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Consider the grain that passes through a piece of wood. It can be fine or coarse, barely perceptible or conspicuous, and even come in a variety of hues. Graining can also occur in diamonds. It is caused by atomic-level discontinuities in the carbon lattice. Graining can occasionally be noticeable and affect the clarity rating. Alternatively, it may be transparent with no effect whatsoever on the clarity rating. Here are several diamond graining concepts to be aware of.
Graining types
Colored (brown, green, and white) graining, reflecting graining, surface graining, and transparent interior graining are some of the several kinds of graining. Reflective and colored graining may affect the clarity grade and can detract from the diamond’s appearance. The report will include a comment if internal graining has an impact on the clarity rating. When surface graining appears, it will be reported in the comments. It can be mistaken for polish lines. A polish line will end at the junction since each facet is polished separately and in a single direction. The diamond’s surface graining will either shift direction within a single facet or cross over multiple facets. The clarity grade is unaffected by transparent graining.
Clarity and graining
The type of graining, its visibility, and if it affects the diamond’s overall transparency will determine whether it is regarded as a clarity factor. In a diamond, for instance, white graining can be so uniformly dispersed that it creates a general haze or cloudiness. With no additional characteristics or inclusions, this can lower the overall clarity grade to Si. The report might provide an explanation, such as “Clarity grade based on graining.”
Both colorful and reflective graining are regarded as clarity features, and their quantity and visibility have an effect on the clarity grade.
Surface graining may appear as if the facet has not been polished to a mirror finish. If this is severe enough, the diamond’s brilliance and overall crispness may be affected, leading to a fall in clarity.
The diamond may have transparent graining without compromising transparency or the clarity grade. Generally speaking, the report won’t address it.
Over the years, GIA’s reporting on graining has evolved and varied. Graining was initially not included in a diamond report and was not regarded as a clarity attribute. Occasionally, it was recorded in the grader’s file for internal identification. Transparency-affecting whitish graining would later be mentioned under comments. These days, the clarity rating takes into account white, colorful, or reflective graining, which is noted in the comments. for considered significant, transparent graining is noted in the comments but is not taken into account for determining the clarity grade.
Conclusion
Graining, like other features listed on a lab report, is primarily an identifying property that contributes to the diamond’s distinct “fingerprint.” Certain characteristics, including colorful or reflective graining, do affect the diamond’s appearance and are taken into account when determining the clarity grade. It will affect light performance and/or visibility in proportion to the grade. Transparent graining typically has little effect and isn’t always noticeable when magnified from most angles. Transparent graining may technically be visible under magnification in certain situations (which are somewhat common), even if the laboratory report makes no mention of it.
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