Most Acceptable Inclusions

[Breezee]

I''ve narrowed down my diamond choices among princess cuts to a select few. The cut, color, size, clarity, polish, symmetry, table, depth, crown height, ect. are all comparable among all the choices. I guess it is safe to say that these diamonds are all on equal footing. However, these very similar diamonds have different types of inclusions and other characteristics associated with them. My question is: With all other factors in a diamond being equal, in regards to inclusions, which inclusion(s) is(are) the most acceptable? Granted, if we could all have no inclusions that would be great, but for most of us, that is not a feasible option. The various diamonds that I am looking at have the following inclusions/characteristics among them: clouds, pinpoints, feathers, crystals, and surface graining. Which of these is more acceptable in a diamond i.e. which of these inclusions 1) will I have the toughest time seeing with or without magnification? and 2) are safest for the diamond in terms of durability?

 

[luckystar112]

I really think it depends on the clarity grade.
I have a VS2, and according to my GIA cert my stone has two clouds, three crystals, and two needles located under the table. (All small in size) I can''t see a thing.

 

[strmrdr]

tough question there is a ton of variables.
one large inclusion or multiple small ones?
overall grade?

There are only 3 id really worry about:
si grade setting clouds
feathers that are around the corners of a princess cut
open feathers - large or open to the crown are a large downgrade too me.
A very small open vs feather on the pavilion I wouldnt worry too much about.

 

[BigDiamonds]

Surface graining on any facet that I could see would bother me. Other than that, I prefer feathers and clouds if they are small because I think they''re hardest to see. On the other hand, black inclusions of any type are sometimes really hard to distinguish from facet contrast on RBs.

Not very helpful, but it really depends on the stone.

 

[Breezee]

As far as clarity is concerned, most of the diamonds are VS2, and one is SI1, if that helps to answer my question better.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 8/14/2007 7:13:50 PM
Author: strmrdr
tough question there is a ton of variables.
one large inclusion or multiple small ones?
overall grade?

There are only 3 id really worry about:
si grade setting clouds
feathers that are around the corners of a princess cut
open feathers - large or open to the crown are a large downgrade too me.
A very small open vs feather on the pavilion I wouldnt worry too much about.

hey strm, just curious why si grade setting clouds made your bad list.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 8/14/2007 9:55:37 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 8/14/2007 7:13:50 PM
Author: strmrdr
tough question there is a ton of variables.
one large inclusion or multiple small ones?
overall grade?

There are only 3 id really worry about:
si grade setting clouds
feathers that are around the corners of a princess cut
open feathers - large or open to the crown are a large downgrade too me.
A very small open vs feather on the pavilion I wouldnt worry too much about.

hey strm, just curious why si grade setting clouds made your bad list.

Thanks for asking that because I should have clarified.
They need to be checked out by a trusted vendor or appraiser.
Usual if its an issue GIA/AGS will give them a SI2 or lower but a trusted vendor looking them over makes me feel better about it even on si1''s.
The stocking PS vendors would reject such stones from inventory so its not a huge issue in the PS world but might be if buying from a drop shipper.

 

[kcoursolle]

SI stones need to be considered on a case by case basis and VS2''s should even be considered on a case to case basis in tension settings. Higher than VS2''s in non-tension settings are probably fine no matter what.

I''ve always found twinning wisps incredibly difficult to see. Feathers near the girdle and surface reaching inclusions are more troublesome than other inclusions.