Treated diamonds

Diamonds are sometimes treated to make them look better.

Color enhancement

A white diamond is worth far more than a diamond with a yellowish or brownish tinge. A white diamond also sparkles more and is more brilliant.

In the 1990s, a process using high-pressure/high temperature annealing was discovered which is often used to transform tinted or off-white diamonds into colorless or nearly colorless diamonds. This process is called HPHT.

Likewise, a canary yellow diamond or a blue diamond is worth more than a white diamond. These days, HPHT can make some white diamonds yellow, blue, pink or some other fancy color.

When you buy the diamond, is it an HPHT diamond or is the color natural. If the color is natural and it is colorless, it is worth far more than an HPHT diamond that is colorless because of its treatment.

Clarity enhancement

Black inclusions (carbon) within a diamond lowers its value. Such diamonds are sometimes lasered to vaporize these inclusions.

Lasering a diamond leaves tiny holes in it. Too many such holes from lasering would weaken the diamond. Hence, these lasered may be filled to hide the holes.

Likewise, cracks within a diamond (feathers, breaks or fractures) may also be filled to improve the diamond's clarity.

Needless to say, such a lasered or filled diamond is worth less than an untreated diamond of the same clarity.

Concerns

Some jewelers do sell treated diamonds.

When buying a diamond, especially for its investment value, it is important to know whether the diamond was treated. If it was treated and you still want it, you should pay a much lower price than for a untreated diamond of the same grade.

How would you know?

You can't really tell.

If you are interested in the investment value of your diamond, it is best to get certified diamonds. Not by just any old lab but by a reputable lab.

The FTC-regulated labs in U.S. are

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
European Gemological Laboratory Inc (EGL)
International Gemological Institute (IGI)

To be safe, you may want to get a diamond that comes with a certificate from one of these labs.

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