Diamond Inclusions

Inclusions play a significant role while judging the quality of a diamond. Their presence can decrease the value of a diamond. Among the four Cs, clarity determines the stone’s purity. Any kind of internal impurity is termed as Diamond Inclusion.

Image source: http://www.kingsgate-diamonds.com/Products/images/ER2.jpg

The various types of diamond inclusions are:

Mineral and Crystal Inclusion: Diamonds may have smaller crystals inside them. These crystals can be smaller diamonds or some other mineral. They are trapped inside the stone during its formation. Although they are referred to as inclusions, sometimes they can actually make the diamond look more appealing.

Pinpoint Inclusion: They are minute crystals inside the stone which degrade its clarity. They are so small that they need to be viewed under magnification. When several pinpoints gather at the same area of the stone, it appears to be more distracting and hence makes the diamond look dull.

Cloud Inclusion: When several tiny crystals or pinpoint inclusions are grouped together, it emits cloudy and hazy appearance hence developing a cloud in the stone.

Needle Inclusion: Long and thin crystals are termed as needles in diamond inclusions. They are similar to pinpoint inclusions except for their shape.

Feather Inclusion: These are inclusions which actually look like feathers or fractures. Although small feathers are harmless but if they reach the diamond surface then they can probably result in its breakage.

Knot Inclusion: When an included crystal extends to the diamond’s surface, it is termed as a knot. They are a higher risk to the stone as they make the diamond less durable.

Cavity Inclusion: It is large opening in the stone and is also called as a crack which is relatively bigger in size.

Cleavage Inclusion: It is quite similar to cavity inclusion but appears to be a straight crack without any kind of feathering. This can be quite hazardous for the stone since if hit at the right place, the diamond can split down.

Girdle Fringes, Bearding Inclusion: They are hair-like lines which usually develop during the cutting process of the stone. They appear around the girdle and extend from the surface towards its internal part.

Grain Lines Inclusion: They are also called as grain lines and are formed during the formation of the diamond. These lines are formed due to irregular crystallization.

Diamond inclusions are usually not visible to the naked eye. They can be viewed on magnification of 10X. Hence finding these inclusions and differentiating them with the naked eye is nearly impossible.

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.

Image Source: http://www.wholesalediamonds-1st.com/wp-content/themes/fgala/images/logo_diamond.jpg

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.