Where is the best place to have an inclusion?

[garek007]

Hi,

I''m looking at buying a diamond here soon and this forum is a great resource. I''m probably going to buy vs2 or vs1 and I''m wondering, where is the best place to have an inclusion? That is, where would you be least likely to see it, and would it compromise the integrity of the stone least? Side, top?

Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stan

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/2/2010 9:41:40 AM
Author:garek007
Hi,

I'm looking at buying a diamond here soon and this forum is a great resource. I'm probably going to buy vs2 or vs1 and I'm wondering, where is the best place to have an inclusion? That is, where would you be least likely to see it, and would it compromise the integrity of the stone least? Side, top?

Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stan

Hi Stan

Usually VS clarities will be completely eyeclean so it doesn't matter too much, for me though if there was a slight chance of a visible inclusion ( it can happen with VS on occasion and depending on the viewer's eyesight among other factors), the side view to me would be preferable.

You might find this link useful, an article written by Pricescope's Coatimundi What is an Eyeclean Diamond?

 

[sv77vs]

I think it all depends on if you can see it or not. If you have an inclusion in the middle of the table, but you cannot see it, who cares? It is likely to be downgraded too if it is in the middle of the table, making the stone less expensive. A VS2 inclusion under the crown facets might well become an SI1 inclusion if it is in the middle of the table. You might see it, you might not, but if you can''t, then who cares?

Just my opinion, others may think a stone is less "mind clean" if it has an inclusion in the middle of the table regardless of its grading.

 

[sv77vs]

Oh, and I don''t think inclusions really compromise the stone unless it is a huge feather (crack) that extends to a vulnerable surface, or chip or something like that, which would most likely make the stone an SI2 or I1, and out of your consideration anyway.

 

[garek007]

thanks. I will probably buy online which means that I won''t be able to physically see the diamond before purchasing. Which is why I''m trying to figure this out.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 2/3/2010 8:46:03 AM
Author: garek007
thanks. I will probably buy online which means that I won''t be able to physically see the diamond before purchasing. Which is why I''m trying to figure this out.

First of all, the best place to have an inclusion depends on the type of inclusions present within the diamond... If given a choice of two diamonds of equal Cut Precision and Cut Performance, carat weight, color, and clarity, and the clarity grade of one was based on the presence of a few prominent diamond crystals located within the center of the table facet, but which were not readily visible to the naked eye and light in appearance... I would likely choose that over a diamond where the clarity grade was based on the presence of a substantial feather (fracture) or a series of feathers stacked closely next to each other located along the girdle edge and/or breaking the girdle edge of the stone. The reason being that while the diamond crystals might be located in such a place that they were easier to detect, the feathers present more of a ''potential'' durability risk to the longevity of the diamond.

Likewise, I''d choose a small feather over a cavity, twinning wisp or knot... This is my personal preference as a diamond buyer - other people within the industry may argue that these clarity characteristics are of little consequence, but hey, I just don''t like them (me, personally).

Most of the online vendors who frequent Price Scope are geared towards serving the individual needs and preferences of each client and you should spend some time reading the forum to determine which vendors "style" you feel you relate to best and contact those vendors and tell them what is and is not important to you and I''m sure they''ll be happy to try and accommodate your quest - providing of course that your expectations are in line with the current market / pricing. Most of the vendors provide detailed diamond grading pages which will provide you with a reasonable idea of what to expect in terms of the inclusions within the diamond and are capable of providing you with a reasonable visual assessment of their opinion of the diamond in terms of brilliance, dispersion and scintillation - something which can only be provided by the vendors who actually see the diamonds which they offer, this can not be provided by vendors who drop ship from their suppliers to their customers.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 2/3/2010 8:46:03 AM
Author: garek007
thanks. I will probably buy online which means that I won''t be able to physically see the diamond before purchasing. Which is why I''m trying to figure this out.

Be sure to buy from a vendor with a generous Inspect and Return policy. There is NO EXCUSE for an on line vendor not allowing you to return a stone if you are not pleased with it when you see it.

There simply is no way that you can know how you will like a stone until you see it. Not all the kings horses nor all the kings men, oh wait, that is another issue, something about broken eggs. Not all the reflector images in the world, nor all the pictures, nor all the ASETS nor even the videos will tell you how your eyes will perceive a diamond in real life. It MUST BE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED and for that to happen you must have the right to return it if you are not happy once you see and experience what is potentially your diamond.

As for your question, I believe there is no single right answer to it, so I will not try to answer with my eyes which will not see as your eyes.

Wink

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 2/3/2010 12:45:21 PM
Author: Todd Gray

Date: 2/3/2010 8:46:03 AM
Author: garek007
thanks. I will probably buy online which means that I won''t be able to physically see the diamond before purchasing. Which is why I''m trying to figure this out.

First of all, the best place to have an inclusion depends on the type of inclusions present within the diamond... If given a choice of two diamonds of equal Cut Precision and Cut Performance, carat weight, color, and clarity, and the clarity grade of one was based on the presence of a few prominent diamond crystals located within the center of the table facet, but which were not readily visible to the naked eye and light in appearance... I would likely choose that over a diamond where the clarity grade was based on the presence of a substantial feather (fracture) or a series of feathers stacked closely next to each other located along the girdle edge and/or breaking the girdle edge of the stone. The reason being that while the diamond crystals might be located in such a place that they were easier to detect, the feathers present more of a ''potential'' durability risk to the longevity of the diamond.

Likewise, I''d choose a small feather over a cavity, twinning wisp or knot... This is my personal preference as a diamond buyer - other people within the industry may argue that these clarity characteristics are of little consequence, but hey, I just don''t like them (me, personally).

Most of the online vendors who frequent Price Scope are geared towards serving the individual needs and preferences of each client and you should spend some time reading the forum to determine which vendors ''style'' you feel you relate to best and contact those vendors and tell them what is and is not important to you and I''m sure they''ll be happy to try and accommodate your quest - providing of course that your expectations are in line with the current market / pricing. Most of the vendors provide detailed diamond grading pages which will provide you with a reasonable idea of what to expect in terms of the inclusions within the diamond and are capable of providing you with a reasonable visual assessment of their opinion of the diamond in terms of brilliance, dispersion and scintillation - something which can only be provided by the vendors who actually see the diamonds which they offer, this can not be provided by vendors who drop ship from their suppliers to their customers.

adding to Todd''s opinion (I like him) the general thought is that a VS2 in the table is worse than one off the table is often flawed (pun?) thinking. The same sized inclusion in the crown facets can result in a lower grade if it were to be found in the table.

Personally I like clustered dark inclusions that can be covered by a prong. Dark inclusions are always graded more harshly that light crystals. Feathers in the pavilion are aso good safe picks.