Can someone please tell me if this diamond is cracked or has a natural fault?

[SpaceChimp]

Hi all,

Just bought this ring for my wife, been after a ring like this for years but nothing had come up in her size/our price range, it was sold as having no chips or cracks and being "eye clean".

The center stone is around 20 points I believe.

When looking at the ring something seemed slightly off about the center stone, after looking though an eye loupe it appears the ring has several little cracks. Reading only it appears these could be "feathers", but I am unsure how to tell the difference.

Could you please tell me if this is how the diamond was originally or if it has been damaged later on?

Also would the ring be safe to wear, or would it be likely to fully crack/break later down the line?

Many thanks

 

[whitewave]

Without a report, I'm guessing etch channel or twining wisp?

Maybe an expert can tell...

 

[kenny]

When looking at the ring something seemed slightly off about the center stone, after looking though an eye loupe it appears the ring has several little cracks. Reading only it appears these could be "feathers", but I am unsure how to tell the difference.

Could you please tell me if this is how the diamond was originally or if it has been damaged later on?

Also would the ring be safe to wear, or would it be likely to fully crack/break later down the line?

Many thanks

You wrote, " ... it appears the ring has several little cracks. Reading only it appears these could be "feathers", but I am unsure how to tell the difference.

Feather is the diamond industry's pretty word for crack.
I knew a woman who called womens' farts, "fluffies"
Same idea; the truth is just not candy-coated enough.

Yes those are cracks, aka feathers.
OR
Yes those are feathers, aka cracks.

You ask, "Could you please tell me if this is how the diamond was originally or if it has been damaged later on?"

This question just opens a can of worms.
The answer is, nobody knows for sure.
Proof is impossible but we can speculate endlessly.

It might have been like that when you bought it without louping it.
... or you could have damaged it.

Nice pics BTW, some of the clearest macro pics I've seen here on PS.
The crack is actually in focus.
Kudos.
Lots of diamond pics are posted here with the diamond out of focus but the floor in focus.

 

[EvaEvans]

Feather inclusion in fact is a tiny crack inside of the diamond structure. The problem with your diamonds is that they are extremely low quality, approx. clarity I2, probably enhanced, this inner crack that you see can cause diamond fracture. I would return this ring to the seller straight away!

 

[SpaceChimp]

Thanks both for the replys.

The ring only arrived today and was bought on ebay, so I'm trying to decide if I should keep it or not, based on being told it had not chips/cracks and was "eye clean". Not sure about with other peoples eyes but I can see the cracks with my eyes, though it does still display well overall.

Kind of gutted then I opened it, as it's exactly what I was looking for, hense may want to keep if it is not likely to get worse. Hard choice.

 

[ac117]

How much was the ring? We may be able to find you better quality preloved or new depending on your budget. @Niel is great at eBay hunting and could maybe help!

 

[kenny]

Thanks both for the replys.

The ring only arrived today and was bought on ebay, so I'm trying to decide if I should keep it or not, based on being told it had not chips/cracks and was "eye clean". Not sure about with other peoples eyes but I can see the cracks with my eyes, though it does still display well overall.

Kind of gutted then I opened it, as it's exactly what I was looking for, hense may want to keep if it is not likely to get worse. Hard choice.

The crack is huge and it looks like it may reach the girdle (outer diameter edge of the stone) at a point right between prongs. ... not two prongs next to the side diamonds, but 2 prongs on the OUTSIDE of the ring, where it can impact with anything you bang your hand against.

This can make the crack propagate (spread) causing major damage visible to the naked eye of a blind person. It may even split the diamond into two pieces.
Then again, it may remain stable forever.
It's a risk.
I'd rather wear a diamond with lower risk.
BTW, even a flawless diamond could shatter if hit just right (just wrong?) with enough force.

If you can I'd definitely return it for a refund ... TODAY!

 

[EvaEvans]

@SpaceChimp, you definitely can find better option, it's just a common 3-stone ring. The PS community can help you!

 

[SpaceChimp]

Thanks all, gutted but thanks!

In terms of cost, I paid just under £200 (budget for this was around 250), so it's probably "bottom of the barrel" (or lower!) compared to most the tings I've seen on here. It was intended for a xmas gift to my wife, as she collects rings, mostly "dress rings" with "pretty coloured stones".

The reason this style of ring was important and took me a long time to find, it was kind of intended as a back up engagement ring, as hers needs repairing. (well re-repairing as a the diamond had falled out, but the repair job done locally was pretty awful and my wife wants to have it fixed, but we dont know any other jeweller near by that we trust...)

It seems hard to find rings in her size with the 3 small diamonds set either side, but she does really love that style.

One thing I'm wondering now is if it would be worth replacing the center stone in it...

P.S. Thanks for the comments on the pictures, it took me a while to take one somewhat in focus

 

[kenny]

Thanks all, gutted but thanks!

What do you mean by 'gutted'?

I looked it up.
Perhaps you use another dictionary?

gut | ɡət | noun 1 (also guts) the stomach or belly: a painful stabbing feeling in his gut. • Medicine & Biology the lower alimentary canal or a part of this; the intestine: microbes which naturally live in the human gut. • (guts) entrails that have been removed or exposed in violence or by a butcher. • (guts) the internal parts or essence of something: the guts of a modern computer. 2 [often as modifier] informal used in reference to a feeling or reaction based on an instinctive emotional response rather than considered thought: I had a gut feeling that something was wrong | trusting his gut instinct, he went ahead and made the call | I could feel it in my guts—he was out there, watching me. 3 (guts) informal personal courage and determination; toughness of character: she had both more brains and more guts than her husband | you just haven't got the guts to admit it. 4 fiber made from the intestines of animals, used especially for violin or racket strings or for surgical use: [as modifier] : gut strings. 5 a narrow passage or strait. verb (guts, gutting, gutted) [with object] 1 take out the intestines and other internal organs of (a fish or other animal) before cooking it. • remove or destroy completely the internal parts of (a building or other structure): the fire gutted most of the factory. 2 British informal cause (someone) to feel extremely upset or disappointed: it guts me to think about what my mother and brother missed out on | (as adjective gutting) : she described the ruling as absolutely gutting. PHRASES bust a gut informal 1 make a strenuous effort: a problem which nobody is going to bust a gut trying to solve. 2 laugh very heartily: his facial expressions and ad libs were enough to get audiences to bust a gut. —— one's guts out informal used to indicate that the specified action is done or performed as hard as possible: he ran his guts out and finished fourth. hate someone's guts informal feel a strong hatred for someone. ORIGIN Old English guttas (plural), probably related to gēotan ‘pour’.

 

[Rockdiamond]

SpaceChimp- based on the pics, if the seller represented this as an "eye clean" diamond, they were not being truthful.
It would not be possible for an expert to actually declare whether or not there's chips or cracks based on photos. Having said that, it does not look at all like a "crack"- rather a large imperfection. Of course, a hands-on evaluation is the only way to tell exactly what we're looking at- but the likelihood of that .....stuff appearing due to a hit is about nil.
Guys-I've never seen a diamond separate ( crack) at a feather.
That's why the word "crack" doesn't really fit when describing the majority of feathers.
We associate cracks with things like a piece of cracked wood, or glass for example. For sure a piece of cracked glass or wood can splinter and or break at the crack. But wood and glass are completely unlike a diamond.

 

[kenny]

Spacechimp, it's a crack aka feather in the diamond industry.

Unethical vendors will say ANYTHING to sell every diamond in their vault, even those with cracks.

Follow the money.
I don't make a penny posting here.

 

[SpaceChimp]

What do you mean by 'gutted'?

Sorry kenny, I'm British and forget that some of the terms we use are not commonly understood

Gutted is a very mild British slang term that just means very disappointed.

@Rockdiamond Given the fairly low cost, would you think this ring is fairly safe to wear then please? In all honesty my wife probably wont even notice the flaw, so if it is wearable and likely(I realise no rings are guarenteed against damage) to last, then I probably would keep it.

 

[pyramid]

The diamond is poor quality. However I think the feather has always been there. The crack also depends on the angle of it from the surface and it does not look like it enters the diamond very deep more like a flat wide crack on its side. I am not an expert.

 

[Karl_K]

A close family member had a diamond with a large feather, eye visible typical i1/i2 that she loved because it was what they could afford at the time and it was her ER.
She dropped it in the sink and the stone shattered.
The side with the feather was perfectly intact the other was in several pieces and some dust.
Diamond breakage is more about force and angles than anything else.
In general a knock that will break an i1 stone is going to break an IF stone.
The exception is the corners of princess cuts, I dont like feathers there.

 

[ringo865]

@kenny number 2 under verb, and adjective
verb (guts, gutting, gutted) [with object] 1 take out the intestines and other internal organs of (a fish or other animal) before cooking it. • remove or destroy completely the internal parts of (a building or other structure): the fire gutted most of the factory. 2 British informal cause (someone) to feel extremely upset or disappointed: it guts me to think about what my mother and brother missed outon | (as adjective gutting) : she described the ruling as absolutely gutting.

To OP, that stone has low clarity. It is most definitely not eye clean. The feather obscures light return coming out of the diamond much like a cataract obscures light into the eye. Your £250 budget is about $330 USD. For £200 that may be the quality you can find. Maybe save up a little longer (increase budget) or consider something with fewer stones (solitaire?)(increase quality).

I second that @Niel is great at finding items on eBay - that are better quality than this one.

While you are within the return period, consider sending this one back. There are always rings out there within one's budget. Don't settle on something you don't love (or even like) cuz it'll sit unworn.

 

[pyramid]

I refer you to Rockdiamond and Karl_K posts.

I remember reading that twinning wisps can also be twisted feathers with all the other bits of stuff in the diamond such as clouds, crystals, so maybe this is a twinning wisp?

 

[pyramid]

At that stone size on a hand it will be eyeclean to the majority of people. Maybe not the wearer after they have looked at it a few times, but only if they are the type of person to look at it in that way. If she is not OCD then it will be a nice ring for the price. It looks very white anyway, some lower quality stones look dark or greyish. Someone said it may be enhanced but that is unlikely at 20 points too in my opinion.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Spacechimp, it's a crack aka feather in the diamond industry.

Unethical vendors will say ANYTHING to sell every diamond in their vault, even those with cracks.

Follow the money.
I don't make a penny posting here.

Hi Kenny- if you want to make a point, please be brave enough to say what you mean. There are indeed many unethical diamond sellers who will say ANYTHING to sell things- that means lying, right? So if you know of ANY vendor posting here who would do something like that, you owe it to the entire community to call it out.
I also don't make any money posting here. Instead, I get attacked for offering advice garnered from over 40 years in the diamond trade, for free, only to assist consumers.

 

[SpaceChimp]

Maybe save up a little longer (increase budget) or consider something with fewer stones (solitaire?)(increase quality).

While you are within the return period, consider sending this one back. There are always rings out there within one's budget. Don't settle on something you don't love (or even like) cuz it'll sit unworn.

To be honest my wife is not keen single stone solitaire rings, the only exception being heart shaped diamonds. The latter I have also been looking for for a while, ideally something around the 20 point mark (as she also is not so keen on big diamonds... phew! ), but these seem pretty rare to find on the secondary market.

The ring above I know she would love, even as it is, I'm just worried about it breaking a few weeks after wearing it.

One thing I'm wondering is to show the seller my pictures and ask if we can come to some discount on the price, such that I "take a chance on it", but have a little save towards replacing the stone should I need to later down the line.

Do you happen to know what I could expect to pay for a fair quality replacement stone to be set please?

 

[whitewave]

How does it look to you? Do you love it?

 

[EvaEvans]

Ring by itself looks nice, but me personally would not accept to wear such low quality diamond. Your budget is pretty low too, so I would suggest buying a diamond simulant ring. Based on your explanation, I see that you are mainly attracted of the ring price and the ring model. However, it's up to you if you would keep the ring or return it. If your wife don't hit hard the center diamond, if she wear the ring gently, I don't think that there is a danger of cracking the diamond.
You can ask the seller for discount, because this diamond is not eye clean!

 

[Rockdiamond]

spacechimp- in general, .20cts heart shapes are not recognizable as a heart- too small.
IMO, trying to fix up, or upgrade this particular ring is not going to end well.
If you really love the way it looks, or it's so unbelievably cheap that you don't mind, then, by all means, keep it.
Regarding concerns about breakage- there's honestly no possible way for anyone to ease your concerns using only pictures. Having said that- it's pretty tough to break a diamond- and as Karl points out- it can happen to any stone.
Taking it to an appraiser would be the way to check- but that's going to cost even more money....

 

[Karl_K]

I refer you to Rockdiamond and Karl_K posts.

I remember reading that twinning wisps can also be twisted feathers with all the other bits of stuff in the diamond such as clouds, crystals, so maybe this is a twinning wisp?

Hi pyramid.
There is indeed a large feather and other inclusions.
For the price it is what I would expect.
Fairy typical i2.

 

[kenny]

How does it look to you? Do you love it?

Horrible advice!

Better advice: :Learn more about diamonds so you can make better-informed buying decisions.

 

[Niel]

What do you mean by 'gutted'?

I looked it up.
Perhaps you use another dictionary?

gut | ɡət | noun 1 (also guts) the stomach or belly: a painful stabbing feeling in his gut. • Medicine & Biology the lower alimentary canal or a part of this; the intestine: microbes which naturally live in the human gut. • (guts) entrails that have been removed or exposed in violence or by a butcher. • (guts) the internal parts or essence of something: the guts of a modern computer. 2 [often as modifier] informal used in reference to a feeling or reaction based on an instinctive emotional response rather than considered thought: I had a gut feeling that something was wrong | trusting his gut instinct, he went ahead and made the call | I could feel it in my guts—he was out there, watching me. 3 (guts) informal personal courage and determination; toughness of character: she had both more brains and more guts than her husband | you just haven't got the guts to admit it. 4 fiber made from the intestines of animals, used especially for violin or racket strings or for surgical use: [as modifier] : gut strings. 5 a narrow passage or strait. verb (guts, gutting, gutted) [with object] 1 take out the intestines and other internal organs of (a fish or other animal) before cooking it. • remove or destroy completely the internal parts of (a building or other structure): the fire gutted most of the factory. 2 British informal cause (someone) to feel extremely upset or disappointed: it guts me to think about what my mother and brother missed out on | (as adjective gutting) : she described the ruling as absolutely gutting. PHRASES bust a gut informal 1 make a strenuous effort: a problem which nobody is going to bust a gut trying to solve. 2 laugh very heartily: his facial expressions and ad libs were enough to get audiences to bust a gut. —— one's guts out informal used to indicate that the specified action is done or performed as hard as possible: he ran his guts out and finished fourth. hate someone's guts informal feel a strong hatred for someone. ORIGIN Old English guttas (plural), probably related to gēotan ‘pour’.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Peace and love to all!
Guys, we're talking about a ring which was purchased for about $250.
It's got a .20ct center.
And two other diamonds, maybe .07ct each- and stones in the shank.
You can see from the pics, it's not a featherweight piece.
$250. The parts would cost close to that, with no diamonds.
The imperfections, oddly enough, give me more confidence that they are actually diamonds.
Not that anyone looking at pictures is in a position to make a definitive assessment.
Yes, if you love it SpaceChimp, enjoy it.
If the diamonds and gold are authentic, I honestly don't feel you got ripped off.


I'm not saying anyone is wrong to warn or knock it or whatever.
I just think that for $250- if the gold and diamonds are authentic- it might be a very good alternative for someone. Not everyone has thousands of bucks to spend.

 

[whitewave]

Peace and love to all!
Guys, we're talking about a ring which was purchased for about $250.
It's got a .20ct center.
And two other diamonds, maybe .07ct each- and stones in the shank.
You can see from the pics, it's not a featherweight piece.
$250. The parts would cost close to that, with no diamonds.
The imperfections, oddly enough, give me more confidence that they are actually diamonds.
Not that anyone looking at pictures is in a position to make a definitive assessment.
Yes, if you love it SpaceChimp, enjoy it.
If the diamonds and gold are authentic, I honestly don't feel you got ripped off.


I'm not saying anyone is wrong to warn or knock it or whatever.
I just think that for $250- if the gold and diamonds are authentic- it might be a very good alternative for someone. Not everyone has thousands of bucks to spend.

Exactly. If it is pretty, there is nothing wrong with keeping it.

 

[motownmama]

It’s $266. He’s a Brit and referenced pounds.

 

[Rockdiamond]

kenny- we're both on the same side man. I'm sorry - my earlier post was harsh.
It's totally cool for us to have different opinions.
It makes discussion far more interesting if we just respect each other.

Have a great holiday, if you celebrate.