Diamonds

Today the diamond is considered a valuable gem and is showcased in jewelry. Centuries ago the diamond was so rare that its use was limited to that for the king. Early diamonds in jewelry and crowns were used more as small accents with the focus being on pearls, gold or other gems.

It wasn't until the 16th century that diamonds began playing a larger role. By the 17th century in Europe diamonds were no longer worn only by the king or even exclusively by the aristocracy but were purchased by wealthy members of the merchant class. Early diamonds were mostly displayed with their natural points. It wasn't until the 14th century that diamond cutting and polishing began to take hold.

In today's jewelry market the finished diamond is quite a stunning transition from the way it looks when it is first mined. Jewelers go to great lengths to cut and polish diamonds into a variety of shapes and sizes to meet the demands of the buying public.

One of the key features of a diamond is clarity. A perfect natural diamond with absolute clarity would be truly clear. These are very rare. But in a lot of cases the flaws in the diamond are so small that they cannot be seen without the aid of a magnifying glass known as the jeweler's loupe.

Inclusions are one type of flaw common in diamonds. An inclusion is inside the diamond and can be a tiny spot or a crack. Blemishes are flaws on the outside of the diamond. They can be nicks or scratches or rough spots that perhaps weren't adequately polished.

Both inclusions and blemishes can be treated to eliminate or reduce their impact on the quality of the diamond. Laser drilling can be used to tunnel into the diamond to remove an inclusion. Laser drilling does leave behind a trail but it is very tiny. More modern laser practices camouflage the trails to look more like natural markings.

Fracture filling refers to the process of filling in a tiny crack with a clear material. The crack isn't repaired, but the clear coating makes it much harder to detect. And over time the filling can erode or darken.

When buying a diamond it is important to look for signs of fracture filling and inclusion or blemish repair. While in most cases these repairs will not impact the strength of the diamond, they will impact the value.

Viewing the diamond under a microscope or with a jeweler's loupe will reveal trapped air bubbles or flashes of color where the light reacts differently to the repaired area. Many jewelers may use the term "enhanced" to refer to a diamond that has been treated in some way. There is nothing wrong with treating a diamond, but these repairs should be conveyed to the customer.

A diamond is a major purchase for everyone from the king on down. It is important to use a reputable jeweler and to understand the terminology of the industry.