Diamond Query: Visibility of Twinning Wisps in a VS1 Clarity Diamond

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| Anonymous Reader

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Hi Sebastian, I purchased a diamond and the on-dealer has sent the wrong stone to me, it's a round brilliant 2.21ct E/VS1 with twinning wisps, cut is excellent, fluorescence is strong blue, GIA 7228182067

 

 

 

I'm on a business trip and wont see the diamond for another week, but I'm worried that the original stone I bought which was a 2.11 J/VS2, excellent cut with no fluorescence GIA 5182272046 is a better quality stone?

 

 

 

Can you please give me some words of wisdom if you have the time. Thanks and regards!

 

Your Diamond Teacher |

Thank you for your inquiry. I am happy to help! The diamond you received is much higher quality then the diamond you ordered. The diamond you received is an E color, which is a  colorless diamond and one grade away from being the highest color grade. It is also one step higher in the clarity grade. In addition, it is a higher carat weight. So, all these things are great! The only thing that could be a negative is that it has strong fluorescence. This means the diamond may glow blue under strong UV light. And there is a slight chance that the strong fluorescence can make the diamond appear hazy… but this is unlikely. I hope this helps!

 

| Anonymous Reader

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Sebastian, thank you so much for getting back to me, I really appreciate it.

I'm more concerned about the twinning wisps in the stone that they sent, I'm ok with the fluorescence. I've attached copies of the two GIA reports and the details of both stones with their respective inclusions for you to see.

I know the quality of the E/VS1 is better than the J/VS2 however I worry why there appears to be so many more imperfections in that higher quality stone, at least in the drawings attached here. I've tried to research twinning wisps online and some say it's the best imperfection to have in a diamond, if there is such a thing.

I know the folks at GIA are experts and I'm sure their certification is accurate but I wonder how this particular diamond clarity could be graded at VS1 with all the imperfections shown, whereas the VS2 stone looks relatively defect free, unless twinning wisps are not classified as a defects that is?

If you could give me some of your expert advise on this I will be forever grateful.

Thanks and best regards!

 

Your Diamond Teacher |

Grading stones is not an exact science. GIA Gemologists have a set of standards and rules to follow, however, there is always a slight grey area, as a result in the GIA lab, more than one GIA Gemologists need to agree in the grading of a diamond to reach a consensus. I looked at the two grading reports.  The reason the the one diamond is graded a VS2 is due to the feather inclusion. The feather is a break in the diamond. When a diamond is graded for clarity, the GIA Gemologist takes into consideration the degree of the inclusion, the location, the size and the relief (meaning the color). As for twinning wisps… think of these as “stretch marks” in a diamond! They are thin and wispy and clear/ white in color. Too many twinning wisps, however, can make a diamond appear hazy and less bright…. it's like a veil has been placed over the diamond! But this is something to only be concerned about in lower clarity grades like SI2. I hope this helps!

 

| Anonymous Reader

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Thanks very much Sebastian, if you could choose one of the two stones for your finance's engagement ring, which one would it be, if you don't mind me asking?

 

Your Diamond Teacher |

Just based on the specifications, I would choose the diamond that has the higher clarity grade and color.

 

| Anonymous Reader

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Thank you, Sebastian!