Stills on laser drilled diamond

[luvmysparklies]

Thought I''d offer up the stills that Wink took for me on the diamond that I had him arrange laser drilling and clarity enhancing.

 

[mrssalvo]

luvmysparkles, it can get confusing if you start multiple threads of the same topic. to post more pics in the same thread you just hit reply in the thread and then attach the picture there. anyway, here''s the 2nd pic you posted so we can try and keep them together. it''s a gorgeous stone, please tell us more about the process and what exactly Wink did..

 

[luvmysparklies]

Thanks Mrs. Salvo, for your help. The details of what was done are in Wink''s presentations titled, "Diamond for Drilling" and "Diamond for Drilling Part Deux." Basically, the stone was laser drilled, and a huge black inclusion that caused a grey cast over the whole stone was bleached out using some kind of acid. Then the laser drill holes (and I think the space where the inclusion was) was filled with a glass resin that has a similar refractive index to a diamond-making the inclusion and drill holes less visible. Now the stone is much brighter and more attractive.

If Wink comes in at some point, he can tell me/us if I missed anything in the above explanation

 

[Miranda]

That is very interesting. What a HUGE difference. Thanks for sharing.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Wow, that did make a huge difference! Beautiful!

You are the one with the other large OMC or OEC stone, right? Is it set yet?

 

[kcoursolle]

Wow, what a difference!! Awesome way to salvage a gorgeous stone!

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 4/30/2007 9:39:18 PM
Author: luvmysparklies
Thanks Mrs. Salvo, for your help. The details of what was done are in Wink''s presentations titled, ''Diamond for Drilling'' and ''Diamond for Drilling Part Deux.'' Basically, the stone was laser drilled, and a huge black inclusion that caused a grey cast over the whole stone was bleached out using some kind of acid. Then the laser drill holes (and I think the space where the inclusion was) was filled with a glass resin that has a similar refractive index to a diamond-making the inclusion and drill holes less visible. Now the stone is much brighter and more attractive.


If Wink comes in at some point, he can tell me/us if I missed anything in the above explanation

There were actually three big black inclusions in this stone, although the third one was not actually distinguished from the first two until after the first two were removed and it "distinguished itself" by still being there.

The biggest actually did not require a drill hole since it reached the surface of the pavilion, but the lily pad inclusion and the remaining inclusion did require drilling. The clarity enhancing made the now vacant spaces in the diamond not visible to the eye, but they can still be seen in the microscope.

Wink

 

[iheartscience]

Your new and improved diamond looks great! I love those chunky facets! What are your plans for the stone?

 

[mrssalvo]

wow, that is so interesting!! the stone looks incredible..

 

[luvmysparklies]

Diamondseeker-
Yes, I am the one with the larger OEC that Wink has shown in the past, and I haven''t had that one set yet. I have seen a lot of settings and I am trying to narrow down one that speaks to me the most. I''m not really rushing this one because whereever the stone lands will be its permanent home. I''ve asked Wink to look at the settings found at saturnjewels and he hasn''t gotten back to me

LOL! But, we PS''ers keep him busy, so I know he''ll get around to it

ain''t that right Wink?LOL!

Thing2of2-
This OMC stone, I am going to just set in a plain 4 prong pendant either WG or Pt. Then I am going to get an omega chain for it (probably a 3 or 4mm size). Originally, I wanted a double sided omega with yellow on one side and white gold on the other, but alas, I cannot find a two-tone four prong pendant-or even split prong (my real preference) pendant. I want four prongs because I want to underscore the square outline of this stone.

I am also thinking of going 16" length with the necklace because I want the stone to fall right in the hollow of my neck. I have the pave heart pendant from WF, that my hubby purchased through Lesley, and it is 18"-which is what I wanted for that. But now knowing where the center falls on me using 18", I know where I want this single stone to fall.

 

[elmo]

Date: 5/1/2007 12:14:57 AM
Author: Wink
There were actually three big black inclusions in this stone, although the third one was not actually distinguished from the first two until after the first two were removed and it 'distinguished itself' by still being there.

The biggest actually did not require a drill hole since it reached the surface of the pavilion, but the lily pad inclusion and the remaining inclusion did require drilling.

On a stone where the fracture reaches the surface and no drill hole is required, can the GIA always tell that clarity enhancement has been done?

 

[oshinbreez]

I can''t get over the difference in the before and after pics. If you don''t mind, is the process very expensive? Also, how long does it take?

 

[luvmysparklies]

Date: 5/1/2007 10:00:26 AM
Author: oshinbreez
I can't get over the difference in the before and after pics. If you don't mind, is the process very expensive? Also, how long does it take?

Wink told me that the process was not going to be very expensive. I am going to receive the stone today by fedex so I'll see the invoice with the totals later. I remember Wink saying that they go by carat weight when doing this type of thing, and that they separate the pricing for drilling and then filling. This was kinda like new territory for me and Wink, so it took about a week or so to even find someone that Wink trusted to do this. After the connection was made, I think the guy did it over about 4 days. He drilled and then soaked the stone over a weekend in that acid stuff that bleaches out inclusions. Then, there was one more inclusion that revealed itself (black) that there was no way to tell that it was there before because of the largest inclusion overwhelming everything. Once that final one was bleached away, then they just filled it and sent it to Wink. I'd imagine now that Wink has found and established a connection with folks that do this, it would take way less time.

Edited to add: I meant way less time from submission to receiving it back. Since I thought that this might be something of interest to my fellow PS'ers, I have been without the stone for I guess about 3 weeks or so.

 

[decodelighted]

Yanno ... seeing that before & after makes me SHUDDER to think what some Clarity Enhanced stones looked like "before".

Great job! Can''t wait to see the pictures of it set!

 

[dtnyc]

wow- it''s an amazing improvement!
Can I ask what the size of this stone is?

I think it''s a great project, so nice to be able to improve an antique stone like that!

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 5/1/2007 9:47:32 AM
Author: luvmysparklies


Thing2of2-
This OMC stone, I am going to just set in a plain 4 prong pendant either WG or Pt. Then I am going to get an omega chain for it (probably a 3 or 4mm size). Originally, I wanted a double sided omega with yellow on one side and white gold on the other, but alas, I cannot find a two-tone four prong pendant-or even split prong (my real preference) pendant. I want four prongs because I want to underscore the square outline of this stone.

Lovely lady,

One does not "find" these things, one has them made...

Wink

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 5/1/2007 9:54:13 AM
Author: elmo

Date: 5/1/2007 12:14:57 AM
Author: Wink
There were actually three big black inclusions in this stone, although the third one was not actually distinguished from the first two until after the first two were removed and it ''distinguished itself'' by still being there.

The biggest actually did not require a drill hole since it reached the surface of the pavilion, but the lily pad inclusion and the remaining inclusion did require drilling.

On a stone where the fracture reaches the surface and no drill hole is required, can the GIA always tell that clarity enhancement has been done?

Yes.

 

[luvmysparklies]

I asked Admin to remove my other thread, but now that it is gone, the pics that I posted in that thread (that Mrs. Salvo helped me with) are gone from here, so I will repost the front view.

Also, I thought I was getting the stone overnighted for delivery today, but it was sent with a two day service, so it won't be here until tomorrow. I was going to look at the invoice and post the cost for this service, but I called Wink to get the info:

75.00/ct for lasering
85.00/ct for filling

Edited: These pics weren't there earlier and I got a red x! Oh well.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wow -- what an amazing transformation!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Wow. What an improvement. Wink really led you from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan.

Just goes to show you what a professional with a good eye can do for you.