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Are feathers near the edge dangerous?

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diamondseeker2006

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
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I just read about one PS member''s diamond being chipped on the edge where a feather was. I recently ordered a diamond and it has not come yet. I asked the vendor if any of the feathers came through the girdle and he said no. I would just love to hear from some gemologists or appraisers if there could be problems with the location of these inclusions. It is a VS2. I preferred VS1, but everything else about this stone is perfect so I ordered it. Thanks!

GIAcert1.44HVS2 (4).jpg
 
Sounds like this is a case where it would be best to have an expert look at the stone before you set it.....It''s so hard to tell from those plots..........
 
Best thing to do is have your appraiser give you his/her opinion. On a VS2, I doubt you will have any problems.

My very first diamond had a feather that did not break the surface of the girdle, but was mightly close, and it was chipped in that location while being set. Of course, my stone was an SI1, and I am absolutely sure that the benchperson was a complete idiot to be honest with you.
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It should not normally be a problem, especially if you discuss with your jeweler the location of the feathers and he is aware of any potential problems. If the stone were SI2 or I1 I would be more concerned with the potential for damage, but even then it is normally very slight.

Wink
 
Thanks, Wink. Your opinion means a lot to me!
 
I spoke to James Allen about this very topic when I met with him to look over diamonds. The one I eventually purchased was an SI2 with a couple of feathers. I asked him about feathers affecting the durability of the stone over time. He told me that in all his years dealing with diamonds that only a handful of stones had come back to him chipped. Some of these could''ve been due to feathers near the edge. Overall, he seemed to think that for the most part feathers don''t have a huge effect on the durability of a diamond. However, he did admit that in certain cases it is possible. It''s best to have an expert look at each diamond and make that call.
 
Oh DS- please dont let what you read in my threads worry you over much. If the vendor and appraiser tell you it is fine I would not worry at all. I also think you are much safer with the VS2 then a SI or lower. Are you going to have the stone appraised before it is set?

Also does setting a stone with the feather under or near the prong make it more likely to chip?
 
Thanks everyone!

Matatora, I was a little scared by your experience! It is so hard to judge how those little red squiggles translate to reality when you look at a cert! Issac at Dimend Scaasi told me there was nothing to worry about with those tiny VS2 inclusions. In fact, I had trouble seeing them with 300x magnification on the webcam even though he pointed them out. He said they did not break through the girdle. I only plan to have it examined locally to verify it is okay since I will have enough documentation from DS to insure it. I am having it set without seeing it, because I saw it over the webcam and the cert is exactly what I wanted (1.4 cts., excellent cut, hearts and arrows), although a VS1 would have been nice so I wouldn''t have to worry about inclusions at all! However, if these VS2 inclusions are insignificant at 10x, I''ll be a happy camper.
 
It sounds wonderful DS...have you posted your setting anywhere?
 
Oh I think that will be very lovely!
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It''s a lovely setting!!!!
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Thanks, Lisa! You know yours is my other favorite! Maybe pear sides can be a later upgrade (or RHR)! My ring will be here by the end of next week!

(ETA: Okay, and I love Tacori, too. Now I think I have covered my top 3!)
 
Date: 5/6/2006 2:06:26 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Thanks, Lisa! You know yours is my other favorite! Maybe pear sides can be a later upgrade (or RHR)! My ring will be here by the end of next week!
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Thanks, but right now I am loving these solitaires on here!! You must be soooo excited to get the ring. I know your search took a long time. The stone you picked is gorgeous. Make sure you get that camera charged and take lots of pics for us!!!
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Lisa, I knew I was looking for a hard to find size..just under 1.5. So it was a matter of being patient and watching the sites! Fortunately I didn''t have a deadline as our anniversary really isn''t until December! So I had no pressure. Of course, I started looking at G VS1 and over time decided to look at H, and ended up with H VS2. So I hope I am not sorry later. I am very dissatisfied with my 1.5 tcw. diamond studs now that I know about cut and certification and they cannot be traded in as upgrades. So I know that I need to be sure I am getting high quality or I''ll never be happy. It is a mind-clean issue for me! I am hopeful about this diamond, though!
 
I think it going to be fablulous. the diamond and setting both look gorgeous.
 
You are just worried because you haven''t actually got to see your beautiful diamond in person yet. That stone should be stunning and the setting you''ve chosen is so classy and elegant! I''m sure that any diamond can be damaged under certain circumstances, that''s why you get them insured. Don''t let all this anxiety ruin your excitement over this wonderful new ring!!! I am looking forward to seeing pictures as soon as you get it. You don''t have to wait until December to wear it do you???
 
Thanks mrssalvo and Sundial!!! I knew waiting 2 weeks while my setting is being made would cause me all these irrational thoughts! I think you are right that seeing the ring will take all those concerns away!

No, thank goodness I don''t have to wait until December to wear the ring! This is the 30th year and I plan on celebrating all year! Lol! I told my husband he could get me an alternate eternity band to actually give me on the anniversary! He didn''t even say no to that! LOL! Thankfully, he is pretty easy going and wants me to have what I want (since he knows I am not an extravagant spender anyway). He just wishes I would not agonize over every decision so much!

I have few friends locally who care about jewelry at all, so I very much appreciate the support of my cyber-friends here on PS!!! Incidentally, I am meeting a couple of the younger girls from here in two weeks to go shopping for wedding/eternity bands and have lunch! I told them it would be like shopping with their mom, but Tacori insisted that I go with them!
 
Of course you should go out with Tacori and the girls, us older gals still have something to contribute!!! Have fun shopping for bands!
 

Small feathers close to the girdle that don’t break the surface are usually no a problem. Feathers are small cracks running perpendicular to the cleavage plain, they usually have a white feathery appearance.


Cleavages on the other hand are sometimes a problem as they occur in the direction of the cleavage planes and are a result of cohesion weakness of the carbon atoms. These cracks occur a lot easier and can expand under internal pressure.


Johan
 
Hello all,

I know I am a little late in answering this but a feather on the edge of a VS2 is nothing to worry about. If the diamond is given a sharp blow on the girdle with something very hard it may chip. When it chips it will chip exactly where it is hit. If it is where the feather is, that is where it will chip. If hit somewhere else it will chip there, not over where the feather is.

People ask this all the time. Don''t let someone scare you with this fary tail.
 
Thanks Johan and dimonbob! I'll take all the reassurances I can get! I am glad to know I should not worry about a VS2.
 
I agree with Bob and Johan

We had an unfortunate experiance last week.
Two 3 stone stock rings were made to fit 2 different sets of diamonds and the wrong ones went with the right rings.
The setter chipped on stone because they were too close.

When I examined this very small chip at the girdle on the Upper girdle facets(about SI1 if it were an inclusion) I found there was a feather running at right angles to the chip (as Johan indicates). The feather was very close to the chip - but there was no connection between the two.

If as I so often read - that people assume feathers = disasters - then this stone would have had a huge chunk out of it - as it is - we think we will loose about .02 to .03ct from a .60ct. Not a train smash
 
I feel much better! Thanks Garry!

How sad for that stone to be chipped, but that''s great to hear that it will not lose much ct. weight due to being recut or whatever you do to fix it. This story illustrates why I am having my diamond set by the person I''m buying it from! It sounds like the setting process can be dangerous on rare occasions.
 
my first stone had a feather that was near the girdle and our appraiser mentioned that it was set to be just right next to the prong, so it was protected by the prong but not under the prong itself so there was no pressure on it...don''t know if that helps at all, but i''d say if the appraiser and vendor say it''s fine, then you should be good. insurance will help ease your mind as well!
 
I have a feather on the edge of my new RB that is ''protected'' as Richard said in his report by my prong. I really have no worries in the least about it. Wink said it was fine and so did Richard, and I have Chubb so should anything happen..I have that to fall back on!
 
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