Flaws and imperfections can drastically reduce the value of a diamond, especially if there is major damage to the stone. However, minor flaws can actually be reversed completely in clarity enhanced diamonds. For this reason, more couples are choosing to purchase clarity enhanced stones as an affordable way to purchase an impressive engagement ring.

One of The 4 C’s – Clarity

If you are at all familiar with the 4 C’s of diamonds, you are aware that clarity plays an important role in determining the value of a diamond. Clarity refers to how clear a diamond is and the number of flaws present. There are very few gemstones that are completely flawless. Even the most visually stunning diamonds can have tiny flaws or cracks that aren’t really noticeable.  However, very visible imperfections can have a definite impact on the value of a stone. In order to fix these noticeable imperfections, diamonds can be treated to cover up some of the damage. While clarity treated diamonds can look brilliant and much clearer, the fact they have been artificially enhanced often makes them less valuable when compared to naturally clear stones.

While clarity treatments were largely looked down upon at first, there is no denying that many couples are turning to clarity enhanced diamonds for an affordable engagement ring that still looks amazing.

Clarity Treatments

There are two common treatments used to artificially enhance the clarity of diamonds.

Fracture Filling

Fracture filling is typically used to close small cracks that appear on a diamond. The cracks are filled in using a thin, glass-like film or silica resin. This treatment results in a practically invisible repair of the flaws, and can usually not be detected with the naked eye. If you purchase a diamond that has been fracture filled, you should be aware that this type of clarity treatment is not usually permanent. Because of this, most reputable jewelers will offer a guarantee that they will repair your diamond when and if the treatment doesn’t hold up.

Laser Drilling

Laser drilling is a common treatment used to remove minor flaws within a diamond, called inclusions. These inclusions can appear inside the gem as cloudy spots or dark-colored flaws. With this treatment, a laser is inserted into the diamond to create a small tunnel, whereby the flaw can oftentimes be removed or dissolved by the laser. Sometimes, a chemical substance can actually be inserted through the tunnel to bleach away the dark spot. Because laser drilling does not affect the durability of a diamond, it is usually favored over fracture filling. What’s more, this clarity treatment is more permanent.

Jewelers are required to disclose which diamonds have been clarity treated, but there are still unscrupulous dealers who do not have a customer’s best interests at heart. That’s why it’s important to only deal with reputable jewelers before purchasing a treated diamond, or any high quality jewelry for that matter.

While clarity enhanced diamonds were long looked down upon, they have become an extremely affordable option for couples that can not afford naturally flawless diamonds. Clarity treated stones are usually substantially cheaper than other diamonds that have not been artificially enhanced, and still sparkle as brilliantly as other stones.