Toluene effect on diamond

[Natalia]

Hi,

I went to a jeweller to check my diamond and he dip my diamond in toluene before viewing under loupe.

I am a paranoid so I was wondering if toluene can damage/ do any harm to my diamond.

Also, he missed picking up my diamond a couple of times using the microscope tweezer causing my diamond to jump out of his tweezer grips. Will this cause any damage too?

I know diamond is the hardest substance but I sometime wonder if this can scratch it or even chip my diamond especially when he held in table to culet position.

Thanks All!

 

[chrono]

It's strange to me that your jeweller dipped your diamond into a solvent first but I suppose it is to get it clean for magnified study. Your diamond is fine as long as it isn't clarity enhanced/filled. Damage is usually caused when the diamond is hit hard against a hard surface. It is also strange that he holds the diamond in the tweezers in the culet to table position rather than around the girdle.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Hi,

I went to a jeweller to check my diamond and he dip my diamond in toluene before viewing under loupe.

I am a paranoid so I was wondering if toluene can damage/ do any harm to my diamond.

Also, he missed picking up my diamond a couple of times using the microscope tweezer causing my diamond to jump out of his tweezer grips. Will this cause any damage too?

I know diamond is the hardest substance but I sometime wonder if this can scratch it or even chip my diamond especially when he held in table to culet position.

Thanks All!

I have not heard of this solvent being used in this way but I doubt that it can be harmful to diamond. Probably more harmful to the gemologist if he inhales it on a regular basis. Dropping a diamond, on the other hand, can cause damage. Especially it it falls from a good distance onto a hard surface. The points on the diamond are at most risk. In the case of a round, the culet is most vulnerable.

Dropping a diamond out of tweezers during an examination is common and that is why good practice is to work low over a soft surface such as a pad of paper or a specially designed tray.