girdles - can they really chip??

[shminbabe]

hi,

so if a diamond has a girdle listed as ''extremely thin to medium'', is there really a chance it could chip?

jeannie

 

[chrono]

Yes,
I believe Dave (Oldminer) has talked about it here on PS. If the extremely thin part can be put directly under a prong, then it is partially protected. If it is exposed, then yes, it can be chipped. Also, many old cut diamonds have VeryThin (which is less thin than EX thin) girdles and they chip easily with regular wear and tear. MsSalvo had a OEC (old european cut) diamond that was a VS1 downgraded to a SI1 due to numerous girdle chips (and she only had that stone in her possession briefly).

 

[oldminer]

An extremely thin girdle is likely to chip if the stone is put in prongs and worn all the time. Its more a matter of when than if.

 

[shminbabe]

allrighty, then. mind made up. many thanks to both of you.

this diamond-finding process is tortuous, i tell ya.

jeannie

 

[kcoursolle]

Yup, it can happen!

If you stay in the range of thin-med, med, thin to slightly thick, etc. that should be fine. Princess corners are the most at risk for chipping.

 

[He Scores]

What''s equally important to the question of "can a diamond chip" is the relationship between the top and bottom angle. A shallow angled crown with a shallow angled bottom makes for a much more acute angle at the girdle making it more prone to chipping than an opposite cut (read deep/deep).

Bill Bray
Diamond Cutter