clarity enhanced VVS2

[sleepymom]

I''ve been doing some research and although not convince either way about clarity enhanced diamonds, I''m curious WHY would you enhance a diamond that in the end would be a VVS2, wouldn''t it in fact have started at a S1 standing and been worth more prior to laser drilling? Does the enhancment improve the colour as well? I saw a VVS2 RB, D colour and thought to myself a stone like that must have been worth more prior to the enhancement why would they have bothered?
I''m just learning and thought this was an interesting topic....

 

[oldminer]

I will go out on a limb and tell you that there are NO laser drilled VVS2 diamonds that have been honestly graded. If someone has a laser drilled VVS2 with an AGS, HRD or GIA report, please prove me wrong and I will apologize and beg forgiveness.




You CANNOT start with an SI1 diamond and make ANY actual clarity improvment in the a real professional lab clarity grade from any respected lab. removing a black spot and leaving a white spot may be a nice thing and make the stone more saleable and pretty, but it won't really improve the clarity. In fact, the laser drill line found with most laser drilled diamonds adds clarity faults.




Glass filling of diamonds raises apparent clarity, but does not ever really make an SI1 into a VVS2 either...Can't be. Not in the real world. Whatever the diamond was before glass filling is what that diamond IS. What it looks like, if it improves in appearance, is only considered a temporary fix, not a permanent change in basic clarity.




All enhancements are geared to making a more saleable diamond. One that will get sold faster. It is assumed that prettier sells faster than less pretty. Generally this is correct. However, so many people reject enhanced diamonds that I wonder if this is truly the actual case or marketing hype.

 

[moremoremore]

I've never seen that. I doubt the grade is accurate!

 

[WinkHPD]

I am in accord with Dave on this, the stone may apparently look like a VVS2, but its real grade did not change.

Perhaps they have improved the filler if it still grades out a D as the older fillers also yellowed up the stone somewhat.

Clarity enhancement does have a legitimate place in the market, but calling an enhanced stone a VVS2 is not the place...

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

Sleepymom

I've never seen a VVS2 graded stone that has been laser drilled but I suppose it’s theoretically possible. It’s hard to imagine a cutter deciding that this would be worth doing because you will be replacing a tiny inclusion with a bigger one. For it to be a VVS2 at the end of this process, it would have been a VVS2 (or better) to start with. Why do it?

The term ‘clarity enhanced’ is usually is used to describe a process for filling an inclusion with a non-diamond material and most of the major labs won’t grade these stones at all. Laser drilling requires specific disclosure to the customer and is an important clarity characteristic but it won’t normally be called a clarity enhancement. Do you have a particular stone in mind that is reported to be a VVS2 and clarity enhanced?

Neither drilling or filling should have a significant effect on the color.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[sleepymom]

VVS2 D .80 CARAT ROUND DIAMOND RING GOLD $1 NO RESERVE!





GRADUATE GEMOLOGIST GRADINGS
WEIGHT: .80 CARATS
SHAPE/CUT: ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
COLOR: D
CLARITY: VVS2
METAL: White Gold (Yellow Gold available at no additional cost. 4 or 6 prong setting available at no additional cost.)
SIZE: Free Sizing to Winning Bidder!

------------

Exquisite VVS2-D .80 CARAT Round Brilliant Cut Diamond set in a Gorgeous White Gold Engagement Ring Setting! (Yellow Gold available at no additional cost. 4 or 6 prong setting available at no additional cost.) 100% Genuine / Natural Diamond! This Diamond is Clarity enhanced. Sample image shown. Gradings obtained verbally from a Graduate Gemologist. $1 No Reserve! Highest Bidder takes it! Buy it Now for: $10,500.00![/b][/b]
------------
This is the ad that went with the diamond I saw on Ebay, I'm not interested in it, I just found it curious. They also offer a GIA report for an addition $75. What do you think?

 

[Diamondsbybree]

 

[Rank Amateur]

Why O why do people looking for nice diamonds waste their time on Ebay?

You don't need to spend $10,000 on a REAL .8 D VVS stone. Gah!

 

[denverappraiser]

----------------
On 8/25/2004 5:32:39 PM Rank Amateur wrote:

Why O why do people looking for nice diamonds waste their time on Ebay?

You don't need to spend $10,000 on a REAL .8 D VVS stone. Gah!----------------

But this one comes with free sizing to the winning bidder.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[Rank Amateur]

I love the "sample image" and "grading obtained verbally" parts.

Same way you do it, right Neil?

 

[denverappraiser]

I kind of wonder what the $75 GIA report is about too. Perhaps this is the letter where they explain that GIA won't grade a clarity enhanced stone.

It sold!.

Here's an interesting zinger. Their terms and conditions say:

"Diamond grading is a subjective art, not a science. Therefore, results cannot be guaranteed to be 100% accurate. However, full refunds (less s/h) will be considered if the lowest color or clarity grades we advertise are determined to be more than 1 grade lower. Determinations must be made and documented by an independent GIA certified gemologist, or from EGL or GIA themselves. Such documentation in the form of a certificate or an appraisal must be presented prior to full refund consideration. This offer is only applicable to merchandise that has not already been certified by EGL or GIA themselves."

Since GIA does not certify gemologists, and neither GIA nor EGL will grade a clarity enhanced stone themselves, I don't see any way for the buyer to get a refund under the above policy. Scary.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver