Clarity enhanced diamonds have been in vogue for quite some time now and are gaining popularity as more and more shoppers lean favorably towards cheaper alternatives. Listed below are some essential information about the top alternative of untreated diamonds.
Types of Clarity Enhanced Diamonds
Most people don’t know this, but these stones are more than one type. Although all of them have the same clarity enhancement in common, it’s the process in which they are treated that makes them different. Based on the processes of enhancement, clarity enhanced diamonds are of four specific types, namely deep boiled, fracture-filled, laser-drilled, and special laser-drilled.
- The deep boiled procedure is one in which the stones are boiled in an acidic mix under high pressure. This helps epochs, all-black inclusions from deep within.
- Laser drilling is quite similar, except this process uses a preliminary step in which an incision is made in the dark inclusions to open them up. As the diamonds are boiled over, the materials in the inclusion flow out leaving the stones spotless.
- Special drilling is pretty much the same except the holes made in this process are microscopic, and significantly smaller than laser-drilled tunnels. As a result, they look completely natural and do not give away the enhancement.
- The fracture-filled is the most known procedure of the four. In this process of enhancement, a small amount of silicon or similar compounds are introduced in the inclusions, also called feathers. As the compound enters the cavities, it renders it invisible to the eye. Although inclusions post-treatment can still be spotted through magnification, by and large, they disappear from plain sight. More about diamond’s treatments at GIA education.
The Merits of Clarity Enhanced Diamond
A buyer needs some solid reasons to choose any diamond that is not a natural untreated one. While those still take the cake, they bring with them a whole bunch of advantages. A key one among them is the cost advantage. Yes, clarity enhanced diamonds are what making diamonds affordable to buyers from all sections of society, and this is a first.
Earlier, diamonds used to be the indulgence of rich people. Not anymore. Clarity-enhanced diamonds have ushered in an era of affordable diamonds. Anyone can buy these diamonds because they come at a cost about 30 to 50% less than their non-treated counterparts. At that price, anybody who would want to buy diamond jewelry could afford it easily.
The second thing worth mentioning about clarity enhanced diamonds is that they have cosmetics comparable with those of high-end stones. Being treated, these stones give away very little details where flaws and inclusions are concerned. One look at an enhanced diamond and it is clear and sparkling. Until you bring it under a loupe it can pass as a very expensive high-end diamond.
Ways to Identify a Clarity Enhanced Diamond
This clarity enhanced diamond is off Diamonds-USA website
There is no simple way of spotting a clarity enhanced diamond if you don’t have a jeweler’s sophisticated tools or the trained eyes of a gemologist. The most surefire way for a buyer to find out if a stone is treated is by looking at the diamond certificate. If it’s treated, it should be mentioned on the certificate. If the stone does not come with a certificate, the only other way to find out is to ask the seller and trust them to give you an honest answer.
The good news is, with a certificate or not, a seller is legally obligated to disclose such information to a buyer, especially when asked. These days, most jewelry brands carry clarity enhanced diamonds. The most reputable dealers mention this in the diamond description. So do remember to browse through the product literature to learn about the treatments.
Another way in which one may detect them is by examining it minutely. If it appears super white and bright, it may be a treated diamond. Also, if the diamond appears clear to the eye, but does not cost much, you may have a clarity enhanced diamond there.
Price Vs. Value of Enhanced Diamonds
They are about 30 to 50% cheaper than natural diamonds. What does that say about the value of these stones? The value of clarity enhanced diamonds has been debated for a long time now. Opinions on it are divided. While some say that they sell cheap and resell cheaper, others believe that even though they cost less, these diamonds have the same value as untreated diamonds or at least close.
The truth is, clarity enhanced diamonds are real diamonds too. So they have the inherent value of a natural diamond. But since these diamonds come from the low-end spectrum of the market, they are low in value. These diamonds sell for lesser with better aesthetics. So even though they may not be able to fetch you a bigger price at the time of reselling, these guys hold their value. So you should be able to sell them off close to the buying price if the stones are in good condition. That shouldn’t be difficult if you go through the right channel.
Should You Buy an Enhanced Diamond?
So, in the end, the question that comes to the fore is should you buy clarity enhanced diamonds or not? They may not be the first choice of most shoppers, but they are certainly worth considering. If a low price is at the top of your priority list, then these diamonds present a great alternative to their sparkling flawless counterparts that cost an arm and a leg. Clarity enhanced diamonds have aesthetic similarities with untreated diamonds, as they look bright and sparkly, free of inclusions, and pretty clear. So they give away very little about the enhancement part. So, if the priority is to land a big size, sparkling, fairly clear stone at a small price, then there are no better alternatives than the clarity enhanced diamonds.
The final word of advice would be to weigh your options well and judge their suitability before buying. Go with an open mind, and don’t be too hung up on anyone’s option. You will see that you end up gaining so much when you shop without biases or prejudices.
