What is an Enhanced Diamond?

Enhanced diamonds are natural diamonds that have undergone treatments to improve their appearance. These treatments address issues such as clarity and color, refining the stone’s aesthetic without altering its core structure. Enhanced diamonds retain the same fundamental characteristics as untreated diamonds, including their natural origins and brilliance.

At Plateau Jewelers in Sammamish, WA, we specialize in offering a wide array of fine jewelry options, including pieces featuring enhanced diamonds. Here’s an in-depth look at what enhanced diamonds are, their characteristics, and their uses in jewelry.

How Are Enhanced Diamonds Treated?

Enhancement processes focus on improving the visual properties of diamonds, such as clarity and color. Here’s a breakdown of the most common methods:

Clarity Enhancement

This process reduces the visibility of inclusions or blemishes within the diamond.

  • Laser Drilling: A laser creates a microscopic channel to an inclusion, which is then dissolved or lightened using a solution. This makes the diamond appear clearer without altering its overall structure.
  • Fracture Filling: Tiny internal cracks are filled with a transparent material that matches the diamond’s refractive index, making the imperfections less noticeable.

Color Enhancement

These techniques modify or improve the diamond’s natural color:

  • High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT): This method uses heat and pressure to alter a diamond’s color, often turning slightly yellow or brown stones into whiter diamonds or even fancy colors like yellow, pink, or blue.
  • Irradiation and Heat: A diamond is exposed to controlled radiation followed by heat, creating vibrant hues such as green or blue.

Characteristics of Enhanced Diamonds

Enhanced diamonds maintain many of the same properties as untreated diamonds, but their treatment affects their visual appearance and care requirements:

  • Clarity: After treatment, inclusions or internal flaws are less visible, giving the diamond a more pristine look.
  • Color: Color enhancement can make a diamond appear whiter or introduce vibrant hues, adding versatility in design options.
  • Brilliance: Treatments do not typically alter the diamond’s ability to refract and reflect light, so the sparkle remains consistent.

Impacts of Enhancements on Diamonds

Enhancements modify certain visual aspects of a diamond, but they also have technical consequences that are important to understand:

  • Durability: Treatments like fracture filling require careful handling, as the filling material may be affected by high heat or strong chemicals.
  • Inspection: Enhanced diamonds may require more frequent professional inspections to ensure the treatments remain intact over time.
  • Identification: Enhancements are permanent but detectable, and treated diamonds are typically disclosed and certified by gemological laboratories.

Applications of Enhanced Diamonds

Enhanced diamonds are used across a variety of jewelry designs, offering visual appeal and versatility:

Engagement Rings

  • Enhanced diamonds are often chosen for their clarity improvements, making them suitable for center stones in engagement rings.
  • Color-enhanced diamonds, like fancy yellows or blues, add a unique twist to traditional designs.

Statement Jewelry

Fancy color-enhanced diamonds are frequently used in bold designs such as cocktail rings, necklaces, and earrings, where vibrant hues can take center stage.

Custom Creations

The variety of clarity and color options available with enhanced diamonds makes them ideal for custom-designed pieces tailored to individual preferences.

How to Identify Enhanced Diamonds

Enhanced diamonds are often indistinguishable to the untrained eye, but gemologists can identify them using specialized equipment. Common markers include:

  • Laser Drilling: Tiny drill channels visible under magnification.
  • Fracture Filling: Slight color flashes within the diamond under certain lighting, indicating the presence of filling material.
  • Certifications: Most enhanced diamonds come with documentation specifying the type of treatment applied.

At Plateau Jewelers, our expert team can help you understand the characteristics of enhanced diamonds and provide accurate details about any treated stones in our collection.

Uses and Significance of Enhanced Diamonds

Enhanced diamonds are valued for their ability to showcase beauty and brilliance in various settings:

  • Jewelry Design Versatility: From engagement rings to statement pieces, enhanced diamonds are versatile and adaptable for many styles.
  • Accessibility: Enhanced diamonds make high-quality appearances more widely available in jewelry design.
  • Unique Looks: Color-enhanced diamonds add creative and bold options for those seeking non-traditional styles.

Enhanced Diamonds at Plateau Jewelers

At Plateau Jewelers in Sammamish, WA, we believe in providing comprehensive and accurate information about all types of diamonds, including enhanced options. Whether you’re considering a piece featuring enhanced diamonds or exploring custom designs, our team is here to guide you with expertise and care.

Visit us today to explore our collection or speak with our experts to learn more about enhanced diamonds and their applications in fine jewelry. Discover the elegance of enhanced diamonds at Plateau Jewelers.

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