{"id":4436,"date":"2011-06-15T11:12:58","date_gmt":"2011-06-15T15:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=4436"},"modified":"2016-09-08T12:05:08","modified_gmt":"2016-09-08T16:05:08","slug":"hidden-diamond-flaws-and-inclusions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/hidden-diamond-flaws-and-inclusions\/","title":{"rendered":"HIDDEN DIAMOND FLAWS AND INCLUSIONS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hidden<\/div>\n

Believe it or not, but some Diamond’s Flaws and Imperfections are hidden from eye sight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSome are hidden purposefully<\/strong>, others hidden by accident<\/strong>! <\/p>\n

It’s almost shocking to think about!<\/h2>\n

\nEither way, you should understand how they hide<\/strong> and why they hide so you don’t let it happen to you!<\/p>\n

\nLet’s look at 7 different ways your Diamond’s Flaws can hide…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI’ll bet you didn’t know there were that many… Let’s begin!<\/p>\n

How Diamond Flaws Hide<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Flaws are not in focus<\/strong> under Magnification.<\/li>\n
  2. The Flaws are hidden under a Prong.<\/li>\n
  3. The Flaws are hidden by the Mounting.<\/li>\n
  4. The Flaws are hidden under a Facet.<\/li>\n
  5. The Flaws are on the Bottom of the Diamond.<\/li>\n
  6. The Flaws are not marked on the Diamond Plot.<\/li>\n
  7. The Flaws are hidden by Brilliance and Sparkle.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nNow let’s take a closer look<\/strong> at these Inclusions and Flaws that seemingly vanish<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    1) The Flaws are not in Focus under Magnification<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

    \n10x Powered Magnification has a very limited depth of field<\/strong>. In order to see everything that’s inside of a Diamond you’ll need to move the Microscope’s Lens<\/a> up or down to see what’s at the Top, Middle and Bottom portion of the stone.<\/p>\n

    \nSo if you’re looking at Diamonds in a Jewelry Store and the Salesperson is showing you a Diamond under a scope, that Diamond could look clean (no visible Inclusions<\/strong>), until you adjust the depth of field<\/strong> to see the entire stone from head to toe.<\/p>\n

    \nYou may be surprised at the appearance of Inclusions that were hidden or just out of focus.<\/p>\n

    \nOne turn of the knob can make it all apparent!<\/p>\n

    2) The Flaws are hidden under a Prong<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Prongs<\/p>\n

    \nIf you buy a Diamond that’s already mounted in an Engagement Ring or Wedding Set… <\/p>\n

    BEWARE!!!<\/h2>\n

    \nThat Diamond could have an Inclusion, Chip or Blemish near the edge of the Diamond that is now covered up by a Prong.<\/p>\n

    \nWhen a Diamond is pre-set in a 4 Prong or 6 Prong head<\/strong>, it could be hiding all sorts of nasty things that you would never know unless you removed the stone from the mounting, rotated the stone in the head, or accidentally broke a Prong off to uncover what lies beneath<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nThis is why you should NEVER <\/strong>buy a Diamond already mounted. Buy your Diamond Loose<\/a> and have it set later. That way nothing is hiding<\/strong> your Flaws and covering up the truth.<\/p>\n

    \nThe Jeweler may have known that the Diamond had Flaws and covered them up purposefully <\/strong>to hide them (sneaky sneaky<\/strong>). Or it could be an honest mistake<\/strong>. Some Jewelers buy Rings with the Diamonds already set in them (like customers) and would never know themselves unless they removed it from the mounting.<\/p>\n

    \nEither way, it’s a good lesson for all to only buy Diamonds (especially large ones) loose!<\/p>\n

    \nOne single Flaw covered up by a Prong could mistakenly up the grade<\/strong> of that Diamond from an I1 Clarity Diamond all the way up to a VS Diamond. You could spend double the price for a stone thinking it’s better quality<\/strong> than it really is… Don’t do this!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nBuy your Diamonds LOOSE <\/strong>and inspect the stone very well under 10x magnification (A 10x Jewelers Loupe<\/a> is Perfect for this!).<\/p>\n

    But…..<\/h2>\n

    \nI will say that there’s nothing wrong with Diamonds having small Flaws on the outside of a Diamond that’s covered up by a Prong… As long as you know about it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nThat’s the key!<\/strong> If you know the Flaw is there and cover it up by a Prong, that’s an totally different story. Hiding a Flaw with a Prong is smart and the right thing to do<\/strong>. It makes your Diamond look better<\/strong>. You won’t be seeing that Inclusion on the side of your stone for life… It’s covered up!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nIf you know the Flaw exists and you cover it up, then all is good. It’s the mark of a Good Jeweler! <\/strong>You can cover up your Flaws to keep them from being obvious and standing out like a sore thumb.<\/p>\n

    \nIt’s when you DON’T know<\/strong> that the Diamond has Flaws, that’s when the real problem <\/strong>begins. Because covering up the truth, is FRAUD!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    3) The Flaws are hidden by the Mounting<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Mountings<\/p>\n

    \nThe Mounting (Whether it be 14kt Yellow Gold, White Gold or even Platinum) can also play a huge role<\/strong> in hiding the Flaws.<\/p>\n

    \nMountings with Channel Set Diamonds, Tension Set Diamonds, Bezel Set Diamonds and Partial Set Diamonds can cover up part of the Diamond with metal that folds over the edge of the stone. This lip of metal holds the Diamond in the Mounting, but also covers up Inclusions<\/strong> in the process. It keeps the edge of the Diamond sight unseen.<\/p>\n

    \nOnly when the stone is rotated, removed or part of the mounting breaks away do you see the Imperfections it was hiding.<\/p>\n

    \nWhich is another reason you should always buy your center Diamond (the masterpiece) loose<\/strong>, and have it set later. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s in the Diamond and nothing will rear its ugly head<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    4) The Flaws are hidden under a Facet<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

    Fact: Facets hide Flaws!<\/h2>\n

    \nFacets like Bezel Facets, Star Facets and Upper Girdle Facets circle the perimeter of the Diamond (around the top flat part of the Diamond called the Table) and help hide Flaws.<\/p>\n

    \nAny Flaw that falls underneath these angled, knife-edged Facets get harder to see<\/strong>. These Facets help bring in light into the stone. They play a huge role in getting light to bend, break into all the colors of the rainbow (called Fire<\/strong>) and return them in a dazzling play of light. The angled sides attract reflections as well which blinds out the Inclusions and makes it impossible to see below<\/strong>. You’ll see the light, but you won’t see the Flaws.<\/p>\n

    \nThat’s why most people only see Flaws that happen to fall beneath the Table itself.<\/p>\n

    \nTo see the Flaws under the Facets you’ll have to adjust your perspective<\/strong>. Turn the stone sideways in a Microscope<\/a>, or upside down to capture these Inclusions without their blinding light. Now the Flaws have no where to go<\/strong>. :)<\/p>\n

    5) The Flaws are on the Bottom of the Diamond<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Flaws<\/p>\n

    \nHow many times do you view a Diamond upside down with 10x magnification? <\/strong>For most people, it’s NEVER<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    Well, you should!<\/h2>\n

    \nKeep in mind this is a very difficult task to do if the Diamond is already mounted… Always view the Diamonds loose to prevent obstructions!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nViewing a stone through the Pavilion (bottom portion of the Diamond from the Girdle down) can show you:<\/p>\n

    \n<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Chipped Culets<\/li>\n
    2. Extra Facets<\/li>\n
    3. Nicked Girdles<\/li>\n
    4. Laser Drill Holes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      <\/strong><\/p>\n

      \nMost people view the stone straight down because that is how the Salesperson shows them. They never see the stone from any other angle<\/strong>. What a shame! There’s so much more to see than just the top view. Diamonds can hide Inclusions everywhere, you just need to know where to look.<\/p>\n

      \nFlip the Diamond Tweezers sideways and view the stone from all angles, sides and bottom. This will show you what a Diamond is really made of.<\/p>\n

      Bottoms up!<\/strong><\/p>\n

      6) The Flaws are not marked on the Diamond Plot<\/h2>\n

      \n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

      \nIf you view a Certified Diamond (like the GIA Certificate shown in the example above) and look at the Diamond Plot, you may NOT see<\/strong> all of the Inclusions that a Diamond has.<\/p>\n

      \nDiamond Plots don’t show you everything.<\/p>\n

      \nSome things are redundant or insignificant<\/strong>, but still considered a Flaw. These are listed under the “Comments<\/strong>” section of the Diamond Report.<\/p>\n

      Things like:<\/h2>\n

      <\/p>\n