Black Inclusions

[Sparkly_Diamonds]

Hello,

I am confused about black inclusions vs white inclusions in eye clean SI diamonds. Do black inclusions lower the value more than white or clear inclusions?

If anyone can shed some light on this I would appreciate it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Personal preference, really. I have a diamond that is SI1 because it has a little black spec and is beautifully clean otherwise (and completely eyeclean). I prefer that to feathers (cracks) which are white!

 

[headlight]

An inclusion that is black affects the clarity grading in that it stands out whereas a white or colorless inclusion may not.

 

[monipod]

It's more about the where than the what. I've seen beautiful, beautiful stones with single carbon inclusion on the table but they aren't that much less expensive than a similar stone with a lot of white inclusions deeper inside. If the carbon inclusions are easily hidden by prongs then a vendor won't think that's worth devaluing.

It also depends on the size and colour of the stone and what you plan to do with it. You might imagine a diamond with carbon inclusions being more affordable but if they are popular for people wanting to use such stones for studs or pendants then there's not a lot of incentive for a vendor to lower their price.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Hello, I am confused about black inclusions vs white inclusions in eye clean SI diamonds. Do black inclusions lower the value more than white or clear inclusions?

If anyone can shed some light on this I would appreciate it.

It is a great question.
I have 2 opinions - First - a black SI inclusion as a single grade maker would be about half the size of a white inclusion - all else being equal. This does not hold for VVS1 / Flawless - that boundary depends on the size of the inclusion.
Secondly - in my trade dealings and experience - many people, and especially people of some races, have an intense dislike for dark inclusions. This pretty much holds true for people who use the term 'purity' when referring to diamond clarity. I have gathered that this seems to be almost a religious based dislike.

Yes, black can be easier to see in some cases, Yes, black inclusions are generally priced lower than similarly border line eye visible types of inclusions. However grade making black inclusions will never be big enough to dull the passage of light through a diamond in eye clean or near eyeclean stone.

So i am not racist or a bigot when it comes to dark or colored inclusion

 

[CareBear]

I don't care if the inclusion is dark/black as long as I can't see it and it does not affect the performance of the stone. I'd definitely take a tiny black dot over a big white cloud.

 

[Texas Leaguer]

Black inclusions get a bad rap!

For one thing, they are usually discrete crystals that do not impact transparency like other inclusion types sometimes do. This is something to keep in mind if you are interested in precision cutting and optimal light performance.

Secondly, in many cases, while the diamond may not be technically eye-clean, black inclusions tend to hide very well among the diamond's on/off white/black contrast patterns.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I don't care if the inclusion is dark/black as long as I can't see it and it does not affect the performance of the stone. I'd definitely take a tiny black dot over a big white cloud. that makes a diamond dull

 

[Rons Wolfe]

I have a diamond with a small black crystal which is located right in one of the arrows. That makes it impossible to pick out without a loupe and good lighting. If it weren't located like that I might not have bought the stone.

 

[Sparkly_Diamonds]

It is a great question.
I have 2 opinions - First - a black SI inclusion as a single grade maker would be about half the size of a white inclusion - all else being equal. This does not hold for VVS1 / Flawless - that boundary depends on the size of the inclusion.
Secondly - in my trade dealings and experience - many people, and especially people of some races, have an intense dislike for dark inclusions. This pretty much holds true for people who use the term 'purity' when referring to diamond clarity. I have gathered that this seems to be almost a religious based dislike.

Yes, black can be easier to see in some cases, Yes, black inclusions are generally priced lower than similarly border line eye visible types of inclusions. However grade making black inclusions will never be big enough to dull the passage of light through a diamond in eye clean or near eyeclean stone.

So i am not racist or a bigot when it comes to dark or colored inclusion

Garry H, thank you very much for your explanation! I now feel much better about eye clean black inclusions. I think that there is such a misconception out there regarding these types of inclusions and it’s mostly unfounded.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

You are very welcome Sparkly - I enjoyed the chance to educate on a sacred misunderstood cow.