When A Vendor Tells You It''s "Eye Clean", What Does It Mean?

[noobie]

While at one of the respected independent appraisers a few days ago, I was wondering about the term eye clean and what it means since it seems to be an oft-used term around here.I was reviewing a diamond that I knew had a large feather in it. We’re talking a turkey feather not a hummingbird feather either.

I had seen high magnification pictures in dark field and was expecting the worst.Lo and behold to my surprise, even though I knew what it was and where it was from pictures, I couldn’t see it by looking at it for about 10 to 15 seconds.

Granted, I didn’t really strain hard and tilt it around and squint, but under a casual inspection I couldn’t see it.

So I decided to try something. I asked my wife, the appraiser and the office manager to look at it. Now I don’t think the appraiser was trying extra hard, but no one saw it.There was no cert with the diamond and I was the only one that knew it’s grading and had seen pictures before hand.Now after looking at under a loupe and microscope and identifying it, I could easily see it and pick it out.It was a white feather in a well-cut diamond that was visible if you tilted the diamond and looked directly at the crown facets, especially on a dark background.

Before having the diamond sent, I asked the vendor to describe it and how eye clean it was.I think the description was accurate and fair and the stone was well represented. In fact I was expecting worse.However it raised a question in my mind.When a vendor tells you the stone is eye clean, does it mean:

It’s eye clean to the average population during a casual inspection like I described above. However once the inclusions are pointed out and located, they are relatively easy to see or;

It’s eye clean to the general population under close inspection even after the inclusions are located under magnification.That is, you can’t see anything period.

Also, I assume eye clean is only top down and not from the pavilion.

BTW, I bought the diamond and promise to share details and pics once it’s mounted and finished

 

[fuffi]

As per GIA, a stone is considered eye-clean when it has no visible inclusions when viewed with the unaided eye, face-up, under diffused light, from 10 inches away. Of course, how long you choose to stare at it is totally up to you.

 

[ep6585]

Did you pick the 1.19 G I1 Jubilee from GOG?

 

[Mara]

I'm not sure exactly what the "average" eye-clean may mean, what GIA notes leaves room for interpretation. It also may be hard to quantify since everyone is going to have a different take AND different eyes...but I do know some vendors are more lax on what they would term eye-clean than others. I also know some are going to be more strict, preferring to err on the side of extreme caution when guaranteeing it's eye-clean, as some customers will have sharper eyes than others. No one wants that diamond to be returned because a sharp-eyed customer picked out the inclusion, so I have to nod in respect when I hear a vendor say it's not quite eye-clean, because I know they aren't misrepresenting just to make a sale.




When I ask about eye-cleanliness, I try to leave no room for error. This means, is it eye-clean from all angles, not just top-down, what color are the inclusions and what types, I want to see inclusions blown up on pictures, under dark mag, and a picture of the stone itself regular size and also at 10x mag (e.g. like what SuperbCert and WF do) so you can assist and determine for yourself if the inclusions are going to be visible. Covering as many bases as possible in my opinion, will help the outcome be positive when you receive the stone.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i bought a rb 3.34 ct h SI1 (was really looking for a nice h vs2 2.75 ct range)from GOG. johnathan said it was eye clean. and i look at it i couldn't see anything without a loupe. but from the side, i can see one dark crystal with my naked eye. then i shipped it to dave atlas (chris) said it was eye clean. I have no complain about the stone's performance lots of sparkels. even if i find a h VS 2 stone, what are the chances of finding one that performs just as well with the same combination of proportion and at the right price? it's always harder to satisfy your mind than your eyes,are we expecting too much from an si1 stone?

 

[oldminer]

A diamond referred to by an honest dealer as "eye clean" means that from a top only exam with your unaided eyes in good lighting you will not see any of the internal or external marks although they are definitely present.

Simply referring to a diamond as "eye clean" immediately denotes a diamond with a low enough clarity grade one might well expect to see inclusions without a loupe. but one that fortunately masks these inclusions instead.

A seller's eyes are often a little weaker than a buyer's eyes. A consumer's eyes may be less well trained still and so some diamonds which are sold as eye clean only seem that way for a short time and then you may discover that you can make out some inclsuion that you previously missed before. Once you do find it, you will always be able to find it again.

Many diamonds reveal eye visible inclusions from the side or the pavilion that are eye clean from the top, the face-up position. Eye clean refers only to face-up views. 10" from the diamond in good lighting makes sense, but every person will handle this differently. This is not a scientific definition, but just a marketing description.

I have admired many a visibly imperfect diamond from across a dining room table. Inclusions have a great effect on value, but only when they are major do they greatly impact durability or beauty. Eye clean diamonds are superior to visibly eye imperfect ones in several respects, but you can find many ugly VVS diamonds with high prices being asked, so keeping common sense in control is of ultimate importance.

 

[noobie]

Dave,

Thanks again for a thorough and balanced view. If I read correctly from the responses, there may be some difference of interpretation between vendors and consumers on what eye clean is.

So I guess as Mara says, it's really important to make sure that the consumer and vendor are on the same wavelength in terms of definition when it comes to decribing if a stone is eye clean.

It's funny, the more diamonds I buy, the more practical I'm becoming, with the great help of this forum. Used to have a very narrow band of diamonds I would consider, SI1, G and above only ... now I'll look at anything!