ENHANCED DIAMONDS ARE BAD?

It used to be that an “enhanced” diamond was not widely accepted in the jewelry industry.

For enhanced means that jewelers are altering the natural diamond to make it appear better than it really is.

One type of enhancement is:

Laser Drilled Diamonds

Laser drilling is where they drill a small laser hole into the diamond, directly into a sightly inclusions (generally a black one – and normally through the pavilion, or base of the diamond), and then they pour acid into that tube, which then melts out or dissolves the black spot away.

This technique is used to make the clarity of a diamond look better. For that black spot will be gone and it won’t stand out like a sore thumb.

It can actually make an I clarity diamond appear more like an SI clarity or higher.

That’s Good!

It’s good if you know that it’s done, and you know that it really is just an I clarity diamond (and that’s what you paid for), and don’t mind that it’s had a beauty make-over.

(Although this process does make the diamond less valuable!)

But if a jeweler was shady or unscrupulous, and they sold it to you, making you believe that it really IS a much higher clarity stone (as well as charging you more), then it’s actually FRAUD!

That would not be a good situation to be in.

The FTC states that any diamond that’s been enhanced needs to be disclosed at the time of purchase (either verbally, or in writing), so you know exactly what you’re buying.

That’s why it’s so important to buy a GIA certified diamond. GIA will tell you right on the diamond report (look at the key to symbols and plot) if a diamonds been “laser drilled“.

See image below…

But jewelers can take this enhancement one step further…

They can fill that void or hole created by the drilling, with a clear substance like epoxy.

This process is called:

Fracture Filling

When the hole gets filled in with a clear substance, it makes detecting this process very difficult. This substance blends in with the rest of the diamond and even under a scope, most people would miss it.

And that’s BAD!

Plus, if a jeweler is working on your diamond ring (like retipping prongs or sizing), and they don’t know that it’s been altered, they could put heat to the stone (from their torch), and the fracture filling could warm, boil, dissolve, or possibly even cause your diamond to crack or fracture.

That’s really BAD!

That’s why fracture filling is so frowned upon in the jewelry industry. And that’s also why GIA won’t even certify them!

It’s true. If a stone that is fracture filled, is sent to GIA for a diamond report, GIA will return the stone with no report, and no work. They won’t touch it or grade it!

What that means is this:

If you buy a GIA certified diamond, you will NEVER EVER receive a stone that’s fracture filled.

And that’s Awesome!

So enhancing the diamond is generally a questionable purchase…

That is…

Until the last 20 years or so.

You see, there’s a new type of enhancement on the market that’s incredibly trendy right now and selling like hot cakes.

And this enhancement is called:

Color Enhancement

Just like the clarity of a diamond can be made to look better, so can the color.

For jewelers can take a low colored diamond (that’s yellow or brown way down in the color chart), and treat them to change that ugly color.

This color then transforms into a bright, vivid, beautiful color like the diamond shown below…

These enhancements mimic the true fancy colored diamonds, but without the hefty price tag.

See some real fancy colored diamonds below…

These colored diamonds are so popular right now, that you’ll find color enhanced diamonds in every jewelry store. Colors like: Greens, Pinks, Blues, Yellows, Browns, and even Purples!

And enhanced or not, they do look stunning. See some colored diamond jewelry below…

But there is one big downside to color enhancement…

This color may not be permanent.

That beautiful color could fade or lose it’s vibrant hue over time. Especially if subjected to heat from an ultrasonic cleaner, steam cleaner or jeweler’s torch.

Heat can make that pretty color disappear!

And that would be uncool, especially if that diamond was in an engagement ring (and you spent thousands for it).

So when it comes to enhanced stones, proceed with caution. They look good, are cheaper, but may not be the wisest choice you could make.

A diamond that naturally looks good (good clarity and good color) is always a much better value in the long run.

Just like these beautiful diamonds here!

Do you mind if a stone is enhanced?

Sound off in the comments below.

Cheers! :)