Know your diamond inclustions before you buy
Diamonds often have unique internal characteristics called inclusions — the natural birthmarks of a diamond.
Inclusions found inside a diamond are considered flaws, meaning the stone is not completely flawless. Some inclusions are purely identifying features, while others can affect the way light travels through the diamond, influencing its clarity and overall appearance.
Pinpoint Inclusions
Pinpoints are tiny crystals within a diamond that may appear light or dark. They can occur individually or in groups. When many pinpoints cluster together, they can create a cloudy or hazy area known as a cloud.
Feathers
Feathers are small internal fractures that resemble delicate feathers. Minor feathers usually do not impact a diamond’s durability unless they extend to the surface of the stone.
Fringes and Bearding
These are fine, hair-like lines found along the diamond’s girdle. Bearding can occur during the cutting process and appears as tiny fractures around the edge of the stone.
Grain and Growth Lines
Grain lines develop during the diamond’s natural formation process because of irregular crystal growth. White or dark grain lines can sometimes affect a diamond’s clarity grade.
Cleavage
Cleavage is a straight internal crack without the feathered appearance of a fracture. Because diamonds split naturally along certain crystal directions, significant cleavage can weaken the stone and potentially cause it to separate along its length.
Laser Lines
Unlike natural inclusions, laser lines are man-made. They are created during a treatment process in which a laser removes a dark inclusion from a diamond. The remaining vapor trail appears as a fine thread-like line that begins at the surface and extends inward to the area where the inclusion was removed.
Before purchasing a diamond, take the time to understand its inclusions. A diamond is a significant investment, and knowing its natural characteristics helps you make an informed decision. These unique “birthmarks” can also serve as identifying features if you ever need to verify or identify your diamond in the future.