Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which characteristic is specifically referred to as a dop burn?
Which characteristic is specifically referred to as a dop burn?
What is the primary cause of lizard skin on a polished diamond?
What is the primary cause of lizard skin on a polished diamond?
Which type of mark might occur during polishing that resembles an extra facet?
Which type of mark might occur during polishing that resembles an extra facet?
Which term describes the surface irregularity similar to the surface of a sugar cube?
Which term describes the surface irregularity similar to the surface of a sugar cube?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the outcome when pinpoint inclusions are removed during the polishing process?
What is the outcome when pinpoint inclusions are removed during the polishing process?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an extra facet primarily used for in diamond cutting?
What is an extra facet primarily used for in diamond cutting?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic is specifically created during a laser manufacturing process?
Which characteristic is specifically created during a laser manufacturing process?
Signup and view all the answers
Which defect is caused by excessive heat during polishing?
Which defect is caused by excessive heat during polishing?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a scratch on a diamond primarily appear as?
What does a scratch on a diamond primarily appear as?
Signup and view all the answers
What feature shows growth marks and remains from the original diamond surface?
What feature shows growth marks and remains from the original diamond surface?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to any break in a diamond?
Which term refers to any break in a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What appearance does a heavily bearded girdle have?
What appearance does a heavily bearded girdle have?
Signup and view all the answers
How is cleavage defined in the context of diamonds?
How is cleavage defined in the context of diamonds?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of inclusion consists of tight clusters of pinpoints that can affect a diamond's transparency?
What type of inclusion consists of tight clusters of pinpoints that can affect a diamond's transparency?
Signup and view all the answers
What can the appearance of internal graining resemble?
What can the appearance of internal graining resemble?
Signup and view all the answers
Which feature is defined as appearing flat and ribbon-like, radiating from the diamond's center?
Which feature is defined as appearing flat and ribbon-like, radiating from the diamond's center?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect does internal graining that appears colorless or transparent not affect?
What aspect does internal graining that appears colorless or transparent not affect?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an etch channel?
What is an etch channel?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term is used for a small concentrated area of crystal growth distortion within a diamond?
Which term is used for a small concentrated area of crystal growth distortion within a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a break in any crystal direction other than a cleavage plane?
What is the term for a break in any crystal direction other than a cleavage plane?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key difference between inclusions and blemishes in gemstones?
What is a key difference between inclusions and blemishes in gemstones?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes a blemish in the context of gemstone clarity?
Which of the following best describes a blemish in the context of gemstone clarity?
Signup and view all the answers
When examining gemstones, which of the following instruments is emphasized for clarity grading?
When examining gemstones, which of the following instruments is emphasized for clarity grading?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect does chromatic aberration have when viewing a gemstone?
What effect does chromatic aberration have when viewing a gemstone?
Signup and view all the answers
How can one differentiate between a blemish and an inclusion when examining a stone?
How can one differentiate between a blemish and an inclusion when examining a stone?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to the depth of field as magnification increases?
What happens to the depth of field as magnification increases?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of recognizing prism images in diamond clarity evaluations?
What is the significance of recognizing prism images in diamond clarity evaluations?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic is NOT associated with internal inclusions in diamonds?
Which characteristic is NOT associated with internal inclusions in diamonds?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of mineral crystal is most commonly found in diamonds?
What type of mineral crystal is most commonly found in diamonds?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of illumination helps to make inclusions stand out against the background of a gemstone?
Which type of illumination helps to make inclusions stand out against the background of a gemstone?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following descriptions accurately represents a bruise on a diamond?
Which of the following descriptions accurately represents a bruise on a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes a knot from other inclusions in a diamond?
What distinguishes a knot from other inclusions in a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about a patch of color on a diamond is true?
Which statement about a patch of color on a diamond is true?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes a cavity in a diamond?
Which of the following describes a cavity in a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the key characteristic of an indented natural on a diamond?
What is the key characteristic of an indented natural on a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
How does a laser drill-hole impact a diamond?
How does a laser drill-hole impact a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
Which option best defines a chip on a diamond?
Which option best defines a chip on a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes fracture filling treatment in diamonds?
What distinguishes fracture filling treatment in diamonds?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the effect of the flash phenomenon in a treated diamond?
What is the effect of the flash phenomenon in a treated diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best identifies a nick on a diamond?
Which of the following best identifies a nick on a diamond?
Signup and view all the answers
What does spherical aberration cause?
What does spherical aberration cause?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Clarity Grading in Gemstones
- Clarity grading is a crucial aspect of gemstone evaluation.
- Clarity characteristics are sometimes called flaws or imperfections.
- Two types of clarity characteristics exist: inclusions and blemishes.
- Inclusions are features within a gemstone, possibly extending to the surface.
- Blemishes are surface-confined features.
- Gemstone clarity is assessed systematically.
Examining Gemstones
- Initial inspection is through a corrected loupe (10x magnification).
- Types of corrected loupes include triplets (to correct color and linear distortions, chromatic and spherical aberration).
- Gemstone examination should use achromatic or aplanatic lenses.
- Darkfield illumination emphasizes inclusions.
- Brightfield illumination highlights inclusions as noticeable dark objects.
- Depth of field changes with magnification.
- Closeness to a surface reflection indicates proximity to the surface for inclusions.
- Prism images, multiple images of inclusions, can arise from strong diamond refraction.
- Identifying inclusions vs. blemishes can involve positioning the stone to utilize light from a different angle.
Types of Clarity Characteristics
Internal Inclusions
- Minerals (crystals) found within diamonds, with more than 24 identified.
- Common crystals include smaller diamond crystals, olivine, and garnet.
- Needle-like crystals appear as tiny rods.
- Pinpoint inclusions resemble tiny dots.
- Clouds are tightly grouped pinpoints, varying in density from hazy to dense.
- Twinning wisps are pinpoint groupings in twinning planes.
- Internal graining shows crystal growth irregularities, visible in lines or angles, or like transparent threads.
- Grain centers are concentrated crystal growth areas.
Surface Reaching Inclusions
- Feathers are breaks in the diamond (also called glets in some regions).
- Cleavage describes breaks along crystal planes, and fractures are breaks in other directions.
- Etch channels are angular openings extending into the diamond.
- Bruises resemble tiny impacts with radiating feathers.
- Knots are included crystals partially visible on the polished surface.
- Patches are naturally occurring radiation stains.
- Chips are shallow surface openings.
- Cavities are surface openings due to feather or crystal loss during polishing.
- Indented naturals are portions of the original surface, with or without growth markings.
- Laser drill holes are created by laser beams.
- Internal laser drilling expands existing feathers or creates new ones.
Blemishes
- Rough girdles are irregular or granular girdles.
- Pits are tiny white dots (result from polishing).
- Laser manufacturing remnants (LMRs) are surface marks from fabrication processes.
- Naturals are original rough diamond surface residue.
- Surface graining are transparent surface lines, indicating internal irregularities.
- Nicks are small notches.
- Abrasions are surface scratches.
- Scratches are thin lines.
- Extra facets are non-required facets.
- Polish marks are feature-like extra facets.
- Lizard skin is a wavy surface.
- Polishing lines are parallel surface grooves.
- Burns are surface haziness from excessive heat.
- Dop burns are surface damage from excessive dop (a molten glass substance) heat.
Other Features
- Inscriptions on the surface, like logos or text, don't affect clarity unless viewed in 3D.
- Surface grooves can be used to mount the diamond.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the fundamentals of clarity grading in gemstones, focusing on the types of clarity characteristics like inclusions and blemishes. It also covers effective methods for examining gemstones using corrected loupes and different illumination techniques. Test your knowledge on the systematic assessment of gemstone clarity.