A number of years ago, I inherited three old mine cut diamonds from my great grandmother ranging in size from 2.2 to 3.4 carats. The diamonds themselves are of obvious poor quality, but they are family heirlooms and have intrinsic value to my family. I might use the stones as a pendant or earings for my mother. Although the diamonds haven''t been graded, they are visibly yellow, have large culets (large enough that you they appear as inclusions when face up) and are included... ranging from I1, to I2-I3. The smallest of the three is an I1, it''s yellow and poorly cut, but it''s the least included of the three. Since the stones in their present condition aren''t particularly wearable and have been sitting in a plastic baggy for the past 10 years, I was thinking of having one or two of the three recut, laser drilled and color treated. I have the following questions:
1. I understand that you can turn a poorly colored white into a canary with irradiation. How effective is this process??? How effective is an HPHT treatment in whitening a very yellow (not yellow enough to be fancy) diamond.
2. What would the costs generally be to do this kind of work on a diamond?
3. How effective is laser drilling for large inclusions?
1. I understand that you can turn a poorly colored white into a canary with irradiation. How effective is this process??? How effective is an HPHT treatment in whitening a very yellow (not yellow enough to be fancy) diamond.
2. What would the costs generally be to do this kind of work on a diamond?
3. How effective is laser drilling for large inclusions?
My great grandmother actually had two 2.4 carats, side by side, in a platinum setting... very "antique". I still have the original setting. It looks a little like a tacori actually, with the filigree and engraving. I guess whatever is old becomes new again. 
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