I have a cracked Diamond

[mandi]

I was cleaning my very dirty diamond today and have noticed that it is cracked fully round about 1/5th from the bottom of the diamond. I have GIA paperwork on this diamond details are as follows:

ROund Brilliant
5.88 - 5.96 x 3.44 mm
.75 C

Depth 58%
Table - 64%
Girdle - Med to slightly thick faceted
Cutlet- Very Small

Finish
Polish Very Good
Symmetry - Good

Clarity VS1
Color H
Fluorecense - None

I don''t know if this helps in determining if my diamond could possibly be cracked....could diamonds crack if knocked hard enough....

I am really worried as I have taken it to two different stores in the past 8 1/2 yrs for cleaning and I do not want to imagine that they changed the diamond on me.

Any ideas from anyone

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nicrez]

Are you sure you don't have a radiant...hee hee (just kidding!)

Is it possible to take a close up shot of the stone, to show the fracture?

The stone COULD have been replaced, but it could also have been damaged, but it's quite unlikely...

At least describe what you see, and make sure you have cleaned it right. If it's easier to take it to a jeweler and ask them to steam clean it (they usually can do that for free), or if it's truly still there and tru=oublesome, you can go to a local gemologist and have the GIA info verified to make sure it's the same, and that it truly IS cracked or not...

Good luck and let us know what happens!!!

 

[sumi]

Are you sure it's a crack? If you look at a diamond from the side, there appears to be a straight line going across the bottom portion. This is normal. Let's see....there was a thread addressing this issue not too long ago.....I'll see if I can find it because I think there were pictures of what I am trying to describe.

 

[Patty]

Sumi is talking about the reflection of the girdle. It's about 2/3rds of the way down and looks like a horizontal white line.

 

[sumi]

Here is that thread I was talking about: (thank you Patty!)

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-broken-diamond.3567/

 

[mandi]

No its not a white line i see...My concern is that we paid $4k for it about 8 1/2 yrs ago so now I am really worried. I was thinking about taking it to be professionally cleaned by one of the best jewellers on the island (I am in Bermuda) and it is only this jeweller and the one that I bought it from that it has ever been left with. Have you ever heard of horror stories bout jewellers changing diamonds before?

 

[mandi]

Ty Sumi,

Went to the site and found another link at the site to http://www.goodoldgold.com/clarity_tips.htm
it has a picture here, it looks similar but still looks different....oh well guess off to the jewellers tomorrow to get it looked at.

Thanks all for your thought on the matter

 

[Brian Knox]

Hi Mandi,

Unfortunately, diamonds can chip or break rather easily if hit on the edge of the stone.

I would talk to your insurance agent, as this is a loss and should be covered by homeowners/renters insurance.

I think you are even covered for theft(switching) by some policies,

This topic of switching diamonds gets a lot of print, almost to the point of a urban myth.

I myself feel it is very rare, but that said, there are bad apples in every profession.

I am glad you have the GIA document, this will help you.

Good luck on this.

 

[diane5006]

HI here is a picture of girdle reflections

 

[valeria101]

Obviously we can't see your stone. It sounds very unusual that that any damage should occur in the most protected area of the stone (towards your finger, right?). I hope this is something else

The 'diamond switching' seems to be among the worst customer nightmare legends, but not at all often confirmed (actually, I have yet to hear about a case). But who knows?

 

[mandi]

Well I guess all is right...I went and saw my jeweller who did a fantastic cleaning and he said that there is no crack in the diamond...I do have a crack in the platimum setting....go figure. I will have to go to the place I bought it and see what they can do.


Thanks for all your help!

 

[purduephotog]

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On 4/12/2004 10:29:18 PM brianknox wrote:

*snip* This topic of switching diamonds gets a lot of print, almost to the point of a urban myth.

I myself feel it is very rare, but that said, there are bad apples in every profession.*snip*----------------

It's funny you mention that. I've talked with two people and they were both quite strongly interested in emphasizing that diamond switching occurrs. The one said he went to pick up the stone and it was the wrong one- the one 'offered' had many visible flaws and inclusions whereas the one he ordered and paid for did not. Fortunately he had the description in writing... and apparently after many calls and complaints with the bbb he received a 'match' stone.

I realize thats only 2 people I've talked to so far, but darnit a 100% average is still unsettling.

 

[valeria101]

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On 4/14/2004 8:08:18 AM purduephotog wrote:

[...]he went to pick up the stone and it was the wrong one- the one 'offered' had many visible flaws and inclusions whereas the one he ordered and paid for did not. Fortunately he had the description in writing... and apparently after many calls and complaints with the bbb he received a 'match' stone.

I realize thats only 2 people I've talked to so far, but darnit a 100% average is still unsettling.
----------------

This is a botched order, not 'swithching'. Just misserable service. It is another type of bad manners when a shop tries to push a worse or more expensive (or both

) stone instead of what you ordered.

"Switching" refferes to another scheme: when a stone already owned by the customer would be taken off the setting and replaced with some fake or worse stone, while the ring is left for repair, cleaning, sizing or such...

The first version (what you have mentioned) is not all that unusual

(just read some PS stuff on Ebay jewelry shopping). The second - very unusual.

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 4/14/2004 8:08:18 AM purduephotog wrote:

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

I realize thats only 2 people I've talked to so far, but darnit a 100% average is still unsettling.
----------------

As Valeria noted, the example you gave it one of really poor service. Diamond switching does happen; but, get way more press than it should. It's the least common denominator that ruins it for everyone. A shame as it rarely happens.