Need advice on this SI1 diamond!

[josome]

Hello. I am newbie here and I am looking at this SI1 stone. The 40 times pic looks not quite clean, the sales told me it was eye-clean though. So I suppose it is. Now my concern is whether so many feathers around the edge will affect the durability of the diamond? Many thanks!

 

[FB.]

The feathers don't look worryingly large, but to put them into context; how big is the diamond?

 

[josome]

Thanks. The stone is around 1.2 ct.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/3/2009 7:31:58 PM
Author:josome
Hello. I am newbie here and I am looking at this SI1 stone. The 40 times pic looks not quite clean, the sales told me it was eye-clean though. So I suppose it is. Now my concern is whether so many feathers around the edge will affect the durability of the diamond? Many thanks!

Hi Josome

This isn''t something we can tell you so get an independant appraisal on the diamond and make sure you have a return policy in writing so you can return the diamond for any reason during this time. Feathers aren''t always an issue but best to have an unbiased expert check for you.

 

[josome]

Thanks Lorelei. If I do that, it has to be a loose diamond without setting, right? So I should not have the diamond set if I want it checked.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/4/2009 9:50:11 AM
Author: josome
Thanks Lorelei. If I do that, it has to be a loose diamond without setting, right? So I should not have the diamond set if I want it checked.

It depends, a more thorough appraisal can be undertaken with a loose diamond but if the diamond is mounted an appraisal can still take place but it might be more limiting according to the setting etc. You could have the loose diamond appraised then return it to the vendor for setting if satisfactory.

 

[FB.]

I would not be worried about the feather. A good jeweller would use a prong to protect it.

I think that the clarity plot is a "low" SI1 that is approaching a "high" SI2. It seems to have quite a number of inclusions of a large-ish size. Don't expect it to be 100% eye clean all the time. With a really close and thorough inspection, many SI1 stones have slightly visible inclusions, although some are indeed 100% eye clean. But SI1 inclusions are usually so small that at six inches they are just minute specks and at 12 inches, you're on the verge of where you can't see them. A dirty SI1 diamond (it only takes a few days to get a diamond dirty) will have far more noticeable grime and dust specks on it's surface than the inclusions within.

Casual observers are very unlikely to ever see SI1 inclusions. Many owners won't notice either, unless they are determined to find the inclusions.

 

[FB.]

To clarify clarity further....

VS2 inclusions are just below the resolution of the human eye (typically less than about 0.2mm).
But put two or three VS2 inclusions close together, or find a stone with just a single VS2 inclusion under the table and they may appear as one, so may be visible at 6 inches.

SI1 inclusions are on the borderline of the human eye resolution (typically about 0.3mm). You might see some of them at six inches, but probably not at twelve inches.
But a close group of SI1 inclusions, or a stone with a single larger inclusion may be visible at twelve inches.

SI2 inclusions are at the low end of human eye resolution (typically about 0.4mm). Many will be visible at six inches. Some at twelve inches. Clusters of SI2 inclusions may be visible at eighteen inches.

Bear in mind that usually, only the first inclusion type listed is the one that determined the clarity grade. Other inclusions listed futher down may be well below the clarity threshold and of only minimal significance.