Post # 1
Member
1122 posts
Bumble bee
So, I sent my ring in to Kays to have the center stone replaced because it had a massive crack in it that looked that 1/4 of the stone was just going to fall off any second. I, of course, questioned the quality of their products, and was told by customer care that sometimes diamonds just crack. Really? Because I have worn diamond and even gemstone jewelry my entire life and have never once had a stone crack or chip! I wear diamond earrings 24/7 for the last several years and they still look perfect. So is what they said true? Because I was under the inpression that diamonds were hard enough to make it through daily wear with no issues. I want to be able to wear my ring, and not have to be worried that it will be sitting in a box somewhere because I am too afraid to wear it because it may break again and have to be sent off for another month to have the stone replaced!
Post # 2
Member
2843 posts
Sugar bee
Diamonds are very hard. They are used to cut things in inductrial settings. I chipped a tanzanite once, but they are pretty soft….
Post # 3
Member
398 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: December 2014 - Norton Country Club
I was engaged 9 years ago and my then-fiance’s family gave us his great grandmother’s heirloom ring. This ring was about 90 years old and beautiful! Unfortunately, about a week after wearing it, I saw the crack. I was told it was because the setting was not done well and put too much pressure on the flat faces of the ring instead of the points of the diamond. Based on that, I could not find a jeweler who would replace the stone in that setting without modifying it first.
It does happen, I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. If it continues to be an issue after this, I’d consider modifying your setting.
Post # 4
Member
407 posts
Helper bee
ChellFish22: I read on your other post that your crack was an inclusion that spread. Once I thought I cracked my diamond so I did a lot of research and apparently a heavily included diamond is more likely to crack than one that is not. Inclusions make the diamonds weak at some points and if dropped in the right way, they can spread. Or something alone those lines Lol. If you end up getting a new diamond try to get one with minimal inclusions, or at least the type of inclusions that don’t affect the stability of the ring. I think feathers are quite detrimental from memory.
Post # 5
Member
1122 posts
Bumble bee
Baybeejulia: They are replacing it with a stone of the same clarity. I think it was an SI1 or something like that. It only had one small feathery inclusion, which they told me was good. I didnt realize that those were the ones that would cause the stone to crack. Since they are putting in something with the same grade, I dont know what ill get. Hopefully something that is still as clear, as that one only had the one mark that was visible even under a microscope.
Post # 6
Member
1210 posts
Bumble bee
Diamonds can chip/crack. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale, which many people equate to being indestructable. However, that scale just measures the ability to scratch or be scratched by other substances.
If you hit you diamond in the right place hard enough or if you drop it on a hard surface, you definitely can chip or break it.
Post # 7
Member
1122 posts
Bumble bee
So after a little more googling on the subject it seems like when they say it has a “feather” it basically has a small crack already in the stone. Am I figuring this right? Why would they sell stones that are already cracked and that will more than likely crack further? I always hated big black spots in stones, but id almost prefer a nasty black mark over a broken diamond!
Post # 8
Member
1119 posts
Bumble bee
Diamonds aren’t easy to scratch (though the whole myth about glass not being able to cut a diamond isn’t entirely true), but they are rather brittle and can rather easily be cracked, chipped, or even just plain broken depending on inclusions and where the diamond suffers the impact. They’re tough, but they’re not indestructable.
Post # 9
Member
3679 posts
Sugar bee
I thought that your previous stone was uncertified? If it didn’t come with paperwork from GIA, AGS (or even somewhere like EGL or IGI which aren’t as accurate of labs), the “grade” the store is telling you is one they’re estimating themselves. More heavily included stones are more likely to have durability issues. “Feather” is a nice word for crack, and if a stone has a big feather, a well-placed smack to the stone can crack it right in half. Earrings aren’t as big a deal, because how often are you hitting your earlobes on the edge of a desk, on a car door, or on a concrete wall?
Post # 10
Member
3229 posts
Sugar bee
Yes diamonds can and do crack. If you hit them just right things can happen. I cracked a side diamond in my halo yet my center stone (an asha) was 100% OK. The side stone was replaced but you always have to be careful with fine jewelry.
Post # 11
Member
978 posts
Busy bee
I know diamonds are very hard to crack, but if you hit it just right (esp on an inclusion) they can crack. It’s not super often, but it does happen. I totally understand you being weary with Kay’s though.
After your ring comes back maybe you should consider getting it insured seperately (you may have idk). I pay $30/ year through Jewelers Mutual and it covers theft,loss,damage and mysterious dissapearence, with 0 deductible. Then you wouldnt have to screw with Kay’s if you don’t want too.
Post # 12
Member
978 posts
Busy bee
I have heard that by law a jeweler can claim a diamond is 1 grade away from what it really is. Anyone know if thats true??
Post # 13
Member
1081 posts
Bumble bee
Post # 14
Member
1122 posts
Bumble bee
cmbr: Thats true, it is not certified. I know that the grade is just the store saying thats what it is. The broekn stone was beautiful! It had only the one feather that was on the side and not even noticable. I just dont want to get sonething that they say is also an “si1” that is full of inclusions. I just thought it was odd that even my genstone jewelery (some much larger than my engagement ring) has never had a scratch or a chip or anything, and many of the pieces I wore daily for years.
msformaldehyde: Thats crazy if it is true! Now I know that diamonds crack. Weird. I knew they werent completely indestructable, but I sort of figured you had to be pretty brutal with them for them to break. It is insured, ill have to look into if it covers broken stones with no deductable. I was under the inpression it was only covered for loss or theft, but maybe it is covered for if it breaks. That would be nice. Hopefully it comes back from kays and never breaks again though! Lol
Post # 15
Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
ChellFish22: Slightly off-topic. I’m not a fan of SI grades. They’re supposed to be eye clean, but some inclusions can easily be seen with the naked eye. Apparently, they’re graded from a top view; looking at it from any angle not directly above (looking down) may reveal visible inclusions.
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This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Legion.