, clarity and cut, better known as the 4 Cs, when shopping for diamond jewelry.
The four Cs can be dangerous for buyers. Why? Well, most know the terms, but not really what they mean. Thus they end up buying what the sales person is promoting, instead of a good diamond. Looking for diamond flaws often produces better results.
Generally, there are two types of diamond flaws. One, syngenetic, refers to imperfections that occurred when the diamond was deep underground. Epigentic blemishes refer to imperfections after the diamond was found.
Our first flaw is know as a pinpoint inclusion. It appears as a dot of light in the diamond. Do not be fooled, my friend. It is a crystal anomaly. If the point of light does not change location when you move the diamond, you have a pinpoint inclusion.
Are all pinpoint inclusion pieces to be skipped? Not really. They are very common problems. If the inclusion is in an area of the diamond that is not effected by the cut, it really is not a problem. If it is, move on to the next diamond.
Blemishes are found on the exterior surface of diamonds. They are typically epigenetic in nature, meaning they occurred during the cutting or polishing of the diamond. They can often be ground out by a better quality jeweler.
Along these lines, a diamond may be considered to have flaws if it has extra facets. These are essentially extra cuts to the diamond. They indicate the removal of a blemish or other flaw with the diamond. The extra facets are not a negative per se for many people.
The world fracture connotates big problems. The same is true when talking about diamond fractures. It is a break in the diamond somewhere. Avoid these diamonds. Also, be aware that some jewelers will try to fill the fracture and pass them off as regular diamonds.
A scratch is a more mundane diamond flaw. Light scratches are common and can simply be polished out. Deeper scratches, however, can ruin a diamond. They are difficult to polish out without impacting the cut. An extra facet may be need.
Needles are another flaw that is fairly controversial among diamond lovers and jewelers. Some, such as myself, do not view them as flaws. In many cases, a diamond with a special quality is actually a diamond with a needle that is reflecting the light oddly.
Your average needle is an elongated open valley within the diamond. It is so small that you cannot see it. It is big enough, however, to slightly tweak the light passing through and create stunning brilliance and sparkle.
At the end of the day, it is the very rare diamond that does not have some minor flaw. Understanding what these flaws are is critical to the selection process. Figure out what you can live with and then find that special diamond.