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[ev2011]

I have a quick question. I have a 0.65 carat stone that is supposedly SI1 clarity. I am not sure because I can see black carbon spots - 4 of them - with naked eye from the side view and also from the top view a little bit. I cannot see any other inclusions. I was told that I am not supposed to see anything with a naked eye for a SI1 stone so I am wondering if we were tricked by the jeweler. The ring is brand new. Please let me know!

[LaurieH]

First things first: By definition, SI category means "NOTICEABLE inclusions visible under 10x magnification or better that MAY be seen with the unaided eye." This unaided eye is generally considered to be at a reasonable viewing distance by someone with fairly good vision-- like looking at something on your hand--not 4 inches from your eye. That part is not hard and fast, just like I said, generally how it's meant as. That said, diamonds are graded FACE UP, which means that if you can see it in the top view, that's where it's plotted, and things on the pavillion (or bottom) view of the diamond on a plot are only things that are "on or break the surface of" the bottom half of the diamond. Things that you can see in the diamond when viewing it from the side make no matter as far as the grade goes. Think of it like an aquarium--if you look down at it from the top, with the water moving a little bit and all that, you see most everything inside, but not as clearly as you do when you look at it through the windowed side of it. Same with diamonds. You'll see more from the side, but it doesn't always translate as visible when the diamond is face up, which is how it's (almost) always set.

Second--is the diamond certified? If so, by whom? Not all labs are equal. If it's not certified--who declared it SI1?

Third--where you can see them face-up: I know YOU know they're there so you know where to look, but do you have to look REALLY HARD to see them or do they really pretty much blend in with the way the facet pattern is arranged so you don't really see it when the diamond sparkles? Or are they somewhere that you hide them under (or very close to) a prong when you set it? If so, then they're certainly less of a concern overall.

I would suggest that beyond this, you look at the top of the page and make use of the Diamond Finder tool. Plug in your basic specs for your diamond that you've bought and compare prices to some of our vetted e-tailers that we link on here. If what you paid for your diamond is reasonable (as in, in the ballpark) compared to what you find there then you know, at the very least, that you weren't taken for a ride price-wise. IF it's completely out of line--bad OR good, then perhaps it's time to visit your jeweler again to look into a refund and start over again shopping for something you can better trust.

Good luck and thanks for joining us!