Cavity (6.20)
As the name describes, a cavity is an indentation in a stone’s surface. Cavities can occur anywhere on a diamond, including the crown, pavilion or girdle, and can affect clarity just as an enclosed inclusion would. A cavity would have a somewhat more negative effect on the stone’s overall value, since the cavity can turn dark with everyday wear due to trapped oils and dirt. (Small cavities are usually more acceptable and salable.) When a cutter runs into an included crystal or feather, a piece or perhaps the entire inclusion may fall out, leaving behind a cavity. If you see this on a diamond, the cutter obviously decided to leave the cavity instead of removing it. Value is the key consideration when making a decision that involves weight loss. Serious weight loss may result in chasing an inclusion or even a small to medium-size surface cavity. Most of the time it is best to opt for weight retention and settle for a lower clarity grade.
Sometimes a cavity can result from normal everyday wear. If a diamond has an inclusion extending from the surface into the stone, a sharp blow can dislodge it, leaving a cavity. If the inclusion lies just below the surface and next to a fragile area such as an extremely thin girdle, it is also very possible for the area to break away, again leaving a cavity.
Many times a cavity will fill in with oil and dirt, thus acquiring a darkish color, which can easily be removed with a strong acid boil (as discussed later). A dealer may look at the cavity, thinking it is a much worse inclusion than does a more knowledgeable buyer who buys the stone and boils it, revealing only a small cavity that is difficult to detect under 10x. On the other hand, there can easily be dark crystals hidden behind the cavity, which all the boiling in the world won’t cure. The idea is to look closely at all possible angles with your loupe, trying to determine the depth and Cavity (6.20)
As the name describes, a cavity is an indentation in a stone’s surface. Cavities can occur anywhere on a diamond, including the crown, pavilion or girdle, and can affect clarity just as an enclosed inclusion would. A cavity would have a somewhat more negative effect on the stone’s overall value, since the cavity can turn dark with everyday wear due to trapped oils and dirt. (Small cavities are usually more acceptable and salable.) When a cutter runs into an included crystal or feather, a piece or perhaps the entire inclusion may fall out, leaving behind a cavity. If you see this on a diamond, the cutter obviously decided to leave the cavity instead of removing it. Value is the key consideration when making a decision that involves weight loss. Serious weight loss may result in chasing an inclusion or even a small to medium-size surface cavity. Most of the time it is best to opt for weight retention and settle for a lower clarity grade.
Sometimes a cavity can result from normal everyday wear. If a diamond has an inclusion extending from the surface into the stone, a sharp blow can dislodge it, leaving a cavity. If the inclusion lies just below the surface and next to a fragile area such as an extremely thin girdle, it is also very possible for the area to break away, again leaving a cavity.
Many times a cavity will fill in with oil and dirt, thus acquiring a darkish color, which can easily be removed with a strong acid boil (as discussed later). A dealer may look at the cavity, thinking it is a much worse inclusion than does a more knowledgeable buyer who buys the stone and boils it, revealing only a small cavity that is difficult to detect under 10x. On the other hand, there can easily be dark crystals hidden behind the cavity, which all the boiling in the world won’t cure. The idea is to look closely at all possible angles with your loupe, trying to determine the depth and surface size of a cavity before commiting to an offer on the diamond. In doing this, you will often discover that the cavity is easily removed, whereas the owner of the stone either doesn’t want to deal with it or is unaware of its potential.
