Clarity Enhanced Diamonds

Clarity enhanced diamonds can cost up to 60% less than untreated natural diamonds.

There are three types…

Laser Drilled diamonds, without any filling

This technique involves a tiny (microscopic like) drill that goes through the diamond, to where the inclusions are; and drills them out. This technique doesn’t rely on special silicone to enhance the diamond, it’s also the best and most permanent method as once a diamond is treated this way it is completely natural and has the same resilience as any natural diamond that hasn’t been clarity enhanced.

Yehuda Method

Clarity enhanced diamonds were pioneered by Zvi Yehuda (a famous Israeli scientist) in the early 1980’s. This clever technique involves using microscopic drilling inside a diamond and then filling it with a synthetic (silicone like) substance, to prevent the inclusions from being visible with the naked eye. The inclusion remains but the reflection (that may be causing the inclusion to be more visible) is interfered with in a way that makes it invisible to the naked eye. It’s like heart by-pass surgery for a diamond.

This procedure is mainly practiced on lower clarity diamonds, Pique range; and the diamond is then enhanced to go up at least a grade in clarity, but sometimes up to a few grades. The brilliance is not affected at all, so expect to see a more beautiful diamond after this procedure. The treatment is permanent and will last a lifetime in most situations.

The only disadvantage from this procedure is that the filling substance in the diamond has a limit to high temperature, so extra care is always required.

EG: If a clarity enhanced diamond is set in an engagement ring and the ring needs to be repaired or resized then the diamond needs to be taken out first, as with most resizing and repairs high temperature and acids are used, which is an enemy of the filling that’s in the diamond. The good news is that in case the diamond gets affected that way it can usually be repaired by the “Yehuda Diamond Company” easily. In fact - even diamonds which are not clarity enhanced can also be damaged from high temperature. The silicone only makes the diamond much more sensitive to heat and some strong acids, however apart from that they have no other disadvantage compared to a non-treated diamond.

Other Method 

The same principle as the Yehuda method, but the diamond is not drilled, instead the inclusion has to be a certain type, where the opening (or tiny crack) is already in the diamond. The diamond is boiled under high temperature in water and silicone. The silicone finds its way into the tiny opening in the diamond and sets in. This method is also guaranteed for life by many other diamond treating businesses, however methods and quality of chemicals / silicones used may differ between different treating firms.

Please Note: Just because this procedure is guaranteed for life it does not mean that it is 100% reliable even if the diamond has been well looked after by its owner, as the silicone filling can go yellowish by itself or come out in rare cases.
The reason why companies selling clarity enhanced diamonds will usually unconditionally guarantee their treatment is because it is so easy for them to fix any diamond that has been affected. It takes them very little time to remove any silicone that has gone yellowish and also to refill the diamond with new silicone. So seeing a lifetime guarantee does not mean that the supplier is so confident that nothing will ever go wrong or it's a one in a  one-hundered-thousand chance something will go wrong.
Remember: The company selling the clarity enhanced diamond may give a lifetime guarantee (or any other long term guarantee) but they only cover fixing the diamond and not the cost of removing it from the setting, fixing damage caused to the setting, resetting it, shipping the diamond back to them and for them to ship it back. So before considering a clarity enhanced diamond consider these expenses, if something was to go wrong with the diamond.

A simple four or six claw setting that allows the affected diamond to be easily removed and reset with minimum damage to the setting will reduce part of the total expense but the shipping charges will usually remain.
Some suppliers of clarity enhanced diamonds may also guarantee cost of insured shipping and all expenses related to removing and resetting the diamond if they are at fault; but it is recommended that the consumer check the guarantee thoroughly from where they are buying the clarity-enhanced diamond and make sure they have a receipt and the guarantee (with conditions of related expenses, as mentioned above) in writing from the business that sold them the diamond.

The first method, as described above (laser drilled, without any filling) is the best method as what you see initially is what will remain permanently; and the diamond has the same durability to heat and acids like any untreated diamond.
If you don’t mind giving your diamond TLC for life or taking a risk that it may need servicing in the future then a silicone (or like substance) filled diamond is OK. If not - then consider a non-filled diamond, whether drilled or not drilled.
Of course when prices are similar then a clarity-enhanced diamond (especially a filled one) should not be considered as an option, but when the price difference is so great then it’s an advantage - getting a high bang-for-the-buck from a diamond.

It’s the diamond you go for when you want a one-carat on a half-carat budget or a two-carat on a one-carat budget.

Clarity enhanced diamonds are available in all or most diamond shapes and are very rare above Si1 clarity. Diamonds of a higher clarity, such as: VS2+ are only popular as clarity enhanced if this clarity grade was after the diamond was treated. Rarely would a diamond manufacturer have a stone clarity enhanced by filling it with a substance if it was an Si1 or higher, before it was treated. If the diamond was a low Si2 (Si3) or P1 clarity before treating and after treatment it became an Si1 or higher, such as VS then it’s OK. The whole idea is to remove and/or hide nasty inclusions visible (or easily visible) with the naked eye, as to attract a consumer that’s only interested in a visually nicer diamond for a considerably lower amount of money.

Would I recommend a clarity-enhanced diamond?

If the clarity-enhanced diamond is set in a complicated setting and / or a lot of damage may be caused to the setting by removing the diamond then I do not recommend buying a clarity-enhanced diamond, unless the business selling you the diamond is reputable and can guarantee in writing that they will also cover all expenses related to removing and resetting the diamond in the event that it needs fixing.

If your location is not near them and you need to ship the diamond to their office for fixing then make sure they also cover two-way shipping and insurance. If you cannot get that from them - then stay away from a clarity-enhanced diamond. Buy a smaller untreated diamond instead, or save the extra money to buy the larger untreated diamond later on.

Remember: Different companies have silghtly different methods and may use different material to fill the diamond. The Yehuda diamond company claim that their method is the most superior. We cannot doubt what they claim as they did pioneer this technique. The above information is only provided to the consumer to help them look at the big picture, in case their clarity enhanced diamond needed refilling.

The Diamonds Directory supports the diamond and jewellery industry to the fullest, but is also a totally unbiased source of information - therefore we help the consumer with accurate agenda free information.

Copyright 2011. Author: M K