Are carbon spots normal on a I1 diamond?

[fuzzums]

Hi
I have just bought an I1 diamond. I knew there would be visible inclusions, but was a bit surprised to see 2 or 3 carbon spots in the diamond, as I thought the inclusions would be feathered marks. Is this normal? Are the carbon spots what make it an I1? Sorry probably a dumb question, but I''m still relatively new to diamond buying. Also, as I think I am going to return it, can anyone recommend any UK sellers or otherwise any in Las vegas area as I will probbaly be going there for a vacation soon. I am looking for a 1ct round diamond, probably now si, but my budget is not high.
Thanks

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/20/2008 11:15:36 AM
Author:fuzzums
Hi
I have just bought an I1 diamond. I knew there would be visible inclusions, but was a bit surprised to see 2 or 3 carbon spots in the diamond, as I thought the inclusions would be feathered marks. Is this normal? Are the carbon spots what make it an I1? Sorry probably a dumb question, but I'm still relatively new to diamond buying. Also, as I think I am going to return it, can anyone recommend any UK sellers or otherwise any in Las vegas area as I will probbaly be going there for a vacation soon. I am looking for a 1ct round diamond, probably now si, but my budget is not high.
Thanks

It depends, I1 clarities are not created equal. A few questions for you.

Does this diamond have a grading report such as GIA, AGS, EGL, IGI etc? What shape is the diamond? Where are the inclusions located on the diamond? Do you have any idea of the cut quality? A good cut can ( not always) help hide inclusions, but this can greatly depend with an I1.

Basically with an I1, they are given that grade for a reason, and you may see something if not from the top view even, but from the side. Clarity is graded face up, so even with an SI clarity you may see an inclusion from the side view. But it is quite possible you may see an inclusion from the top with an I1, sometimes you can get lucky and find eyeclean I1's ( although the definitions of eyeclean can vary) but you need some luck and to know what you are looking for.

I would definitely suggest checking out the PS vendors, even with the charges you will have to pay, you could still find your money goes further, and you can get a better diamond than you would here for your budget.

Read this thread here on eyeclean definitions as it may help in future perhaps.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/clarity-eye-clean-definition-interpretation-and-taste.30483/

 

[fuzzums]

Thanks for your reply. No it is not certified and I have no idea what the cut is, so I guess that''s normal then!

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

As it is not certified, who is telling you that the clarity is I-1. It could just as well be I-3, no?

Live long,

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/20/2008 11:43:56 AM
Author: Paul-Antwerp
As it is not certified, who is telling you that the clarity is I-1. It could just as well be I-3, no?

Live long,

Exactly. This will definitely cloud ( bad pun!) the clarity issue then, if the diamond isn''t certified. Where did you buy the diamond from? Was it from a jeweller, online auction etc?

 

[Po10472]

what''s your budget?

 

[fuzzums]

It was from a jeweller in Birmingham, but via mail order

 

[fuzzums]

My buget is only £900 max ($1800) so I appreciate i am a but limited in what I could buy.

 

[Imdanny]

You can''t get a 1 ct SI for anything close to $1800, no? Why not get the best quality SI J for that money with the best cut? Then you could get an eye clean one and it would be beautiful? I''ll let more experienced people give you their opinions, but I think you''re way off the mark at $1,800.

 

[kcgunesq]

Assuming you are looking for a round diamond. Maybe these are some options?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/20/2008 1:28:34 PM
Author: kcgunesq
Assuming you are looking for a round diamond. Maybe these are some options?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

The first diamond looks good KC!

Other than that, I found this one, the inclusion looks as if it could be hidden under a prong, but you would have to check with the staff at James Allen.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-936509.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

I don''t think you will be able to get a decent 1 carat for your budget unfortunately, but if you are prepared to go well cut and a bit smaller, I think you will be pleased.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 4/20/2008 1:28:34 PM
Author: kcgunesq
Assuming you are looking for a round diamond. Maybe these are some options?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

I like the first one, but the second one is not a good choice.

You are looking at $4500 and up for a well cut J SI1 at 1 carat. I''d suggest looking with this search tool and put excellent-excellent in for cut and click GIA and AGS for labs. Try I-J color and SI1-SI2 for clarity, and about .60-.75.

https://www.pricescope.com/sift.aspx

That search tool will only bring up reliable vendors with mostly in-house stones. There are several UK members of this forum who have bought from these US vendors with satisfaction.

 

[fuzzums]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to me, you have all been a great help. I need to do some serious thinking about what it is I really want, size v quality.
Thanks again

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 4/21/2008 2:08:54 PM
Author: fuzzums
Thanks to everyone who has replied to me, you have all been a great help. I need to do some serious thinking about what it is I really want, size v quality.

Thanks again

Just an FYI, the cut is what will really make it sparkle. A bad cut=a very dull lifeless stone.

 

[Lynn B]

I can totally sympathize with you. I lurves me a big diamond, too! In fact, I am ALL ABOUT size. Well, almost... size second only to CUT. Because it''s the CUT that makes the diamond sparkle... and without any sparkle (even if the diamond is huge), what''s the point?!

So, OK... here''s what I''d do. Return the uncerted stone. (Personally, I couldn''t really live with a diamond with noticeable carbon spots.) I''d find myself some KILLER CUT J or even K colored stones that are eyeclean (check out AGS or GIA SI1 and SI2 stones), and then I''d get AS MUCH SIZE as the budget allows! Then, I''d upgrade in the future sometime (with the vendor''s full-price upgrade policy), if I still wanted bigger and could afford more one day. Yep, that''s what I''d do.

Hmmm, come to think of it, that''s just what I did!!!

 

[DiamondExpert]

Carbon in I1-I3 clarity stones is not uncommon...in fact, just about anything can appear in these very included stones...for example, here''s one that has been infested with termites!

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 4/21/2008 10:05:13 PM
Author: DiamondExpert
Carbon in I1-I3 clarity stones is not uncommon...in fact, just about anything can appear in these very included stones...for example, here''s one that has been infested with termites!

... seriously???!!

 

[Imdanny]