Learn more about the process, the advantage and its huge market..
What is an enhanced diamond? These are stones where different treatments have been applied to hide inclusions and enhance the quality and look of a diamond.
Clarity Enhancement Their are two different types of clarity enhancement process, Laser Drilling and Fracture Filling. Laser Drilling is a microscopic laser drilling that is often used to remove carbons and dark inclusions in a gemstone. Fracture Filling, also called Feather Filling, is used to remove white inclusions and fill them with the use of specially formulated glasses that have a refractive index close to that of a diamond, small microscopic fractures that can be seen are filled to enhance the quality and endurance of the stone.
Both of these can also be used to help enhance the brilliancy of a diamond and can be used only on about 1% of the diamonds. Neither one of these processes will change the color of the diamond. They are used to repair small flaws and add brilliancy and fire to the look of the gemstone. Often clarity-enhanced diamonds are more brilliant than some of the natural, cut stones. These repairs are not visible to the naked eye, but can be found through careful examination by an expert gemologist.
Color Enhancement Color Enhancement is used to change the look and quality of these popular gems. Experimentation in the early 1900’s showed that treating a diamond with radiation would change the color to a dark green. The change in color would not go past the surface, but it did cause the diamond to hold radiation and was not wearable. The process has been changed through the method of using proton and deuteron bombardment by the use of cyclotrons. This treatment will cause the center of the diamond to change colors. Green, blue, and black are the most common, however other treatments can change the colors to brighter shades including yellows, pinks, oranges and browns.
Many people do not know the difference between clarity enhanced diamonds and enhanced diamonds. Clarity enhanced diamonds are natural earth mined diamonds that are altered from their natural state to give them more brilliance. This allows you to get a larger stone with just as much brilliance but at half the cost. Enhanced diamonds are syntactic diamonds that are grown in a lab; they are not a real diamonds. The use of enhanced diamonds is popular in accessories, jewelry for everyday wear clothing and not recommended for an engagement ring.
Are clarity-enhanced diamonds bad? No. They are just altered from their natural state. Many people will opt for clarity-enhanced diamonds just to have something unique and huge price advantage. Depending on the setting and any other gems that might be included, the quality and appearance would be just as excellent and acceptable as a diamond that has only been cut. If you are using a budget for an engagement ring, a syntactic diamond is out of the question, however a clarity enhanced diamond will cost much less than a none clarity enhanced one.
Example of Enhanced, Synthetic and Natural Diamonds All the stones below are D-E color, VS1 clarity, Excellent cut and 1 carat size (approx 6.5mm):
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