| Abrasion |
A place on a diamond that is
usually the result of wear and tear. Abrasions are tiny nicks
and bruises that occur during everyday wear of a diamond. The
magnitude and number of abrasions can indicate who hard a diamond
has been worn. |
| Bearding |
Very tiny cracks on the girdle of
a diamond that are a result of the diamond being cut to fast
and getting too hot. These are a result of cutting error and
not a damage issue |
| Chip |
A place where part of the diamond has been lost
due to a damage event or impact. |
| Cleave |
A break in a diamond along a cleave plane. In
certain directions a diamond will break easier than in others.
When hit along one of these direction the diamond will not chip
but will appear to have a layer slide off from the stone. This
area is called a cleave. |
| Concoidial |
Word used to denote the type of look at the point
of impact on a diamond. Much the same as the point where a rock
hits a car windshield. |
| Culet |
The lowest point of a diamond. These are sometimes
slightly cut to prevent chipping on the culet. Diamonds with
no culet or a straight point are more subject to chipping. |
| Damage |
Used to describe any condition of a diamond that
was caused due to an impact or blow to the stone beyond the normal
daily wear and tear. |
| Damage Event |
Refers to the actual event of the impact. Sometimes
used to confirm that the condition of the stone is the result
of a specific event in time, and not wear and tear over a long
period of time. |
| Drag Lines |
When a fracture breaks the surface of a diamond
crystal before cutting, the cutting wheel will leave small lines
where it was dragged down by the fracture. The result is that
small lines will be cut into the diamond from the fracture to
a short distance away. This is a diagnostic feature to be able
to determine that a fracture in a diamond was present when the
diamond was cut, and not due to a damage event. |
| Extra Facet |
A facet cut into a diamond at a place where the
crystal was not quite large enough to be symmetrical. Since the
diamond will not be completely round, a facet is simply cut into
the stone at this point. It is called an extra facet and is often
mistaken for a damage chip by an untrained jeweler. |
| Facet |
The flat surfaces on the diamond that reflect
and refract light. |
| Facet Junctions |
The line at which the facets meet.
These are areas where abrasions are most often seen. |
| Failure to Maintain |
Used to describe the loss of a stone due to lack
of proper care for the jewelry item. Most often due to wear until
the prongs become so thin that they cannot stand the stress of
holding the diamond and the diamond simply falls out. |
| Feather |
A pre-existing inclusion in a diamond that has
the appearance of a feather. These sometimes break the surface
of the diamond and are mistaken for damage fractures by untrained
jewelers. |
| Flaking |
Loss of flakes of the diamond crystal at a point
of a surface breaking fissure. Normally flaking is due to additional
diamond material being lost along a pre-existing natural fracture. |
| Fracture |
Any break in the diamond. Usually used to refer
to a damage event, but can be natural and pre-existing. |
| Girdle |
The outer rim of the diamond where the prongs
are pushed down on the stone. The girdle is usually the area
most likely to be damaged in the case of a damage event. |
| Impact event |
Same as a damage event. Refers to a specific
event in which damage occurred. |
| Indented Natural |
A natural part of the original diamond crystal
surface that was left on the diamond and not polished to keep
the diamond as symmetrical as possible. In this case, the natural
extends into the diamond and appears to be an indentation in
the stone. This is a non-polished area of the diamond that is
often mistaken for a damaged area by an untrained jeweler. |
| Inherent |
Any feature of a diamond that was present at
the time it was first cut and faceted. |
| Inherent Vice |
Any negative feature of a diamond that was present
at the time it was first cut and faceted. |
| Metal Compression |
Refers to a place on a prong where pliers
or other tool have been used to bend a prong, which has caused
the gold to be compressed along the lines of pressure. Usually
indicates a place where someone purposefully used force to remove
a stone. |
| Natural |
A natural part of the original diamond
crystal surface that was left on the diamond and not polished
to keep the diamond as symmetrical as possible. This is a non-polished
area of the diamond that is often mistaken for a damaged area
by an untrained jeweler. |
| Poor Workmanship |
Any setting or repair that is faulty is
considered poor workmanship and may be cause for subrogation.
Poor workmanship can result from defective manufacturing design
or faulty repairs of a jewelry item. |
| Pre-existing |
Any feature of a diamond that existed at the
time the diamond was first cut and polished, |
| Point of Leverage |
Place on a prong where it shows bending.
The point at which a tool was placed to pull or push a prong,
as indicated by the point of where the prong is bent. |
| Surface Reaching Feature |
Any feature of the diamond that is inside the
diamond but extends to the surface. Most often used to describe
internal inclusions and fissures that extend to the surface. |
| Wheel Marks |
Very faint lines on a diamond that was cut too
fast and the wheel burned into the stone. These are difficult
to see but when a wheel mark goes over a pre-existing surface
reaching fracture, the result are the drag lines listed above. |
| |
If you have more terms you need defined
please let us know.... |
