Diamond Blemishes and Their Types

While judging the quality of a diamond, several things have to be considered including its Four Cs. Among them, the clarity feature determines the purity of the stone. Diamonds with lower clarity have impurities which may be either inclusions or blemishes. This classification is based on the position of the impurity i.e. internal or external. Internal impurities are referred to as inclusions in the diamond, whereas external impurities are blemishes.

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Diamond blemishes could either be naturally present or occur when the diamond is cut or polished and also when worn. The different types of blemishes are Scratches, Nick, Pits, Naturals, Polishing lines and Extra Facets.

Scratches: It refers to fine lines on the diamond surface. They can occur when the stone is accidently or purposely rubbed against harsh materials. They can be easily polished away.

Nicks: They are the cuts or chipped away section of the diamond. They are mostly found near the girdle of the stone. They are usually introduced when the diamond is set in jewelry and stress is applied on it. Nicks can be repaired by polishing and creating extra facets. But too many extra facets spoil the overall appearance of the stone; hence nicks should be taken off the diamond with real care.

Pits: They refer to the holes on the surface of the diamond. They aren’t usually noticeable but if they appear on the diamond table, then it could be visibly clear. If the pit is too deep then it could be difficult to get rid of it but shallow pits can be polished away easily.

Naturals: They are those sections of the diamond which are left unpolished. They are usually left near the girdle. If naturals are found on the girdle then it doesn’t affect the quality of the stone. However, if it is extended towards the pavilion or crown then they can be noticed easily and hence degrades the diamond.

Polishing Lines: They are marks which appear on the surface of the stones. They are usually the result of cutting and polishing process.

Extra facets: Sometimes the diamond is cut to remove certain blemishes on the diamond. This cutting process results in creation of extra facets spoiling the diamond’s look.

Usually minor blemishes do not have any effect on the diamond value or appearance, since they are moreover unnoticeable to the naked eye. But while buying the diamond, the buyer should be informed about any kind of presence of blemishes.