Chipped Diamonds

[memerchant]

Hello!

I'm considering purchasing a diamond that has a small chip in the girdle. I intend to have it reset in another ring but i have a couple of questions first.

1-if i have it set under a prong in the new ring, will it be noticeable?
2-will it be weaker and more apt to break or will the prong's presence reinforce it a bit?
3-is there a way to file down small chips without sacrificing a lot of carat weight?
4-is the filing or setting under a prong the better idea?

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[04diamond<3]

Um....on the girdle is a huge red flag for me! If it were on the table it'd be less of an issue but diamonds are already susceptible to chipping on their own and shattering, so a chip on the girdle IMO would be dangerous....I would look for something else.

 

[CharmyPoo]

My diamond used to have a chips in the girdle - 1 bigger and 3 tiny - old stone. When I was trying to decide if I were to recut or not, I got opinions on whether or not there are structure issues especially since the rest of the stone is virtually inclusions free. I was told no and I could hide it under a prong. I decided to go ahead with recut. Point is ... your chip has to be evaluated as not all chips are equal. Your weight lost will be dependent on the location and size of your chip. You can lose a few points or a lot more.

 

[lin_ny]

My e-ring stone (which I have yet to receive from my bf. ) is chipped along the girdle/pavillion but we'll be setting it into a bezel to protect it. Have you considered a more protective setting?

Only time will tell if my stone will hold up. But considering the price we paid, about 25-30% of retail, we're optimistic.

Do you have pictures?

 

[CharmyPoo]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

 

[madelise]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

I have also gotten advice about a bezel on a chipped stone, and have received the same answer.

A chip on the girdle would not be a red flag for me. Little fleabites and chips are very common, especially in diamonds that have been worn as rings. They get knocked around. Since each chip is different and carries different structural risks, if I were you, I'd get it evaluated by a diamond cutter or jeweler who offers diamond cutting services. I have received diamond cutting advice from both Jon at GOG and Ari at SS. BGD and Adam at OWD also do these services.

And if it's tiny enough of a chip, a polish will serve good enough purpose.

 

[diamondloveaffair]

was the chip reflected in the grading report?

 

[diamondloveaffair]

if yes, post grading report. if no, it is a can of worms. Get an appraiser of your choice to do an assessment first.

 

[lin_ny]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

I'm scared now! But if I picked a setting with prongs I'm not sure it would protect it enough.

Crap. What to do now...

 

[mrs jam]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

I'm scared now! But if I picked a setting with prongs I'm not sure it would protect it enough.

Crap. What to do now...

Choose the person setting your diamond very carefully. I have witnessed several bezel horror stories, and these were with previously undamaged diamonds. What scares me now about bezels is that the setter can damage your stone, and you may never find out about it until the stone becomes loose or you decide to reset it in a new setting.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

I'm scared now! But if I picked a setting with prongs I'm not sure it would protect it enough.

Crap. What to do now...

I don't think you should be scared. If you are doing a bezel and working with a top vendor, the risks should be low.

Almost all my settings are prongs and in fact really open settings ... I haven't had an issue yet.

 

[oldminer]

You may find that you will be unable to obtain insurance coverage for damage that might occur if you try to insure the diamond. The insurance company might say they do not insure damaged stones or they might exempt themselves from covering further damage and just supply you insurance in case of total loss other than from breakage.

Many chips on diamonds, especially old cut diamonds, have little chance of becoming major problems in normal wear. When a diamond is worn in a harsh environment, then all bets are off since chipping a diamond is not all that difficult. Cmall chips in a diamond are not so much of a safety problem as a mental negative sales factor which must be overcome. A car in a used car lot with a few door dings might be a great vehicle needing next to no other repairs of consequence, yet it will sit for far longer waiting for a customer who just does not worry over cosmetic issues. A car with no door dings in the same general condition will be far more appealing and would tend to sell a lot sooner. Once you are diriving either one, you could never tell which car you had. A diamond with a minor chip or two is much the same.

 

[memerchant]

Thanks to everyone. I decided to go another route considering the diminished value and the likelihood to break. the bezel isnt a look i am fond of.

 

[lin_ny]

I always thought a bezel would be safer too but I found out the risk of setting a chipped stone in a bezel is higher. Also, unsettling the stone in the future will be more difficult. I don't have experience in this but this is what several vendors told me.

I'm scared now! But if I picked a setting with prongs I'm not sure it would protect it enough.

Crap. What to do now...

I don't think you should be scared. If you are doing a bezel and working with a top vendor, the risks should be low.

Almost all my settings are prongs and in fact really open settings ... I haven't had an issue yet.

I'm thinking they're a top vendor and I'm hoping you're right.

Prongs with a chip though already? Prongs without a chip, heck yeah, I love me some prongs. But with a chip, I just don't know it would be protected enough.