Clarity Enhancement? Where to get it done?

[sofibebe]

I figured I would ask this question here, since I came across a previous clarity enhancement post here on PS that was closed, and now I can't find the original post anymore to link up to here.

I have an engagement ring with a GIA Si1 1.02 E color stone, and it happens to have 2 tiny cavities on the table facet as well as one small black inclusion directly beneath them. I an only assume that at some point, there were three carbon spots and the other two fell out of the said cavities during the cutting/polishing phase.

Anyway, I had previously reached out to a clarity enhancer who said they didn't do enhancements on Si1 stones- I don't know if this is their personal policy, or just a general fact so I was hoping to get more information, since they didn't seem they could guarantee the safety of the stone either, which seemed shady to me.

I was just wondering about the possibility of a- laser drilling the black speck out, and filling the two small cavities on the surface, and about the future effects of these. I saw on PS'r post regarding a clarity enhanced diamond she had for 5 years that became cloudy throughout with normal wear, so I am a little wary.

Any information would help! Or if someone could suggest anyone to me, or where to go- or even steer me away from it, because of future possibilities like the cloudy diamond another PSr posted about after 5 years of normal wear.

Thanks!

 

[bcavitt]

A quick Google search found www.prismgems.com . I don't know if they do their services to the public or to trade only.

 

[AprilBaby]

I would think clarity enhancement would really devalue your stone. Is there somewhere you can trade it in and buy a new stone? Not many people want to buy a CE stone. An E , si1 would probably sell quickly!

 

[bunnycat]

I would tend to agree with AprilBaby that it seems CE would be a bad idea on an SI1 stone. I would think that would devalue it. It would seem to me if they are tiny blemishes that maybe it is something a re-polish could take care of? (No idea if that is a good idea or feasible, but it just seems like a surface blemish would be better addressed by polishing. Please someone correct me if I am wrong!)

 

[MustangGal]

I sent a diamond to Leshem about 6 years ago to be enhanced. They evaluate the diamond before doing it and let you know the risks, but you do have to sign a waiver that they are not responsible if it breaks during the process. I don't know if they do laser drilling, but they do fracture filling. I'm not sure I'd have it done on an SI1 stone though, are the inclusions really that noticable?

 

[bcavitt]

What the other posters don't realize is that you may never want to resell your diamond once it's clarity enhanced. If the enhancement only raises the clarity to VS levels, it probably isn't worth it. I don't know if it's possible to enhance the clarity to anything higher or not. You have to decide if the clarity characteristics bother you enough to spend the money or not. It's for your benefit, not those of others.

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI sofibebe,
"Clarity enhancement" encompasses a number of different procedures.
One is laser drilling- a channel is drilled to a black carbon spot and the diamond is boiled in acid- which seeps in and burns the carbon to a white spot.
This procedure is more accepted within the trade and by consumers, as nothing is added to the diamond.
GIA will grade such stones for clarity.
The second, and more intrusive procedure is "fracture filling"
IN this procedure, a foreign substance ( silicone) is forced into a fracture within the diamond.
This is also known as Yehuda treatment.
It's actually similar to the way a chip in a windshield can be repaired nowadays.
GIA will not grade such stones for clarity.
This is the type of treatment that gets cloudy over time.

In either case, not all diamonds will qualify.
It's really not based on if they are SI1- more on the nature and location of imperfection.

I am a bit curious how a diamond with two cavities in the table was graded SI1 by GIA...that is a bit unusual in itself.

 

[denverappraiser]

The fill type 'enhancement' can't fill a cavity. It just makes certain types of feathers less visible. Whether or not your stone would benefit by it is unknown but, from your description, I think it's unlikely.

In answer to your question, all of the treatment companies I know of will not work directly with the public and most jewelers aren't all that familiar with it. You're chances of finding someone who will want to do the work go up with the 'Mom and Pop' type of jewelry stores.

 

[WinkHPD]

Clarity enhanced stones are always assumed by most of us to be of I1 (or worse) clarity before enhancing. The enhancement will only owrk on surface reaching inclusions, and will not fill in your two cavities.

It is possible, normally, to have your black inclusion drilled, but unless you can see it, why would you do this? If you can easily see it, who says it is an SI1?

Oh, wait, you state it has a GIA paper. I would love to see your diamond, it sounds like an awful SI1 from your description, but the reality might be much better. Are you seeing the cavities with your unaided eye or using a loupe? Are you seeing the "carbon spots" with your unaided eye or using a loupe?

Your diamond itself is carbon, and most often the "carbon spots" that you see are other crystal inclusions, quite often garnets that will actually show as dark brownish red in transmitted light.

There are houses in New York that do this work, although you are probably better off as a private to go through your local jeweler who can take care of the unmounting and remounting of your gem as well as to show you the stone under the microscope and to fully discuss your options with you.

Wink

 

[WinkHPD]

And as usual, Denver Appraiser nails it on the head with a short succinct answer while I ramble on and on to say basically the same thing...

Wink

 

[sofibebe]

Hi wink- in reply to your questions- i am not using a loupe. I can see the two cavities when light reflects directly off the table facet of the diamond. And the carbon spot is pretty close to these. Its not huge and most people probably wont see it but i can see it bc it is relatively close to the surface of the table.

It really is exceptional in terms of sparkle, fire, and brightness/glow.
Ill attach a photo of the plot bc the cavities are actually listed third on the list of inclusions.
It is a gia report which has to be pretty reliable as they are pretty much the end all be all.

So cavities can't be filled?

 

[sofibebe]

 

[Rockdiamond]

Unfortunately, surface cavities can not be filled.
It does seem to have a lot of imperfection for an SI1- but once GIA calls it an SI1, that's what it is. Not all SI1 diamonds are eye clean.
IMO, it would be a mistake to do any sort of enhancement to such a stone- maybe find a dealer willing to allow a trade it in if the imperfections bother you

 

[sofibebe]

From the plot it does seem that way, although, the only things I can visibly is the black spot in certain lighting, or if it is against a facet that is "lit up" and not dark. Same for the cavities, on close inspection when light hits the table facet.
Aside from that, the stone is really gorgeous in terms of sparkle- it is not cloudy in the least bit, and is very bright, no flourescence, and it glows very white.

The speck bothers me, because I know it's there and can zone in on it. I think the fact that is is so close to the surface of the table doesn't help in terms of making it less visible to me, especially when i tilt the stone away from me. It looks like someone took a pinpoint with a dab of black ink and just popped it on there. Like i said, it's more visible when it's up against something white. In the sun, you can't see it, but if it's overcast for instance, it's easier to spot depending on how you tilt it.

I spoke to the person who sold the diamond to my FI, and he told me I should check my genes to see if I was related to super woman because I shouldn't be able to see that. Which I think was pretty insulting in and of itself.
Are there even any dealers out there that will take someone else's diamond for a trade? Doesn't seem like they'd give you the value you paid for it, and you'd just end up shelling out more for a diamond of the same quality.

I don't know. I'm conflicted. Sorry, I just don't know of any other place where I can discuss this freely.
Anyway, here are some more crappy cell pics!

Would this really bother anyone else? Other than that, I really love my ring!!! I guess, once you see it, you always see it!

 

[sofibebe]

That is really the only thing visible to me, anything else bouncing around in there is just reflection.

 

[sofibebe]

My apologies in advance for the dirt/dust all over it.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I agree- that's really insulting.
I may be older than you ( I'm 56) and there are imperfections that I could see when I was 25 that I have no hope of seeing with the naked eye today.
It really matters not what the seller can see- it matters most what you can see- and if it bothers you.

Was the diamond recently purchased?
Maybe the seller will work with you.
There are absolutely dealers that will take the stone in trade, but you are correct, you'll take a substantial loss if you want a stone of the same size color and clarity to be purchased from another dealer.
Add to it that you seem to have gotten a "lucky" SI1- and not all SI1 diamonds are priced the same for reasons just like this

I think the first, and best bet is to go back to where you purchased and see if they will work out an exchange.It does look like a lovely diamond, and the imperfections, as you said, don't diminish the overall sparkle or brilliance.
But it's a shame that you are finding things about the stone that bother you- it was given out of love, so hopefully the considerations can be handled by whoever sold it to your FI.

 

[Dreamer_D]

OK, here is my advice based on my own personal experience.

Your diamond looks lovely and those are very small inclusions.

Like you, I can see and find imperfections when I look for them. I would likely be able to see those imperfections in person as well.

About 3 years ago I owned a G Si2 stone that has a similar inclusion that I could see in some lighting if I held the stone about 4 inches from my eyes, closed one eye, and squinted. I could especially see it in the shower because of the lighting. I don't normally wear my ring in the shower, but I wore THAT ring in the shower to hunt for the inclusions. "There they are! See, this diamond sucks!" I spent all my time looking for that inclusion and it bugged me. I ended up trading the stone in because it bugged me. I was the same way about diamond color. Had a K color stone and spent all my time looking for the tint.

Reality check -- you know that old joke, "A man goes to the doctor and says, 'Doc, it hurts when I lift my arm like this (lifts arm). What do I do?' The Doctor looks at the man and says, 'Hmmm. Don't lift your arm like that!"

Same is true for diamonds. Don't look for it and it will miraculously stop bugging you! Over time, as well, when you are an old married woman with kids and work and other distractions this may not bother you anymore.

So now that I am older and wiser I think I was being a silly moron to hunt for that inclusion all the time, and to look for the tint in my diamonds. Why the heck did I waste my time and mental energy on that? The diamonds were gorgeous. Full stop.

So, I say: Get over it! Forget about it! Quit looking for those little specs.

Or trade it in and get a stone you are happy with. But I sort of think the mental adjustment to stop obsessing is more beneficial to one's well-being, if you can swing it.

PS: My ring now is a K SI2 and I love it unconditionally

 

[sofibebe]

Thanks RockDiamond,

The diamond was purchase end of April- I recently called the seller and expressed my concerns, and he insisted that there was no way I could see the flaw, (ref super woman genes comment above), and that when FI and such checked it out, nothing seemed to be wrong. When i asked about a similar si1 stone, same in size, color, cut etc, he said he was not going to traipse around looking for another si1 and that my only option was to go up in clarity (which i guess is the point as he would make more money off of it). He also insisted that he gave FI a great deal on this stone (which he didn't, because I compared pricing to that on here, JA, etc). Apparently, he was an awesome salesperson when it was bought (aren't they all), but everytime i've raised a concern, i've gotten the "i've done this for so and so years, and you don't know what you're talking about missy" brush off kind of comment.

What do you mean by "lucky" si1?

I think i will learn to love the little beauty mark in my stone- I think i am more paranoid about others seeing it and about the upclose and personal ring shot in wedding photographs!!!!

 

[WinkHPD]

From the plot it does seem that way, although, the only things I can visibly is the black spot in certain lighting, or if it is against a facet that is "lit up" and not dark. Same for the cavities, on close inspection when light hits the table facet.
Aside from that, the stone is really gorgeous in terms of sparkle- it is not cloudy in the least bit, and is very bright, no flourescence, and it glows very white.

The speck bothers me, because I know it's there and can zone in on it. I think the fact that is is so close to the surface of the table doesn't help in terms of making it less visible to me, especially when i tilt the stone away from me. It looks like someone took a pinpoint with a dab of black ink and just popped it on there. Like i said, it's more visible when it's up against something white. In the sun, you can't see it, but if it's overcast for instance, it's easier to spot depending on how you tilt it.

I spoke to the person who sold the diamond to my FI, and he told me I should check my genes to see if I was related to super woman because I shouldn't be able to see that. Which I think was pretty insulting in and of itself.
Are there even any dealers out there that will take someone else's diamond for a trade? Doesn't seem like they'd give you the value you paid for it, and you'd just end up shelling out more for a diamond of the same quality.

I don't know. I'm conflicted. Sorry, I just don't know of any other place where I can discuss this freely.
Anyway, here are some more crappy cell pics!

Would this really bother anyone else? Other than that, I really love my ring!!! I guess, once you see it, you always see it!

Wow! Nice job getting those to show up. I know very few people who could do that without special equipment, especially the reflected light picture.

I will not tease you about being related to Superwoman, it does seem a little rude, but I am also guessing he said it with a smile and maybe a chuckle, but if he did not, then shame on him.

I once had a client who could see VS2 inclusions from across my desk even though I could not see them even up close. I got to sell him VS1 diamonds for several years. About ten years after the first purchase he came in and told me to find him some VS2 or SI1 diamonds. "What?!" I asked.

He told me that all the detail up close work he was doing at Hewlet Packard had ruined his micro vision and now that he could no longer see the tiny inclusions he did not want to pay for them not being there any more.

I understand that once you have found these inclusions that they might bother you, so what to about them is going to be up to you. If you learn to live with them that will be the zero cost option. Any thing else is going to cost a little more. If it was my store I would give you credit towards another diamond, but you will have to work that out with the store as they will have their own policies and procedures.

Wink

 

[Rockdiamond]

You're welcome sofibebe

Before I answer further- I think Dreamer gave excellent advice.
You're here asking, so I will gladly answer- but given the manner of the place you bought it, I'm afraid they are not going to give you satisfaction- and furthermore, I am personally angry at the way you were treated.
Give that its a lovely diamond overall- and the ring looks beautiful as well, I'm hoping you can make the best of a beautiful stone.

"Lucky SI1"- what I meant was that there are stones that lie on the border between SI1 and SI2- since its a judgment call, such stones might go one way one day and get a different grade the next day.

 

[sofibebe]

Hi Wink,
I'm a freak of nature, I over-analyze and by nature am a perfectionist- perhaps I should have prefaced my post with that sentence first?
The pics above were snapped with my cell phone- i got lucky!

I had lasik a few years ago, and perhaps thats why my FI (with his crappier vision, and the person who went with him- in her 50's) with the loupe didn't seem seem to think much of it.

I am trying to adopt Dreamer D's attitude, I have thought (obviously) about a substitution, but deep in my heart, although it would eliminate the speck, I'd probably always feel like i'd betrayed my FI and what he bought for me out of love (and it was exactly the style I wanted too!)

 

[LibbyLA]

sofibebe,

Can you look at this tiny imperfections as "birthmarks," things that identify the diamond as yours so you never have to wonder if anyone pulled a fast one and switched your diamond out? (Not that that is a common occurrence, mind you...)

Or think about being a wonderful, but imperfect human, in a wonderful, but imperfect relationship, with another wonderful, but imperfect human and the wonderful, but imperfect, diamond represents that? It's not like those are big, ugly black spots.

Maybe you will be able to figure out a different way to frame the imperfections so they don't give you such negative feelings.

Liz

(who has a J SI2, as well as several other lower color vintage and antique diamonds and embraces the imperfections)

 

[WinkHPD]

Hi Wink,
I'm a freak of nature, I over-analyze and by nature am a perfectionist- perhaps I should have prefaced my post with that sentence first?
The pics above were snapped with my cell phone- i got lucky!

I had lasik a few years ago, and perhaps thats why my FI (with his crappier vision, and the person who went with him- in her 50's) with the loupe didn't seem seem to think much of it.

I am trying to adopt Dreamer D's attitude, I have thought (obviously) about a substitution, but deep in my heart, although it would eliminate the speck, I'd probably always feel like i'd betrayed my FI and what he bought for me out of love (and it was exactly the style I wanted too!)

Your first sentence above gives me a good chuckle. I am glad you are feeling that sense of loyalty to your Fiance. That is a GOOD sign. If you can accept the diamond in the spirit that it was given you are going to be a much happier lady in the long run.

I wish you a long and happy time together. My wife and I celebrate 40 years together next week. She is the perfectionist in our family. I am fairly relaxed about most things, but not about diamond cutting and not about quality in the mounting's workmanship. Messy desk? Why not? Dirty dishes? Heck yeah, they can get cleaned tomorrow.

Somehow she still loves me so it works out in the long run.

Wink

 

[sofibebe]

To be quite honest with you all ( and thank you all for being so helpful) ... my biggest and scariest concern is someone admiring my ring and midst moving it around seeing the mark and thinking 'oh what a crappy rock' i mean it is overcast today and tilting the table facet away from me i can clearly see it outdoors bc of the even grey lightning so i cant help but think wow! Everyone will see this!!!! But then again i am looking for it.

I feel like you all are a therapy group for me!

 

[yssie]

To be quite honest with you all ( and thank you all for being so helpful) ... my biggest and scariest concern is someone admiring my ring and midst moving it around seeing the mark and thinking 'oh what a crappy rock' i mean it is overcast today and tilting the table facet away from me i can clearly see it outdoors bc of the even grey lightning so i cant help but think wow! Everyone will see this!!!! But then again i am looking for it.

I feel like you all are a therapy group for me!

NO WAY. I promise. No one else will EVER see those imperfections in casual admiration. Not unless you explicitly point them out - and even then, it'll probably take a couple of minutes of tilting this way and that to find what you're talking about...

And even if you do run into the one in a million who A) spots them in a quick look-over, and B) actually gives them a second thought, they'll just assume it's dirt or a couple of dust specs and keep moving right along with the sparkle

I like Dreamer's philosophy: mind-clean is a mutable target!

 

[arkieb1]

Hi,

I am probably going to be the one to go against every one else here, but I think you should tell the rude salesperson that you can see the inclusions and that is all that matters and trade the stone in for one that you can't see any in, even if that means saving some more and getting a higher clarity, or picking a stone with white inclusions off to the side, where you don't notice them as much. I am wondering if it is a thing to do with laser surgery. I had laser surgery on my eyes in my early 30s and now in my mid 40s I can still walk into any shop and spot inclusions in diamonds that other people cannot see. After the surgery I had better than 20/20 vision and you probably do too.

I owned a VS2 RB that drove me nuts no-one else could see the inclusions in that stone other than me, but it did drive me nuts looking at it. I can see white feathers, crystals and carbon spots all without a loupe. These days as the others have said it wouldn't bother me, but back then it was all I saw in the diamond. Every time I looked at it, it was glaring obvious. I sold the stone and moved on.

Now that I am older and I guess wiser I see these flaws as the individual personality or traits of each stone much like a person has different physical characteristics and that is what makes that stone unique. Ask a few people if they can see anything in the diamond. If they can't find the carbon spot you will know you have eagle eyes, if they can then you will be able to tell that it is more visible. Then decide if you want to keep the stone or trade it in, only you know what you can and can't live with. For the record, I think clarity enhancement will devalue your diamond.

 

[Dreamer_D]

To be quite honest with you all ( and thank you all for being so helpful) ... my biggest and scariest concern is someone admiring my ring and midst moving it around seeing the mark and thinking 'oh what a crappy rock' i mean it is overcast today and tilting the table facet away from me i can clearly see it outdoors bc of the even grey lightning so i cant help but think wow! Everyone will see this!!!! But then again i am looking for it.

I feel like you all are a therapy group for me!

NO WAY. I promise. No one else will EVER see those imperfections in casual admiration. Not unless you explicitly point them out - and even then, it'll probably take a couple of minutes of tilting this way and that to find what you're talking about...

And even if you do run into the one in a million who A) spots them in a quick look-over, and B) actually gives them a second thought, they'll just assume it's dirt or a couple of dust specs and keep moving right along with the sparkle

I like Dreamer's philosophy: mind-clean is a mutable target!

"Oh that? It's dirt!"

I don't want to get all philosophical and psychological, but there is a point in life where one must examine one's own behavior and ask: Is this working for me? Perfectionism is one domain like that. It can be a gift and a curse. And when it becomes too much of a curse, then it can be time to reassess one's approach to life. Sure, it is possible to change one's environment so that it doesn't push any little tender psychological buttons -- you can buy a diamond without any eye visible inclusions. But you can also shift how you approach the environment. The choice is yours. As I said, the latter approach is better for your well-being, but it is pretty hard!

The other option is to basically put on your big girl panties and just ignore the vendors a-hole comments and demand what you want. Upgrade to a VS2 diamond of similar size, lower color so it costs the same. Or demand he call is 2 additional SI1 stones with no inclusions under the table (periphery inclusions are harder to see and/or easier to ignore in my experience). Ignore his passive aggressive and demeaning comments, and just steam roll to get what you want. I think it will be a stressful experience, and might drag on a few months. Only you can decide if its worth it!

 

[sofibebe]

Hi Dreamer,

When I was on the phone with him asking about si1s of similar size and color, he said he didn't have anything on hand, just vs and vvs other stones, and that he specifically was NOT going to go look for another si1 for me.

:HOW RUDE:

I am in love with the color, or lack thereof of this stone, i think i would be like you in your original post afterwards, obsessing about the "tint".

BAH.

 

[delight]

To be quite honest with you all ( and thank you all for being so helpful) ... my biggest and scariest concern is someone admiring my ring and midst moving it around seeing the mark and thinking 'oh what a crappy rock' i mean it is overcast today and tilting the table facet away from me i can clearly see it outdoors bc of the even grey lightning so i cant help but think wow! Everyone will see this!!!! But then again i am looking for it.

I feel like you all are a therapy group for me!

Most people don't view another person's diamond in such a manner. If that's your main concern, I think you are over worrying. However, it looking at the 2 cavities at your diamond is going to be on your mind everytime you look at the diamond, it doesn't matter what others say or think. It is your opinion that matters most and you might want to consider getting another diamond with a trade in or exchange. Diamonds are meant to be enjoyed looking at and it has to be mind clean for you.