Clarity Enhanced Diamonds: Color Enhanced Diamond Rings And Jewelry

The beauty of diamonds impresses even the hardest person to please. Women all over the world covet this precious jewel; most hoping that the diamond rings will be placed on their finger. Although jewelry stores are easily accessible, finding high quality diamond jewelry can be a tricky business.

Due to the common flaws within the natural gemstones, clarity enhanced diamonds, stones that have been mechanically altered, are generally shown to shoppers who are on the hunt for diamond jewelry. Most diamonds found in nature are imperfect, which results in clarity enhanced diamond treatment that helps to attain the optimum amount of clearness in the stone.

Clarity enhanced diamonds are created through different types of treatments. One popular treatment among diamond manufactures used to create clarity enhanced diamonds is high-pressure, high-temperature treatment. This treatment produces clarity enhanced diamonds by bringing the diamonds into high heat and pressure that is similar to the diamonds' original formation near the core of the earth. With this treatment, clarity enhanced diamonds can turn either colorless or colored. Only high quality diamonds are picked for this procedure, as the high temperature and pressure can issue cracks within the clarity enhanced diamonds.

Clarity enhanced diamonds can also be introduced to fillers, which produces a highly reflective surface that seeps into thin cracks; however, if a laser hole is drilled into clarity enhanced diamonds, the filling is much more visible. This procedure for clarity enhanced diamonds was first introduced in 1988 and is still quite common. Although this procedure may sound attractive, the downside of clarity enhanced diamonds with filling is that the inserted material is susceptible to damage when around high heat or acid. Under normal wear, the filling of the clarity enhanced diamonds is generally stable. Should the filling of  clarity enhanced diamonds be compromised, many companies will refill the diamonds at no charge.

Although clarity enhanced diamonds produce a more brag worthy appearance, the enhancement hides the true value of the stone. Some enhancements can even create long-term damage to the gemstone, so one should always ask the jeweler what the enhancement affects are on clarity enhanced diamonds. Ultimately, clarity enhanced diamonds will be worth less than natural stones.

Much like clarity enhancements, diamonds can also be treated with color to make it appear more attractive. These color enhanced diamonds are commonly known as fancy diamonds or fancies. Natural fancy color diamonds are very rare and it is unlikely that the average person will ever see one. However, with new technology and intensive research, colored enhanced diamonds can be easily created by a few different processes. Most companies prefer not to disclose their techniques for color enhanced diamonds. These fancy diamonds, although physically altered, tend to be priced considerably higher than their colorless counterparts simply because of their illusion of wealth.

Among the few naturally colored diamonds there is one particularly famous stone: the Hope Diamond. This large, brilliant blue diamond currently resides in the Smithsonian. It is the most famous of all the blue diamonds known to man and has only left the museum four times since its donation on November 10, 1958. After traveling through exhibits and charity events for ten years, the diamond was retired to a heavily guarded display for visitors to ogle at. The pendant of sixteen beautiful, colorless diamonds enhances the beauty of the gorgeous blue diamond.

As all colored diamonds are rare and expensive, it is not a surprise that pink diamonds are on the list of nearly impossible to buy diamonds. There is only one known place in the world where pink diamonds are excavated. Since there are not many found every year, this makes the price of the stones much higher than the average colorless diamond. If the gem shopper desires the appearance of a pink diamond, a less expensive alternative to take would be to consider pink sapphires, which are a significantly in lower price.

While searching for the perfect diamond ring or pair of earrings, shoppers should keep in mind that clarity enhanced diamonds and color enhanced diamonds can look impressive, but could have a long-term damaging affect on the stone. Make sure to ask a reputable jeweler to get down and gritty with the specifics of clarity enhanced diamonds since they are definitely a pocket stretcher. On the up side, with diamonds, the shopper always gets what they pay for. After all, a diamond lasts forever.


Sources:
Color. Diamond Review.com. 1999-2007. Diamond Review, Inc.3 April 2007. http://www.diamondreview.com/tutor/4cs/tutor_4cs_c olor.shtml
Wickell, Carly. "Diamond Clairty." About: Jewerly/Accessories. 2007. About, Inc. 3 April 2007. http://jewelry.about.com/cs/diamondclarity/a/diamo nd_clarity.htm
Chard: The Very Highest Quality Diamond Information… . Color Enhance Diamonds. 3 Mar. 2007.
Hope Diamond. Smithsonian. 3 April 2007. http://smithsonian.org/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/hope.h tm>
Fancy Colored Diamonds. Fancydiamonds.net. 2000. 3 April 2007. http://www.fancydiamonds.net/?OVRAW=pink%20diamond s&OVKEY=pink%20diamonds&OVMTC=standard.
Pink Diamonds vs. Pink Sapphires. Gillett's Jewellers. 2007. 3 April 2007. http://gilletts.com.au/information.php?info_id=8Wade, Susan. “Enhancing the Stone-An Update on Diamond Treatment.” Ganoksin.1996-2007. MJSA Journal. 9 Apr. 2007.
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