Improving clarity by recutting

[pyramid]

I have read here over the years about a few people having their diamond appraised and being told that
there is an inclusion which could be removed and then the diamond would be internally flawless or better
clarity.

I have often wondered how this is, because an Internally Flawless diamond would bring in more money to the
dealer so why was this not done before the diamond was sold. I thought clarity would trump size and therefore
make a more expensive diamond.

What do you all think?

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

I re-cut diamonds as a profession, so here is my experience.

Buying diamonds wholesale, the occasion of actually finding one where clarity can be improved is extremely slim. I suppose that this is testament to your feeling that the original cutter would improve the clarity if it were worthwhile.

On the other hand, in second-hand-stones, especially those of some age that have been in a ring for a number of years (decades), one often finds that the stone has been damaged, simply by it being in a jewel for decades. I can imagine a lot of appraisers (not the best, logically) translating that damage into inclusions. Very often, such diamonds can be recut indeed for a better clarity.

Hope this helps.

Live long,

 

[pyramid]

Thanks Paul-Antwerp.

 

[Rockdiamond]

great answer by Paul-
Just to add perspective as a dealer:
when we submit diamonds to GIA, there are cases where they will note if the diamond has potential to be improved by recut.
If a stone is "potential"- GIA will give indications of what must be done by the cutter to improve the clarity.
A that point it's a fairly simply economic decision.
For example: If a 2.00ct stone gets the grade of Fancy Light Yellow/VS1 potentially Internally flawless- and the recut look as though it will "cost".10ct ( ten points) it makes no sense.
A 1.90ct Internally Flawless Fancy Light Yellow is not worth more than a 2.00ct Fancy Light Yelow VS1

If it's a 5.50ct D/VVS1 which can be recut to D/IF for a loss of .10ct, it makes all the sense in the world- there's a big difference in actual value in such a stone- you won't go below the 5ct bencmark and the IF is worth a lot more.

 

[pyramid]

Thanks Rockdiamond.