ENHANCING DIAMOND CLARITY

Diamond clarity is one of the four C's which are used to grade diamond characteristics in a diamond engagement ring usually.  The best diamond clarity is when the diamond has no flaws or blemishes, otherwise known as inclusions.  Diamonds flaws can be treated or enhanced in order to make the inclusions less obvious.  Often, the inclusions which affect the diamond clarity grade are so small as to be unable to be seen without a microscope or jeweler's loupe.  Inclusions and blemishes can be either natural or man made.

Some of the treatments which are available to enhance diamond clarity include:

LASER DRILLING

A very small laser beam is utilized to drill through the diamond to the area where the dark inclusions are.  The inclusions are then drilled out using the laser beam.  Some dark inclusions are removed by placing a chemical solution in the tuners formed by the laser drill. Laser drilling can be seen as areas which look like jet trails with side view magnification and like tiny white dots from above.  A newer laser drilling method actually creates imperfections around the inclusions close to the surface of the diamond.  The resultant marks appear more like natural flaws. Laser drilling eliminates the inclusions once and for all time and doesn't hurt the strength of the diamond.  Cleaning of the ring and setting repairs do not further change the look of the diamond. If the laser tracks have been filled with a clear patch, they are harder to see, but the filler may have to be replaced. Diamond clarity will still be affected by the drilling, but probably will balance out the effects of the original inclusions

FRACTURE FILLS

A glasslike clear fill is often used to fill cracks.  The fractures are still there, but are impossible to see without magnification. Heat erodes and darkens the substance used in filling fractures. With a jeweler's loupe or a microscope, you may be able to observe a sign of fracture fills including flashes of color along the shapes and lines of the filled fractures and trapped air bubbles which appear cloudy and thus still have an impact on diamond clarity.  Filled cracks are easiest to see when looking at them from a parallel plane, while unfilled cracks can best be detected from the perpendicular viewpoint. For a diamond ring such as an engagement ring which will be continuously in wear, a filled fracture diamond is not a good choice since the 'repair' is not permanent.

ENHANCEMENT
If someone uses the tern 'enhanced' in a way that would indicate enhancement is a positive feature, they are misrepresenting the process.  Enhancement in the case of diamond clarity, simply means treated.  You should determine what the treatments are and how they may impact the diamond clarity and thus its value, its appearance over time and if there are any special treatment methods or procedures needed in the care of the diamond.  Enhancements to the diamond clarity make it appear to be a higher quality that it actually does.  So long as the treatment is disclosed and the price paid is appropriate for the actual value of the stone, there is nothing wrong with treatment of the diamond.

DISCLOSURE
Find a reputable and knowledgeable jeweler when purchasing your diamond ring and you will receive all the information you need about the condition of the ring.

ENHANCING DIAMOND COLOR

A diamond color, or lack of it is one of the four C's of diamond value.  A clear or nearly clear diamond which is known as a white diamond is graded the highest on the color component of the four C's.  A grade of D, E, or F on a Color scale is the most prized grade and means that the diamond is very rare.  White or colorless diamonds are priced higher than those with a diamond color with brown or yellow tones, no matter how faint.

A new trend toward diamonds which are unusual, bright, or even vivid colors has been gaining in popularity.  These show-stopper diamonds are even more costly than high end colorless diamonds, simply because they are so unusual. The efforts to turn the lower grade brownish or yellowish diamonds into something with higher value due to the visual appeal has recently taken some new turns.  Although many of the methods provide enhanced color which doesn't last, other methods promise permanent diamond color change.

Temporary changes to diamond color unfortunately don't last, but are almost always done for the purpose of defeating the purchaser.  Coatings are sometimes heat treated in an effort to make them last longer, but even then the coating will eventually wear off because of cleaning and just normal everyday wear. Another temporary coating trick is to paint dots or even larger spots of blue or purple ink in areas where the dots will be hidden by the setting.  This makes the trick hard to see once the stone is in the setting, although the coating will disappear in water or by using cleaning solutions.

Natural diamonds come in fancy colors, but they are extremely rare and the prices reflect that status.  Most buyers would be unable to afford the purchase price of a natural diamond with an unusual color. Before purchasing such a diamond color, you should demand to see the certification from a reputable diamond grading laboratory.  If you are offered a  fancy diamond color marked 'natural' at a bargain rate, you should definitely beware of the ethics of the seller and avoid the purchase.  The stone is more than likely to be a treatment produced fancy color.
In order to create a fancy diamond color, the yellow or brown gemstone is irradiated and then put through a treatment of high heat.  This treatment turns yellow and brown diamonds into diamonds with colors such as green, red, purple, blue, vivid yellow and other colors.  These colorful diamonds are almost always permanently changed in color. The exception is if there is a repair using high temperatures to a setting surrounding the diamond. 

Because the underlying stone is a lower quality stone to begin with, fancy diamond color which are produced by the irradiation treatments are quite affordable.  The price makes it possible for more people to purchase a unique and brightly hued diamond.  The quality of the diamond is such that you shouldn't plan on this particular diamond ring as an investment.  Just enjoy the unusual diamond color and don't plan on selling it for a profit in the future.  It's not likely to happen.
If you purchase a fancy color irradiated diamond ring, you should be sure to check with the jeweler regarding cleaning, care and treatment instructions.

DIAMOND COLOR TREATMENT: HPHT
The high pressure high temperature treatment was originally used to turn yellow diamonds into diamonds with fancy colors, but a similar treatment process is being used to turn relatively unpopular brown diamonds into diamonds which are essentially colorless or the highest grades of diamond color.

Some companies claim that the HPHT diamond color enhancement isn't a treatment, but rather a method that completed the process which nature didn't finish.  Because the HPHT process is hard to detect, it's usage has become quite controversial.

Bellataire colorless diamonds are one brand of the gemstones produced by General Electric Company.  These type IIa brown diamonds with no nitrogen are transformed into rare colorless diamonds. General Electrtic has a patent application pending on the process which they use.
According to GE, Bellataire diamonds are very uncommon Type IIa diamonds which began as extraordinary gemstones without color.  As the stones traveled through volcanic pipes to the Earth's surface they underwent explosive turbulence, enormous pressure and high heat which resulted in misalignment of the molecular level of the crystals manifesting as a brownish diamond color and stress markings internally. GE takes the position that the technique which they use on the diamonds simply returns the diamond color to its original form.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificate of grading currently indicates detection of HTPT techniques with the statement "Artificially Irradiated" or "HPHT Annealed" in the section of the report under the Origins heading.

In order to be graded, diamonds must be inscribed by laser with a specific registered name, or with the words 'irradiated' or 'hpht processed.' General Electric used the registered name 'GE POL' and a registration number on their diamonds.  Occasionally an inscribed diamond has the lettering removed prior to grading with the probable intent of passing the diamond off as a rare natural diamond color.

There is a continual controversy between those who are trying to artificially improve the grading on the diamond color and the grading labs who continue to attempt to find improvede methods of detection for the new processes.  The purpose of the grading laboratories is to ensure that customers get full and accurate certifications about the quality of the diamonds which they purchase.

The decision whether to purchase a high pressure high temperature diamond is a highly personal one.  The diamond color appears beautiful even to the expert, and are so hard to detect that it can only be done by an expert.  The casual observer won't know the diamond has been altered, so you get the benefit of the beauty of a white diamond color with a lesser expense.
The HPHT diamond color is permanent, it isn't something that wears off or changes over time.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, the HPHt process must be disclosed.  The treated diamonds usually weigh over one half carat in weight. The cost of a HPHT diamond should be somewhat less than a similar natural diamond.

If you are buying the diamond because you like the cut, the shape and the price, it's probably a good choice for you, but this diamond may not be the best long term investment.

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