Feather Help

[pwsg07]

There is a sapphire I am considering. It has a feather between the star facet and the table. Does it create the durability cocern? Thank you.

 

[LD]

It's impossible to say without seeing it under magnification. Most feathers, if they are small and don't touch the surface of the gem are ok but any inclusion if it's big enough / breaks the surface can create a weak point in the gemstone. It's best to get it checked by a local jeweller.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I disagree. Over the years I have worked with and cut thousands of stones. The cutting process is very demanding of the stone, and puts the stone through a lot of stress. I have seen flawless stones crack during cutting, and stones with large surface reaching inclusions come through cutting with no issues. I have had small inclusions inside a stone grow into major ones, and had stones that cut flawless get major cracks when being set. In my experience if an inclusion is surface reaching or not has no bearing, actually maybe the opposite since it can not grow any more in the one direction.
Stones that are heated such as tanzanite and zircons we alway feel better heating a clean stone, but I have had flawless tanzanite develope cracks in the oven, and had other pieces with minor inclusions make it through heating fine.,
This whole ‘surface reaching’ think is some that some here said, and now has been repeated to the point it’s taken as truth.
Any emerald that responds to oil, can only respond if it has surface reaching inclusions.

 

[LC2016]

I actually have the same problem. I have ordered a spinel with a big feathery inclusion in the center for engagement ring. And now Im quite worry if the stone will easily break.

 

[pwsg07]

I actually have the same problem. I have ordered a spinel with a big feathery inclusion in the center for engagement ring. And now Im quite worry if the stone will easily break.

This one looks like fingerprint to me.

 

[LD]

I disagree. Over the years I have worked with and cut thousands of stones. The cutting process is very demanding of the stone, and puts the stone through a lot of stress. I have seen flawless stones crack during cutting, and stones with large surface reaching inclusions come through cutting with no issues. I have had small inclusions inside a stone grow into major ones, and had stones that cut flawless get major cracks when being set. In my experience if an inclusion is surface reaching or not has no bearing, actually maybe the opposite since it can not grow any more in the one direction.
Stones that are heated such as tanzanite and zircons we alway feel better heating a clean stone, but I have had flawless tanzanite develope cracks in the oven, and had other pieces with minor inclusions make it through heating fine.,
This whole ‘surface reaching’ think is some that some here said, and now has been repeated to the point it’s taken as truth.
Any emerald that responds to oil, can only respond if it has surface reaching inclusions.

I stand corrected. Thank you.