Surface marks on diamonds?

[diamondsforever25]

Hi. I have a beautiful Initial diamond necklace in 18k white gold which was a gift. I was looking at it under a loupe and also noticed some of the tiny diamonds had marks? I’ve attached a picture. I’m not sure if anyone would know if these are scratches or inclusions (to be expected). Thanks. (The diamonds are very small)

 

[Dreamer_D]

That looks like a water mark to me. Like, dried reside left from water. Do you have a jewelry cleaning cloth? Glasses cleaning cloths work too. Try wiping the surfaces.

 

[diamondsforever25]

I did but it’s not coming off , the diamond is also very small. I’m thinking it’s some type of surface feature.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

That could be surface graining. Next time you take it to a jeweler and have it professionally cleaned and polished, have them inspect the stones. Anything that is adhering to the surface will have been removed. Anything remaining will be a feature of the stones themselves. My guess is graining from the photo, but that is just guess.

Diamond grows layer by carbon layer. A disruption in the growth process can result in grain lines, which are analogous to grain lines in wood due to environmental changes during a tree's growth.

 

[diamondsforever25]

That could be surface graining. Next time you take it to a jeweler and have it professionally cleaned and polished, have them inspect the stones. Anything that is adhering to the surface will have been removed. Anything remaining will be a feature of the stones themselves. My guess is graining from the photo, but that is just guess.

Diamond grows layer by carbon layer. A disruption in the growth process can result in grain lines, which are analogous to grain lines in wood due to environmental changes during a tree's growth.

Thanks so much for your reply. I thought it could be surface graining as well as it looks similar to the photo on the GIA website. Do you think this is an issue and one I should return for? Or should I just accept it as a natural feature of some stones.

 

[Dreamer_D]

What did they tell you the clarity was fintech diamonds when you bought it?

 

[diamondsforever25]

What did they tell you the clarity was fintech diamonds when you bought it?

It’s from a luxury jewellers , I think the clarity is around VS/SI for the smaller diamonds

 

[Dreamer_D]

It’s from a luxury jewellers , I think the clarity is around VS/SI for the smaller diamonds

I guess surface graining is a clarity characteristic and it could still be “SI” since that could include SI2, but if it’s a luxury brand and you paid a premium I’d go back and complain. Maybe they can give you a different one or change out the affected diamond.

 

[diamondsforever25]

I guess surface graining is a clarity characteristic and it could still be “SI” since that could include SI2, but if it’s a luxury brand and you paid a premium I’d go back and complain. Maybe they can give you a different one or change out the affected diamond.

It’s not a brand it’s a family jewellers although they are considered luxury where I’m from. It’s honestly such a small diamond, they are tiny melee stones which are usually all stored together in paper prior to being set. I’m not sure it’s worth it. I suppose alot of stones would maybe look like this under the loupe.

 

[Rfisher]

It’s from a luxury jewellers , I think the clarity is around VS/SI for the smaller diamonds

If the jeweler used Stuller for their melee source (just as an example) VS/SI could mean it was from multiple levels of quality of melee Stuller offers.


Since it’s a gift - I feel differently about going back to ask to exchange for one that might have better quality.
If I bought it for myself, the price point of the piece would be the deciding factor on how I felt. My local jeweler with the lux reputation doesn’t use top level melee on all their items. Especially ready made ones they may try to keep at a certain price point. If they even made that item, themselves.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Thanks so much for your reply. I thought it could be surface graining as well as it looks similar to the photo on the GIA website. Do you think this is an issue and one I should return for? Or should I just accept it as a natural feature of some stones.

If it is effecting the performance of the stone compared to the others, or if you can see it with the naked eye and it is bothering you, there would be no reason not to ask your jeweler to switch the stone out for one that doesnt have that feature.

 

[diamondsforever25]

If the jeweler used Stuller for their melee source (just as an example) VS/SI could mean it was from multiple levels of quality of melee Stuller offers.


Since it’s a gift - I feel differently about going back to ask to exchange for one that might have better quality.
If I bought it for myself, the price point of the piece would be the deciding factor on how I felt. My local jeweler with the lux reputation doesn’t use top level melee on all their items. Especially ready made ones they may try to keep at a certain price point. If they even made that item, themselves.

Thanks so much, it was a gift. The price point was around £795 as I’m in the UK. It’s a 18k white gold chain with an 18k white gold pendant with diamonds in the initial.

 

[diamondsforever25]

Thanks so much, it was a gift. The price point was around £795 as I’m in the UK. It’s a 18k white gold chain with an 18k white gold pendant with diamonds in the initial.

They are also natural diamonds*

 

[diamondsforever25]

If it is effecting the performance of the stone compared to the others, or if you can see it with the naked eye and it is bothering you, there would be no reason not to ask your jeweler to switch the stone out for one that doesnt have that feature.

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. I guess all stones will have some type of surface imperfection if I looked closely enough so maybe it’s not worth returning. I’ll just appreciate it for how it is now

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. I guess all stones will have some type of surface imperfection if I looked closely enough so maybe it’s not worth returning. I’ll just appreciate it for how it is now

Yes, natural diamonds should be appreciated for the light they bring. We must forgive a few imperfections considering their long and arduous journey to get here!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Can you see it with the naked eye? Does the stone look different from others with the naked eye?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

As Bryan has explained, this is almost definitely surface graining. If the diamond sparkles as much as its neighbours you have nothing to worry about.
Graining causes differences in surface hardness.
Diamonds have 7 different hardnesses based on the crystal orientation.
When polishing a diamond where the environment changed during its growth, the hardness can flip and you get these effects.
Now you know where it is you can always ID your piece!