Carbon Flaw - Appearance

Appearance

Carbon flaws can come in many different appearances. They can range in size from specks so small they can barely be seen with the a magnifying glass to spots and clusters clearly visible to the naked eye. A carbon flaw can appear as a sharply defined spot or as an amorphous cloud, like a shadow in the stone.

The appearance of a spot usually indicates an inclusion of uncrystallized carbon, whereas a cloudy carbon flaw is indicative of improper or irregular crystallization. Carbon flaws can also appear as small, fuzzy dots, somewhere between a speck and a cloud. Another common carbon flaw appears as a black shard or needle through the stone.

These flaws are regarded as undesirable in any stone, though the appearance of carbon flaws is more notable in white stones. The presence of these flaws can severely impact the value of the stone, despite it's carat weight. Most flaws that do not effect the clarity or brilliancy of the diamond are usually seen as ugly and will drive buyers away from a stone. The flaws that do effect brilliancy make it hard to sell a stone at any price.