What are clarity enhanced diamonds ? Clarity Enhanced Diamonds are real natural diamonds. The principle of Clarity Enhancement is to make natural diamond imperfections invisible. Almost every diamond has internal natural feather-like fractures. The clarity enhancement process is a state-of-the-art technology that optically eliminates the fractures and improves the clarity and brilliance of the diamond. During the process, the inside surface of the natural fracture is coated with transparent glass-like material, whose optical and refractive characteristics closely resemble those of a natural diamond, thereby masking the fracture to the naked eye. The amount of material used to fill the feather is minute and the clarity enhancement process does not add any weight to the diamond
Here's a FAQ from Google Groups...not sure of the validity... 11(a) CLARITY ENHANCEMENT Clarity enhancement is a process in which a stone with poor clarity (let's say I1 or worse), but otherwise a nice stone, is treated to fill in the cracks. The exact identity of the material is kept a secret, but it is most likely some sort of a leaded glass. Obviously, it has to match the refractive index of diamond very closely. The durability of it is still in question... There is no problem with it what so ever in everyday wear; it is stable in boiling water, to shocks, etc. Filled diamonds (i.e. clarity enhanced diamonds) don't stand up to boiling HNO3, to direct heat (the jeweler must be careful when setting the stone), or to short UV (though it is estimated that it will take about 60 yrs of direct sunlight before it becomes noticeable; "diamonds are for ever"? maybe, but not clarity filled ones, though it should last a several human lifetimes if worn normally). Grading of filled diamonds must be done before the process. GIA wont grade filled diamonds; they insist on removement of the filling. Hence the clarity is assigned as I1 or I2, but the stone looks like VS, and thus nice-looking stones can be had cheap. But do not be mislead to think that enhancement is something special, that only the best diamonds, are enhanced, or that you have to pay extra for enhanced diamonds. Just the opposite. The idea is, again, nice looking stones cheap. There has been a lot of discussion on whether or not filled diamonds should be sold along with other diamonds, or whether they should be viewed in the same light as "lab grown" or "created" precious stones, though nobody would consider them as "fake" as let's say cubic zirconium. Everyone agrees though, that it is really important to reveal to customers (both the consumers as well as retailers) that a diamond has undergone the filling treatment. The worst fear of the jewelry industry is that the consumers will feel cheated, deceived,... and will stay away from diamonds. As stated previously, members of the jewelry industry absolutely must be meticulously honest; after all, nobody needs diamonds to survive, it is a luxury item. The policy on whether or not to stock filled diamonds varies from store to store. Some "don't want any of that crap in my store" others see it as a way sell customers what they want: nice stones cheap. If you look at a filled diamond closely, rotate it under light, you should be able to notice a bluish or an orangeish flash. Actually, there are new fillings that wouldn't make these flashes, but the manufactures worry that unscrupulous sellers would pass these as higher quality stones. Obviously, they also worry about the possibility of lawsuits. There are currently two firms who manufacture and distribute filled stones, Yehuda, the originator of this process, and Koss. Both firms offer top notch guarantees that if the filling is ever damaged (through a clumsy jeweler, for example) they'll refill it free. So it looks like a customer wont get stuck with a damaged diamond, ever. The question of durability, stability never enters into the buyer's consideration, and is thankfully shifted to the manufacturer. However, few people think that clarity enhanced diamonds will be sold for engagement rings. In part it may be because an engagement diamond is a "special" stone, only the "best" will do (and a diamond that needs to be filled can't be considered the best, can it?). I am not sure, but it seems that clarity enhanced stones are used more for purchases later in life for pendants, bracelets,... . Later in woman's life, when she has more disposable income, she is more likely to buy a diamond for herself than get it as a present (this is not my guess, that is what surveys show); it's OK to buy a nice filled diamond for herself, but may not like receiving it as a gift. But, cynically, I also suspect, that in part why they are not pushed as engagement diamonds is due to the fact that "it is a rule that bride-to-be must get a diamond engagement ring", thus the retailers can tell the groom that "real, unfilled" diamonds are the only way to go, and hit the groom for all he's worth. When the question is "filled or unfilled," the jeweler will of course push the unenhanced, and more expensive, stones. For a woman who wants to splurge after getting a big pay raise, the question wont be filled or unfilled, it will be "a diamond or a vacation or new furniture or ...", hence a jeweler will need to convince her that she should buy diamond jewelry, and if it is clarity enhanced, so be it. So, should you buy a clarity enhanced diamond? If you want a nice looking, inexpensive, real diamond, and don't care that the report says it should look worse, then buy it. But if you think that somehow you are cheating, and if this will bother you in the future, then pass. The choice is obviously yours. The bottom line is: if you are going to be happy with the diamond, then buy it.
Not too many or you may end up puking on her shoes when you kneel.... Not from my own experience, a story from a friend...
How important is it to get a report/appraisal from a place like EGL, USA or another Gemologist association?
3 months salary is a myth perpetrated by the DeBeers company to create a demand for higher priced diamonds. Unfortunatly it has become the norm in America...but whatever...my wife has a huge rock and neither of us are complaining...(although I would have had better use out of a plasma screen)
