Diamonds are celebrated for their strength and durability, symbolizing lasting beauty and resilience. However, they aren’t indestructible. While diamonds rank a solid 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them incredibly resistant to scratches, they can still chip or break under certain conditions. If you’re concerned about keeping your diamond in perfect condition, here’s a closer look at how chips occur, what you can do to prevent them, and the best options if damage does happen.
Why Do Diamonds Chip or Break?
Diamonds are exceptionally hard, but their crystalline structure includes tiny planes of weakness, known as “cleavage planes.” Under the right amount of force, especially at certain angles, these planes can give way, resulting in chips or breaks. Here are some common scenarios where diamonds can be susceptible to damage:
- Hard Impacts: Knocks against surfaces like stone countertops or metal objects can cause a diamond to chip, especially along its edges or corners.
- Sharp Blows: Sudden, concentrated pressure, such as dropping a diamond on a hard floor, can impact its structure.
- Vulnerable Settings: Diamonds set in prong settings or with exposed edges are more prone to chips if they experience an impact.
Even though diamonds are resilient to everyday wear, understanding these potential risks is essential for keeping them intact.
Preventive Tips for Diamond Care
Although no diamond is entirely immune to chips, a few simple habits can help reduce the chances of damage:
- Choose a Durable Setting: Opt for settings that encase the diamond edges or cover vulnerable points. Bezel settings, for instance, offer more coverage than prong settings.
- Remove Jewelry During High-Impact Activities: Avoid wearing your diamond jewelry when engaging in sports, heavy lifting, or tasks where accidental impacts may occur.
- Schedule Regular Inspections: At Creekside Jewelers, we recommend periodic inspections to check the security of your diamond setting. Loose prongs or weakened settings can increase the risk of chipping.
What to Do If Your Diamond Chips
Despite the best precautions, chips can occur, and knowing how to handle them can make a difference in restoring and preserving your diamond. At Creekside Jewelers, we offer multiple solutions to ensure your diamond retains its brilliance and value.
1. Polishing the Diamond: Restoring Surface Flaws
For small chips or nicks, polishing can often resolve the issue. Polishing involves removing a very fine layer of the diamond’s surface, which helps smooth out imperfections while keeping the stone’s original shape and weight largely intact.
- When It’s Suitable: Polishing works well for minimal surface-level damage. It’s a less invasive solution that doesn’t require re-cutting the stone, preserving its carat weight.
- How It Helps: Polishing removes shallow chips and nicks, restoring the diamond’s smooth finish and preserving its natural sparkle.
- Outcome: With polishing, your diamond can regain its flawless appearance without substantial alteration to its shape or size.
2. Re-Cutting the Diamond: Repairing Significant Chips
If the chip is more visible or located along a critical area of the diamond, re-cutting may be the preferred approach. Re-cutting removes the damaged area and reshapes the diamond to restore its symmetry and brilliance.
- When It’s Needed: For larger chips or deeper fractures, re-cutting can be the best option. This approach helps restore the diamond’s original beauty, although it may reduce carat weight slightly.
- Benefits: Re-cutting ensures that the diamond’s symmetry and light reflection are preserved. Skilled re-cutting can result in a more brilliant appearance, enhancing the stone’s beauty despite a minor weight reduction.
- Professional Guidance: At Creekside Jewelers, our experts carefully evaluate the structure and cut of your diamond to determine the best possible outcome, maintaining as much of the original stone as feasible.
3. Resetting for Extra Protection: Shielding Against Future Damage
For diamonds with chips or those prone to future damage, resetting can provide added protection. This approach involves placing the diamond in a setting that safeguards its edges and corners, reducing exposure to accidental knocks.
- Why It’s Effective: Protective settings, such as bezel or halo settings, encase the diamond, minimizing direct impact to vulnerable areas. By surrounding the diamond with metal, these settings help reduce the risk of future chips.
- Options for New Designs: If you’re open to re-imagining your jewelry piece, resetting also provides an opportunity to customize your diamond with a fresh look that offers both protection and style.
- Long-Term Benefit: A protective setting not only preserves the integrity of the diamond but also ensures that it remains a wearable and secure piece for everyday life.
When to Seek Professional Advice
If you notice a chip on your diamond, it’s best to have it assessed by a professional jeweler who can provide guidance on the extent of the damage and the best course of action. Each diamond is unique, and understanding the nature of the chip—its size, location, and impact on the diamond’s structure—can help in making the right decision for repair.
Our team at Creekside Jewelers is experienced in all aspects of diamond care, from polishing to re-cutting and resetting. We can help you explore the best options to restore and protect your diamond, ensuring it remains a cherished piece for generations.
Trust Creekside Jewelers with Your Diamond Care
Since 1902, Creekside Jewelers has been Colorado’s trusted family-owned jewelry store, known for our expert craftsmanship and dedicated customer service. If you have questions about protecting or repairing your diamond, we invite you to visit us. Our team is here to help you keep your jewelry as beautiful and resilient as the memories it represents.
