I Have a FLAW!

[mia1181]

fect and neither is my diamond!

I feel like I have been keeping a secret for the last 3 years. And I just wanted to see if anyone here has a similar experience. I have a total love/hate relation with the flaw in my diamond that I can see.


My fiancee did his homework when shopping. He knew cut was most important so he made sure to find an ideal cut. Next was carat, he wanted something more than a carat and knew he would have to sacrifice on color and clarity to achieve this withing his budget. He felt that as long as a diamond was eyeclean it would be fine.


The diamond he found was a 1.26ct. J, SI2 with some fluorescence, at diamond.com. He called to have a sales rep. look at it and say if it was eyeclean. The rep. said it was. When my fiancee got it he checked it (although without a loupe) and didn''t see any flaws.


When he proposed, I loved it! It was gorgeous and even though it was a J it looked very white to me. Especially out in the sun where it glows a little blueish. I still get tons of compliments on how sparkly it is thanks to the cut.


Anyway as soon as he gave it to me, he told me the stats and was very proud he was able to find an eyeclean SI2. We spent about an hour just staring at it and comparing it to the certificate to see if we could see the flaws that were plotted on the diagram. There was a big mark in one of the corners so I really focused hard on all the corners to try and see if I could find it. I couldn''t! It was eye clean!


So our next step was to take it to a local B&M to have them confirm that the diamond was indeed the same diamond on the certificate. At first they told us they couldn''t tell us for sure because it was set and you can''t tell color grade, etc. when it is set. But that it looked approximately the right size. Next they told us that SI2 is not good quality and not eyeclean. My fiancee proudly declared that this diamond was eyeclean. Then the salesman looked at it under the loupe and found the flaw, and showed it to us, proving it wasn''t eyeclean. After looking at it through the loupe I could immediately find it with my eyes. He then went on to tell us that we shouldn''t buy online because they are not as good quality and even the certificate could be a fake. It would have been interesting to see if they had any comparable diamond in the store, but he didn''t offer.


After seeing the flaw, my fiancee offered to let me pick out different one. But after being in love with this diamond for 24 hours I didn''t want another one. The flaw is tucked in the corner so I felt that it was not going to be too noticeable and I knew that getting a better clarity might mean a smaller diamond.


So the funny thing that has happened is I sort of like my little flaw. I like knowing that I could pick out "MY" diamond out of pile of them. Its like a birthmark that makes it unique. I always wear my ring the same way, so every time I put my ring on I check for the flaw and put it in the bottom right hand corner because I feel like its less noticeable there. And each time I have had it cleaned/sized/prongs fixed, as soon as I get it back I look and know they have given me the same diamond back.


At the same time I am self-conscious about it! I wonder if my friends and family all know its there and just haven''t said anything. But its not like I exactly want to advertise it!


Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else here has a diamond they love even though its not eyeclean? Sorry this post is so long!

 

[DiamondExpert]

Quote from your salesman..."Next they told us that SI2 is not good quality and not eyeclean. My fiancee proudly declared that this diamond was eyeclean. Then the salesman looked at it under the loupe and found the flaw, and showed it to us, proving it wasn''t eyeclean. After looking at it through the loupe I could immediately find it with my eyes. He then went on to tell us that we shouldn''t buy online because they are not as good quality and even the certificate could be a fake."

...what''s wrong with this picture?!?!?!?... how about a great big Conflict of Interest!!!?

Furthermore, your stone does, in fact, appear to be eye clean, since you can''t see any inclusions with the UNaided eye...diamond clarity is graded with a 10x magnification (assuming the salesman was using a 10x loupe) and so you SHOULD be able to see the inclusions with the loupe!!

The salesman is being both dishonest and disingenuous...walk away!!

 

[Fly Girl]

My SIL has a diamond that is a great example of frozen spit. I was polite and didn''t say a word. However, your ring sounds beautiful. An SI2 is going to have a flaw, and you know where yours is. If you couldn''t find the flaw after an hour, and the salesman needed a loupe to find it, I guarantee that your relatives are going to have no idea, unless you point it out to them.

Enjoy your diamond. It is a great size, has great sparkles, and best of all, it''s yours!

 

[Angel7]

I''m sorry you feel like the flaw makes you love the ring less now. I''m sure your friends and family do not see it that way!
Sounds like a great ring..any pics you care to share?

 

[JandJ]

the entire tone of your post is positive... you didn''t see the flaw prior to it being pointed out (under a loupe!).... AND when given the choice to replace it, you didn''t!

i think that says it all... no one is going to be examining your ring on your finger under a loupe... your friends and family will be just as dazzled as you were when you first saw it, before you knew "the stats" or saw it under a loupe.

i, personally, prefer size to clarity (of course, eye clean), and it sounds like you are the same. with diamonds... it''s all personal preference!

enjoy your beautiful ring!

 

[strmrdr]

clean your ring really well and it might disappear again.
You the only one in the world that will ever notice it anyway.

 

[kcoursolle]

If the only reason you don''t like the flaw is because you are worried about other people seeing it, don''t worry at all!!! Nobody but you can see that thing and probably only if you squint and know where it is. I also agree that inclusions are handy when you are getting work done to your ring. It is easy to tell that it is *your* stone right away. However, if you think the inclusion is going to bug you over time then you might want to consider trading it in for an SI1. By the way, SI2 diamonds are not low quality like the store owner said...get an independent appraisal instead of from a jewelry store owner who wants to sell you something of his if you want a more accurate opinion. From my experience online is also the way to go and is *higher* quality than in the local stores.

 

[tberube]

I almost wish my diamond had visible inclusions so I could always tell if it was the same one. But then again, I stare at it so much I bet I could still pick it out in a pile....heh.

That jeweler you went to was a big jerk. But I find most jewelers will tell you that buying online is the wrong thing to do. Of course they will!

 

[777_LDY]

Hi Mia! Wow can I relate to your post! I have a 1.2 J SI2 RB. For years I couldn''t see the one tiny visible inclusion in it. I remember when DH gave it to me he was so proud of himself too! We spent hours looking at it in every type of light we could find and the diamond was more than I could have EVER possibly imagined too. He told me about the feather but I couldn''t spot it either until it was pointed out to me at my jewelers. It really didn''t bother me though until friends of ours got engaged and the BTB was talking about how someone she knew had a diamond with an inclusion in it and as the years past it would get bigger,

lol! To my knowledge that isn''t true but I did become more aware of my "flaw" for some reason!

I still love my stone though and the little fleck I see when I tilt it to the side in the right light, that I couldn''t see for many years!! I also wear mine a certain way too for some reason, not sure why though as I know I am probably the only person with an untrained eye that can see it!

I do agree with Gary that there is definitely a conflict of interest with someone who can sell you a diamond telling you that an SI2 is not good quality regardless if he tried to sell you another stone or not.

Also, strmrdr, I''ve tried and no matter how much I continue to clean my diamond it''s still there.

 

[mia1181]

Wow, thanks for all the positive responses! After I hit "submit" I had a moment of total embarassment for admitting that I had an un-eyeclean stone on a forum of diamond lovers!

Yes, I definitely think the salesman was just trying to get me to buy something of his. However, he didn''t try to show me anything comparable. But I suspect that was only because he knew they didn''t have anything as big or with as good a cut as what I had. Had he said something like "Well for $500-$1000 more I have this similar diamond but it is truly eyeclean," I definitely would have been open to looking.

And don''t worry, my fiancee and I are way too smart to fall for the whole "online diamonds aren''t as good" speech. I understand that these B&M just can''t compete so they get defensive. And I am sure there are some shady online establishments too, but we do our research! I am trying to pick out an eternity band (or 2!) from facets right now. They have much higher quality diamonds at a lower price than I have seen in B&M eternity bands. Not to mention people speak so highly here about them.

Anyway, even though the salesman was totally biased, I still don''t think my diamond is eyeclean. I forgot to mention it is a tiny black spot (I think they call it carbon?). Which is probably easier to see than others. If it is what some would consider eyeclean is it just barely, like within an inch. But I have accepted it and come to love it. I don''t think anyone else can see it except for the few people who have really examined it, but I guess it just bothers me that I "know" it.

Oh, and 777! You are like my diamond twinzy! Well mine is princess cut , but the specs are really close! Isn''t it funny how we wear them a certain way. I think I''m more worried that people will notice ME looking at the flaw when I put it on. I always pick it up, examine for the flaw, turn it the "right way" and put it on. Its a total habit by now!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 2/4/2008 5:55:35 PM
Author: mia1181

Oh, and 777! You are like my diamond twinzy! Well mine is princess cut , but the specs are really close! Isn''t it funny how we wear them a certain way. I think I''m more worried that people will notice ME looking at the flaw when I put it on. I always pick it up, examine for the flaw, turn it the ''right way'' and put it on. Its a total habit by now!

Hehe, mine is also the center of my 3 stone ring but they can still be twinzy''s! And I do the exact same thing!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/4/2008 5:55:35 PM
Author: mia1181
Wow, thanks for all the positive responses! After I hit ''submit'' I had a moment of total embarassment for admitting that I had an un-eyeclean stone on a forum of diamond lovers!

No need to be embarrassed over the inclusion in your very well cut stone. Seems your guy had the C''s in the correct order, good for him! And good for you!

Now, if you had come on and posted this, it might have been something to get embarrassed about.

 

[coatimundi_org]

That is GNARLY looking, Ellen!

I'm glad you've come to love your flaw, and that you use it as an identification tool.

When can we see photos of your new beauty?

eta: just looked it up--lovely ring! Can you post more pics?

 

[erica k]

i have a .52ct ideal cut RB F SI2, and it is definitely not eyeclean. i can see a black inclusion from 5 inches away, but i really couldn''t care less. it''s so well cut and icy white, that i hardly notice it. and when i do, i call it my little ''critter''! i love that i would never confuse my stone for another because of the inclusion.

it sounds like you have a beautiful stone. it may not be eyeclean, but it''s more important that it is mindclean....it sounds like your inclusion is a lot less easy to see than mine.

 

[jayreneepea]

My original e-ring diamond is a 1ct pear with a black carbon that is very easily seen from the side. I love my freckle!! I wore that diamond for 12 years and not ONE person ever saw it!!

My new stone is an SI2 and is what I would call eye clean. I''m sure a jeweler could see more than me and I know he could see more with his loupe, but who walks around with a loupe. Enjoy your ring and embrace it''s flaws and all the hard work your FI put into finding you the perfect stone!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 2/4/2008 7:56:35 PM
Author: coatimundi
That is GNARLY looking, Ellen!

Ain''t it though??!!

 

[pauly1]

Sounds like you have a great stone! I agree with the comment on cleaning it really well, it might very well disappear.

Proud SI2 owner here!

 

[isis~goddess]

afterall, a diamond is a rock made by geological processes, lets not forget (well some are made in labs now, but im assuming yours wasnt). i''m sure the earth is sorry it wasn''t thinking about how flawless we wanted our diamonds to be when it was creating them millions of years ago! anyway, perhaps its the scientist in me, but i view those little trinkets i can see in my si2s when i look way up close as a reminder of how they are a natural part of our planet. but im kind of an environmentalist, so don''t mind me! i like the texture and uniqueness, and i will always know mine from an imposter if need be. my husband has a little scar on his chin, you could consider that a flaw, but i think its sexy as hell... think about it. lol

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 2/4/2008 3:50:04 PM
Author:mia1181


At the same time I am self-conscious about it! I wonder if my friends and family all know its there and just haven''t said anything. But its not like I exactly want to advertise it!

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else here has a diamond they love even though its not eyeclean? Sorry this post is so long!

I''d about guarantee you that no one has a clue it''s there! LOL

You need to keep in mind that most folks know even less about diamonds than you know! They aren''t looking for inclusions; they really only notice how big it is and if it sparkles.

Be proud of your smart buy and wear it with joy!

 

[isis~goddess]

afterall, a diamond is a rock made by geological processes, lets not forget (well some are made in labs now, but im assuming yours wasnt). i''m sure the earth is sorry it wasn''t thinking about how flawless we wanted our diamonds to be when it was creating them millions of years ago! anyway, perhaps its the scientist in me, but i view those little trinkets i can see in my si2s when i look way up close as a reminder of how they are a natural part of our planet. but im kind of an environmentalist, so don''t mind me! i like the texture and uniqueness, and i will always know mine from an imposter if need be. my husband has a little scar on his chin, you could consider that a flaw, but i think its sexy as hell... think about it. lol

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Ellen I think I just threw up in my mouth

Mia, your ring sounds lovely and I am positive NO ONE can see its flaw. I agree the salesman was just trying to make you feel bad for not buying from him. Sounds like your guy did a great job!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Your ring sounds just lovely, and I am certain that nobody else can tell there is a flaw. My diamond is not perfect, but niether am I. All I know is that my DH picked it out with love in his heart, just for me! I have been wearing it proudly for 12 years and I love it more and more each day (just like my husband)!

 

[EricaR]

Ellen - ICK!

Date: 2/4/2008 8:38:31 PM
Author: isis~goddess
my husband has a little scar on his chin, you could consider that a flaw, but i think its sexy as hell... think about it. lol

What a neat way of thinking about it!!!

 

[Gemma12]

Hang on, the salesperson had to use a loupe on your eyeclean stone to find the flaw?? Um, I think that''s still compatible with EYE clean! Mia I''m sorry you ran into such a jerk.

Look at it this way-if he had to use a loupe to find it in the first place, then your friends and family are veeeeeerrry unlikely to see it. Unless they are raving diamond lunatics who whip out a loupe to examine your ring!

I think your ring is gorgeous! Eyeclean is subjective, if you are finding that the inclusions bother you a lot then it is not MIND clean for you as it is unlikely many others will be able to see them.

My 2 c-long day so I hope this makes sense!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/4/2008 11:52:16 PM
Author: EricaR
Ellen - ICK!

Date: 2/4/2008 8:38:31 PM
Author: isis~goddess
my husband has a little scar on his chin, you could consider that a flaw, but i think its sexy as hell... think about it. lol

What a neat way of thinking about it!!!

I do too, I think I could appreciate something like that, it gives a kind of romantic piratey vision....

ELLEN!!!!

FOR YOUR BENEFIT I AM WRITING IN HUGE LETTERS AS YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GET YOUR EYES CHECKED!!! *THAT* CANNOT BE A DIAMOND!

 

[Lorelei]

Anyway, I have no objection to a diamond flaw myself as long as it doesn''t stick out a mile! It helps to personalize a diamond to me.

 

[D2B]

My three stone e-ring, bought pre PS days, has some tiny flaws. Most likely S1 or S2 - dont have the paper work here. I only discovered them 9 years AFTER I got the ring, when I became addicted to PS

, which goes to show that

1. only crazy PS people

, look at this level of detail and actually care about the results
2. no-one else is EVER going to stare at my ring to the same level of detail and hold it as close at various angles as I do
3. it is my rings ''birthmark''and I love it, and I still have to look closely to see it
4. I have had heaps of compliments about its sparkle over the years

So, in the end, who cares, as long as you love it and your FI loves it, that is all that matters - there are heaps of configurations you can get in the 4 C''s and beyond with all the stats, the ring and its features have to speak to you and your partner, in the end the reality is to the rest of the world it is a pretty ring, IYKWIM. we are the obsessed ones on PS who go into details no one else will even really care about LOL

D2B

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/4/2008 8:38:57 PM
Author: isis~goddess
my husband has a little scar on his chin, you could consider that a flaw, but i think its sexy as hell... think about it. lol

Like Harrison Ford. Rowwwwwr.

Mia, I think your post is ADORABLE!! You come across sounding proud of your stone, which you should be! Don''t let the jeweler shake your confidence and make you think everyone else is zooming in on your stone''s birthmark.

I had a friend show me a black spot in her diamond, which she said she loved because she always knew it was her stone, just like you! She wasn''t embarrassed about it, and she shouldn''t have been, because she has a beautifully-cut stone that''s just gorgeous! And you know what? Even after she pointed out the inclusion, I had a really hard time finding it again with her hand still so I could--with her just wearing it like normal, there''d be no chance I''d ever see it!!

So I say try to go back to loving your stone the way you did before that jerky jeweler tried to put doubts in your head to make you come running for a rock from him! We''d love to see pics too, just to confirm how lovely it is.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Read the tutorial and my opinion
http://diamonds.pricescope.com/clarity.asp

"SI2 is the borderline of ''eye visible''. My definition: if an inclusion is apparent to the naked eye, in normal light, from 14-16 inches, without knowing its position, the stone is ''I'' for Imperfect or the European term – ''P'' for Pique (PeeKay).

1 in 100 people can see VS2 inclusions; if this worries you then buy VS1, or wait a decade till your ability to focus close up drops away "

You can probably focus up very close. For now.
Simply do not let anyone take your hand a study your diamond from less than 10".
You do have an eye clean stone - it is just that someone showed you where the inclusion is.
wait

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/5/2008 7:20:18 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)
Read the tutorial and my opinion
http://diamonds.pricescope.com/clarity.asp

''SI2 is the borderline of ''eye visible''. My definition: if an inclusion is apparent to the naked eye, in normal light, from 14-16 inches, without knowing its position, the stone is ''I'' for Imperfect or the European term – ''P'' for Pique (PeeKay).

1 in 100 people can see VS2 inclusions; if this worries you then buy VS1, or wait a decade till your ability to focus close up drops away ''

You can probably focus up very close. For now.
Simply do not let anyone take your hand a study your diamond from less than 10''.
You do have an eye clean stone - it is just that someone showed you where the inclusion is.
wait

I am SO using that expression, ta Garry!