can an SI really be eye clean?

[jaz464]

I am shopping for a marquise approximatly 2 ct in size. My budget is about $20,000 or a little over. My main concern is cut and then color. I would like an E or F color. I would like to go down a little in clarity so I can get just the right cut with a very good polish and symmetry. Can I really get an SI that will look clean without magnification? While shopping on the PS vendor''s sites, I am seeing GIA reports that look kind of scary to me with all kinds of marks shown on the diagram. Can a stone that looks like this http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00117087 or like this http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00117756&sec=normal really look clear? What sort of inclusions show up more? Clouds, crystals, feathers?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

it depends on your eye sight.

If you can easily focus at 6 inches then probably you will see most SI2''s, and many SI1''s, when you look hard, and / or you know where the marks are after using magnification.

It can be a trade off.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 8/16/2005 2:03:30 AM
Author:jazmine

Can I really get an SI that will look clean without magnification?

guess so...


I am seeing GIA reports that look kind of scary to me with all kinds of marks shown on the diagram.

the diagrams are not very informative in that way: inclusions are mostly transparent things, not red and (hopefully) black. Actually, you can't tell from the plot if some are colored or not.


What sort of inclusions show up more? Clouds, crystals, feathers?

not sure what to say because the size and position inside the diamond matters more. I am tempted to say that clouds tend to be discrete, but some are dense and show and... you can't tell much from the plot about them.

I would insiste to see the stone (or at least professional pictures) before 'calling one in' - clarity plots are only a very rough guess. Given a choice among SIs I'd choose one with a couple of small inclusionsversus one with a single large one, and prefer one with nothing under the table (but this needs not be - some would not show and the plot does not help with that part either).

In theory, colored inclusions are worse, but IMO dark crystals are not all that bad - provided they are small and scatered. Other kinds of inclusions are not tinted - perhaps it can happen but not likely, as far as I can tell. This does not mean that crystal are a bad thing.

The seller should be there to describe the stone for you (words, pictures appraisal by intermediary work and other ways must be there). A reliable return policy makes that kind of statements pretty informative and there is a track record for that about at least a few sellers.

Btw. E-F / SI1 sounds great to me

You'd get the best of all worlds with one like that. G color would work for me too...

Too bad there are not that many marquises presented with pictures & all online. A couple are to be found HERE.

Both stones you picked up look rather promissing - as much as the plot can tell. Twinning is usually very discrete unless there is some color involved, and the crystals in the other are not large and seem scattered under the crown. If the larger ones are not tinted, chances are they are not distracting at all. The plots are orders of magniture larger than the gems and the actuial inclusions allt more discrete than the colored ink on paper. 'Seen this thread ? (about how the clarity plots are made).

Hope some of this helps

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Ana''s post is right on!
The plots on a GIA report are useless for determing the actual way a diamond will look.
I also agree that an E or F SI1 is a great grade.
I have also seen many an eye clean SI2.
I''ve also seen a VS2 who''s imperfection could be seen.
So Ana''s suggestion about having a "eyes on" inspection by you or a trusted seller and discussion makes great sense.