DO INCLUSIONS GROW OR APPEAR IN DIAMONDS?

A good portion of the public actually believes that flaws, imperfections and inclusions can grow and develop inside a diamond after they purchase it.

“It’s ALIVE!”

They believe that one day, they can look down at their diamond ring and flaws will suddenly appear in their diamond where there was none.

I hear this all the time:

“It wasn’t there when I bought it!”

It’s magic!

Magically a black carbon spot appeared out of nowhere, making it not only eye-visible, but making it stand out horribly in their ‘perfect’ diamond like a huge dark scar. That inclusion seems to scream “look at me. I’m growing bigger everyday” (insert evil laugh).

But here’s the truth:

No, diamonds cannot develop inclusions.

No, inclusions don’t magically grow.

Flaws don’t get bigger, change, transform, shrink, move, shift, darken or suddenly appear…

Whew!

They are exactly what they are. Inanimate objects.

The inclusions or flaws that you’re seeing inside your pretty little diamond have always been there.

Believe it or not.

Those flaws have actually been trapped inside the stone for over a billion years. They were crystallized inside the diamond the day the diamond was born. It was created by nature with its own unique characteristics. It has its own freckles and moles and identifying birthmarks.

It’s mother nature’s fingerprint.

They can never grow, shrink, darken or appear… ever!

Get my point? Flaws are unchanging. Period. They will look like they do today for the next billion years (and that’s a long time…)

The only time a flaw can suddenly “appear”, is if you actually crack or break your diamond (cracks and fractures are considered flaws). Otherwise, forget it.

So why do you see them now?

Yes, that’s the big question: “Why do you suddenly see the inclusions NOW?”

What makes these flaws seem to grow out of nowhere and appear like a sore thumb?

Well a couple of things can cause this strange phenomenon: dirt and observation.

Let’s take a closer look…

Dirt:

Once your diamond becomes dirty with hand lotions, perfumes, dust, fingerprints, oils, debris and soaps, the diamond gets dull. The dirt actually stops light from penetrating your stone and makes the flaws and imperfections inside it stand out and become more noticeable (it has no bright flashing lights to mask the flaws).

A dirty diamond makes visible inclusions more visible.

Observation:

When you view diamonds in the jewelry store you have to remember that they are perfectly clean. That, and the fact that they shine and sparkle like a disco-ball.

Brilliance and fire dance around the diamond making it look like a million bucks.

When you look at diamonds in the jewelry store, most people are more concerned about the style of the ring. They look at all the mountings and see how they look on their hands. They try them on, they find the style they love and they are happy as a clam.

Customers will listen to the salesperson explain about color and clarity, but most people just hear “Yada Yada Yada“. People smile, nod their heads and look back down at the diamond like they were hypnotized. All they see is a beautiful bright diamond and they can’t wait to get it home.

But, once they do buy it and get it out of the store… That’s when people tend to inspect it more with a more critical eye. They start to observe every little detail. A scratch in the gold. A rough prong. A flaw in the stone… Under this scrutiny is when inclusions seem to suddenly appear.

So you see, it’s not that the flaws suddenly transformed out of nowhere, it’s just that you didn’t notice them before. They were there, you just didn’t see them. That’s the truth. Like it or not.

The excitement of a new diamond ring (and proposal) can often hide a lot of flaws.

Microscope first:

So before you buy that diamond… slow down.

Microscope or loupe it first.

Compare quality and the 4C’s. And don’t buy a diamond based solely upon price either, that’s a great way to end up with a crappy diamond (eye-visible flaws).

Here’s a hint:

If you buy an SI1 clarity diamond (or higher), you will never see any inclusions with the bare eye!!! No matter how dirty or dull your diamond gets, you can never see flaws in an SI1 stone …Unless you microscope it under 10x magnification (or have a bionic eye).

This sudden appearance of flaws is usually only found in diamonds that are I clarity (I1, I2 or I3 – and sometimes SI2 as well – These are the eye-visible clarities).

So, when your diamond gets dull and dirty (everything does), take it into a jeweler and let them clean it and steam it (or get your own ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaner). That will make your diamond look brand new again in just a couple of minutes.

And once your diamond gets clean again…

Voila!

Those flaws will simply “seem” to disappear again.

Invisible once more.

Cheers! :)