What happens when "she" wants a one-carat diamond, but your budget can only handle a half carat?  In the past, your only option was to either buy a much-less-pretty diamond, or opt for a CZ (cubic zirconia).   With the advent of new technologies, a much better option has emerged within the diamond industry called, "clarity-enhanced diamonds."

Clarity enhancement is a form of gem treatment.  Clarity-enhanced diamonds, like the name implies, are diamonds that had visible imperfections which have been "fixed" so they are no longer visible.  Honestly, we feel this process is pure genius and provides a wonderful alternative for the budget-conscious diamond buyer.

Diamonds can vary dramatically in price and appearance due to carat (weight), color, cut and clarity. Clarity-enhanced diamonds are natural diamonds that have been mined and cut just like other natural diamonds. Diamonds that have certain imperfections become good candidates for clarity enhancement.

The main process of clarity enhancment first involves vacuuming out the air around an imperfection within the diamond. Then a substance with similar refractive qualities as diamond is injected into that space. The filler material imitates diamond in the way it interacts with light entering the diamond. The inclusion (flaw) is still in the diamond, but since it is filled it is no longer seen by the naked eye. Laser drilling is usually not necessary for clarity enhancing. However, there are two reasons that diamonds are sometimes also laser drilled. If the diamond has a carbon spot including a suitable inclusion or if the inclusion doesn’t have a suitable entryway then a laser may be used to create one.

Clarity enhancing affects the way the diamond is capturing light and can also improve the clarity grade. The highest grade achieved by enhancement is VS2. Under normal wear and tear the treatment will last for a lifetime. Exposure to a jeweler's torch used for re-tipping or repair can alter or remove the filler material. If this happens to a clarity enhanced diamond it can very easily be refilled and is completely guaranteed for life. It usually only takes 2 to 3 days to refill a diamond and the diamond will be fully restored to it’s original enhanced look.

It is not easy to identify a clarity-enhanced diamond from a diamond that has not been enhanced. Under 10x magnification a clarity-enhanced diamond will exhibit a “flash effect” in that when tilted under light the diamond will exhibit a small flash of color such as violet, pink or blue.

Why are clarity-enhanced diamonds so popular? The main reason is the 30% to 40% cost savings. They are also available in all size and shape options.  Keep in mind that, even though they cost less, they are not worth less. They look just as good as a diamond that has not been treated and, with a full lifetime guarantee and trade-up guarantee, there is not much of a reason not to choose clarity-enhanced diamonds. With clarity-enhanced diamonds as an option a bigger, prettier, diamond is available at a more affordable price.

I highly recommend at least looking at and comparing clarity-enhanced diamonds to regular non-enhanced diamonds and decide if they are right for you.

Mike Nixon
Store Manager

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