Step 2: Assessing the Condition of the Diamond

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man, so generally they are still in good condition even after they have been worn in jewelry. However, this is not always the case. Diamonds have four directions in which they will easily cleave (break) and cutters actually use this property to help cut the diamond crystals.

It can be the case that the diamond could have been damaged during the process of being set into an item of jewelry, and sometimes even the setting itself can put a lot of pressure on a diamond. Unfortunately a slight knock in the wrong place can cause a diamond to split, this often happens to the corners of princess cuts, and the culet (the point at the bottom of the diamond). If the diamond is damaged our experts will decide how much weight it may lose when we re-cut back to its perfect proportions and will then value it accordingly.