Which are diamond inclusions to avoid? Do you really know what type of diamond inclusions affect only the appearance of the stone and which can be harmful to the structure? Let’s go into details and see which inclusions you should avoid.
Chips
Diamond chips are surface flaws, and they can be seen easily. However, the problem with chips is not only visual. Once the integrity of the stone has been damaged, the diamond is more likely to chip again in the same place. That’s why you should avoid chips around the girdle as such flaws can significantly weaken the structure of the stone.
Needless to say, chips lower the value of the stone. When buying a diamond, make sure to inspect it under a loupe and feel its surface and edges with your finger for irregularities.
Be especially careful when buying used jewellery as the diamonds in it are more likely to have chips. Always look at the diamonds you are about to buy when they are taken out of their setting since it may conceal some of their defects.
In case you have a chipped diamond and you want to get rid of the chip, have the stone re-cut by a jeweller. The cutter will remove some material from all sides of the stone until the chip disappears. Of course, the diamond’s carat weight will go down, but you will be sure your stone won’t chip again at the same place.
Cracks
Cracks or cleavages are usually seen as lines inside a diamond. These flaws are especially dangerous as they weaken the stone’s internal structure. If a diamond has cracks it’s more vulnerable to stress and in case of strong hit it may just split along the cracks.
Diamonds with cracks usually have low clarity grade and are a lot cheaper than the stones of higher quality. But let’s agree, paying less money for such a stone is hardly worth the risk of ending up with a broken diamond in the future.
Black Dots/Spots
Black dots in a diamond are simply areas where carbon hasn’t crystallized. If there are too many large black dots, they will stand out and detract the visual appeal of the stone. Apart from being an optical flaw, black dots do not present any real danger to the structure of diamonds.
In general, you should avoid such stones as they can block the light entering the stone, resulting it to lose its sparkle. However, in case you are choosing among lower clarity diamonds that have black spots, opt for a stone whose dots are concentrated in places where they won’t be visible when you wear it, such as sides or deep inside the stone.
Cover image credit: Diamond Foundry
