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52-519: The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is a 31.06-carat (6.212 g) deep-blue diamond with internally flawless clarity , originating in the Kollur Mine , India . Laurence Graff purchased the Wittelsbach Diamond in 2008 for £ 16.4 million. In 2010, Graff revealed he had had the diamond cut by three diamond cutters to remove flaws. The diamond was now more than 4 carats (800 mg) lighter and

104-470: A Leonardo da Vinci with a tear in it and covered in mud, you would want to repair it. We have similarly cleaned up the diamond and repaired damage caused over the years. Immediately following the sale in 2008, Graff announced his intention to recut the gem to remove damage to the girdle and enhance the colour. On 7 January 2010, it was reported that the diamond had been recut to enhance the stone's colour and clarity, losing over 4.45 carats (890 mg) in

156-511: A binocular stereo microscope equipped with adjustable zoom magnification and darkfield illumination. The IDC or the International Diamond Council uses a very similar standard to CIBJO. IDC loupe clean stones that have external blemishes have notations made on the grading report. IDC clarity grading is by examination using a 10× achromatic, aplanatic loupe in normal light. The European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) introduced

208-406: A characteristic lies within the stone, on the stones surface, or both. If the grader is using a stereo microscope, they may zoom in to a higher magnification to make closer observations of an inclusion, but then return to 10× magnification to make an assessment of its impact on the clarity grade. If a stereo binocular microscope has been used, a final assessment using a 10× loupe is performed before

260-435: A diamond may be classified as a(n): bruise, cavity, chip, cleavage, cloud, crystal, feather, grain center, indented natural, internal graining, knot, laser drill hole, needle, pinpoint, or twinning wisp. An external characteristic of a diamond may be classified as a(n): abrasion, natural, nick, pit, polish lines, polish mark, scratch, surface graining, or extra facet. The nature will also determine whether an inclusion poses

312-535: A diamond's clarity to varying degrees. Features resulting from diamond enhancement procedures, such as laser lines, are also considered inclusions or blemishes. In 1952, Richard T. Liddicoat , along with Marquis Person , Joe Phillips, Robert Crowningshield and Bert Krashes began to work on a new diamond grading system which they called the "diamond grading and evaluation appraisal". In 1953, they released their new system which assessed three aspects of diamonds; make, color and clarity. They took terminology used in

364-703: A diamond's resistance to fracture. Diamonds with higher clarity grades are more valued, with the exceedingly rare "Flawless" graded diamond fetching the highest price. Minor inclusions or blemishes are useful, as they can be used as unique identifying marks analogous to fingerprints . In addition, as synthetic diamond technology improves and distinguishing between natural and synthetic diamonds becomes more difficult, inclusions or blemishes can be used as proof of natural origin. Heavily included diamonds used to be solely for industrial use. In recent years, salt and pepper diamonds have gained increasing popularity. There are several types of inclusions and blemishes, which affect

416-439: A flash of color, commonly orange or pink, when viewed closely. There is a significant price discount for fracture-filled diamonds. The GIA will not grade fracture-filled diamonds, in part because the treatment is not as permanent as the diamond itself. Reputable companies often provide for repeat treatments if heat causes damage to the filling. The heat required to cause damage is that of a blowtorch used to work on settings, and it

468-399: A gemstone; the other 80% are relegated to industrial use. Of that top 20%, a significant portion contains an inclusion or inclusions that are visible to the naked eye upon close inspection. Those that do not have a visible inclusion when the gem is examined approximately 6 inches from the naked eye are known as "eye-clean", although visible inclusions can sometimes be hidden under the setting in

520-470: A laser to burn a hole to a colored inclusion, followed by acid washing to remove the coloring agent. The clarity grade is the grade after the treatment. The treatment is considered permanent. Clarity can also be "enhanced" by filling the fracture much like a car windshield crack can be treated. Such diamonds are sometimes called " fracture filled diamonds". Reputable vendors must disclose this filling and reputable filling companies use filling agents which show

572-409: A light source in such a way that the base of the stone is lit from the side, and the crown of the stone is shielded from the light. After thoroughly cleaning the diamond, the diamond is picked up using tweezers in a girdle-to-girdle hold. The grader views the diamond for the first time through the table, studying the culet area of the stone for inclusions. The diamond is then set down and picked up with

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624-411: A mineral as it formed. They may be crystals of a foreign material or even another diamond crystal, or may have produced structural imperfections, such as tiny cracks that make a diamond appear whitish or cloudy. The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. A clarity grade is assigned based on the overall appearance of

676-547: A number scale between 0 and 10. These numbers grades correlate almost exactly with the GIA system, but with some differences. The flawless and internally flawless (0) grades are grouped together with notation defining whether the stone is free from external blemishes, the VVS through SI grades are numbered 1 through 6, and then there are four grades 7 through 10 for the included category. Clarity grading by AGS standards requires examination using

728-470: A piece of jewelry. The most expensive gem diamonds fall within the VS and SI grades with FL, IF, and even VVS stones commanding significant premiums. FL and IF stones are sometimes referred to as "museum quality" or "investment grade" to denote their rarity although the term "investment grade" is misleading as diamonds have historically been illiquid and questionable stores of value. Laser "drilling" involves using

780-668: A result of the recut, which removed some chips and reduced the size of the culet by 40%, the gem has been re-evaluated by the Gemological Institute of America and its colour grade revised from "fancy deep grayish-blue", the same grade given by GIA to The Hope, to the more desirable "fancy deep blue". The diamond's clarity had also been revised upward from "very slightly included" (VS1) to "internally flawless" (IF). [REDACTED] Media related to Wittelsbach Graff Diamond at Wikimedia Commons Diamond clarity Inclusions are solids, liquids, or gases that were trapped in

832-439: A risk to the stone. An inclusion that may cause a break in the crystal structure (included crystal, feather, knot, and cleavage) may, depending on its position, pose a moderate level of risk for further breakage. The fifth clarity factor which is assessed is the color and relief of clarity characteristics. Characteristics that contrast with the surrounding diamond are said to have "relief". The degree to which this color and relief

884-482: A story to tell. Just because we can't decipher these stories doesn't mean they don't exist." The alteration of the historical stone has been compared by Professor Hans Ottomeyer, director of the Deutsches Historisches Museum of Berlin, to the overpainting of a painting by Rembrandt. It is opined that the recutting was done to increase its market value and, by extension, that of other "fancy diamonds". As

936-457: Is assessed is a characteristic's nature. The characteristic's nature determines whether it is internal (extending into the stone) or external (limited to the surface of the stone). Internal characteristics automatically exclude the diamond from the Flawless , and Internally Flawless categories. External characteristics exclude the diamond from the Flawless category. An internal characteristic of

988-423: Is essential to inform anyone working on a setting if the diamond is fracture-filled, so they can apply cooling agents to the diamond and use greater care while working on it. GIA, as a matter of policy, does not grade clarity-enhanced diamonds but it will grade laser-drilled diamonds since it considers the enhancement to be permanent in nature. If a GIA report has the words "clarity enhanced" or "fracture filled", it

1040-415: Is noticeable affects the clarity grade of the diamond. Colored inclusions invariably show contrast and are more easily seen. An exception is a black pinpoint inclusion, which is often more difficult to see than a white pinpoint. Diamonds become increasingly rare as clarity increases. Only about 20% of all diamonds mined have a clarity rating high enough for the diamond to be considered appropriate for use as

1092-427: Is performed under 10× magnification with darkfield illumination. The GIA Laboratory uses as standard equipment binocular stereo microscopes which are able to zoom to higher magnifications. These microscopes are equipped with darkfield illumination, as well as an ultraviolet filtered overhead light. When grading is performed using a 10× handheld loupe, darkfield illumination is more difficult to achieve. The grader must use

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1144-511: Is surely a counterfeit report. Gabriel Tolkowsky Gabriel S. Tolkowsky (15 September 1939 – 28 May 2023) was a Belgian-Israeli diamond cutter, best known for cutting the Centenary Diamond . He was the great nephew of Marcel Tolkowsky , father of the modern round brilliant diamond cut. He is the sixth generation in his family to become well-known in the diamond cutting trade. Gabriel's great-grandfather, Abraham Tolkowsky,

1196-688: The American Gemological Society (AGS), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). There are other smaller labs which use the GIA system as well. These grading agencies base their clarity grades on the characteristics of inclusions visible to a trained professional when a diamond is viewed from above under 10× magnification . The World Jewellery Confederation developed the International Clarity Scale for grading diamonds. This clarity scale mirrors

1248-515: The Bavarian Crown jewels . Its colour and clarity had been compared to the Hope Diamond . The diamond had measured 24.40 millimetres (0.961 in) in diameter and 8.29 millimetres (0.326 in) in depth. It had 82 facets arranged in an atypical pattern. The star facets on the crown were vertically split, and the pavilion had sixteen needle-like facets arranged in pairs, pointing outward from

1300-631: The Cullinan Diamond . The diamond was a 755.50-carat (151.100 g) rough stone. It presents 148 facets, has a yellow-brown color intensified by the brilliant cushion cut. The Golden Jubilee was chosen as a gift to the King of Thailand to celebrate his fifty years on the throne. Drawing from techniques learned during the polishing of the Centenary and the Golden Jubilee diamonds, and from his experience with

1352-694: The Habsburg family and came to Munich when, in 1722, Maria Amalia married Karl of Bavaria , a member of the Wittelsbach family . In 1745, the Wittelsbach Diamond was first mounted on the Bavarian Elector's Order of the Golden Fleece . When Maximilian IV Joseph von Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806, he commissioned a royal crown that prominently displayed the diamond. Until 1918,

1404-470: The Internally Flawless grade was added, as GIA noticed that many diamonds were being aggressively cut to remove any surface blemishes, and thereby reducing the cutting quality ("make") of the diamonds. The Internally Flawless grade gave diamond manufacturers a choice to leave blemishes on the surface of the stone, and achieve a grade higher than VVS 1 . The second change made to the grading system

1456-559: The culet facet. The diamond originates from the Kollur mines of Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh , India . The story that King Felipe IV of Castile purchased the jewel and included it in the dowry of his teenage daughter, Margaret Teresa , in 1664 is apocryphal. The first time the diamond was mentioned is about fifty years later when it was already in Vienna . It was in the possession of

1508-600: The "Flower Cuts", Gabi created the Gabrielle Diamond, the world's first triple brilliant cut diamond. The Gabrielle Diamond in the Round shape consists of 105 facets, 48 facets more than the Classic Round Brilliant cut (with additional eight crown facets and forty pavilion facets). The Gabrielle Diamond was shown by a Light Study to exhibit 200% more scintillation than an excellent-cut classic brilliant diamond, and at

1560-862: The Antwerp Diamond Exchange. Following the First World War , the family sought refuge in England and the Far East. Marcel Tolkowsky, the grandson of Israel (Isidore), introduced the Ideal Cut diamond, a benchmark that remains prominent in the industry today. Gabriel Tolkowsky began training with his father Jean in 1956. He acted as the Managing Director and Chairman of Diatrada, N.V., a division of De Beers for over 20 years and continued as their Worldwide Consultant beginning in 1995. In 1988, Tolkowsky

1612-443: The GIA grading scale, except nomenclature varies. The system names these clarity grades; Loupe Clean, Very, very small inclusions (VVS1 and VVS2), Very small inclusions (VS1 and VS2), Small inclusions (SI1 and SI2), Piqué (P1, P2, and P3; from a French word meaning "blemished"). Clarity grading by WJC standards is by examination using a 10× achromatic , aplanatic loupe in normal light. The American Gem Society grades clarity on

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1664-450: The SI3 as a clarity grade. While intended as a range to include borderline SI2 / I1 stones, it is now commonly used to mean I1's which are nearly "eye clean", that is, which have inclusions which are not obviously visible to the naked eye. Because GIA and EGL use the same nomenclature, but apply the standards differently, purchasers of diamonds can be easily confused or mislead. All grades reflect

1716-450: The actual number of characteristics. The third clarity factor which is assessed is the characteristic's position. When an inclusion is directly under the table of the diamond it is most visible. An inclusion under the table and positioned close to a pavilion facet will reflect multiple times around the stone, giving this type of inclusion the name "reflector". Reflectors are graded as if each reflection were an inclusion (although in plotting

1768-425: The appearance to an experienced grader when viewed from above at 10× magnification, though higher magnifications and viewing from other angles are used during the grading process. The grader studies the diamond for internal characteristics and judges them on the basis of five clarity factors: size, number, position, nature, and color or relief. The clarity grade is assessed on the basis of the most noticeable inclusions,

1820-453: The diamond it is only plotted once). For this reason, reflectors have a greater impact on the clarity grade. Inclusions become less visible when they are positioned under the crown facets, or near the girdle of the stone. These inclusions may often be more easily seen from the pavilion side of the diamond than from crown side of the diamond. Additionally, the position of large feathers, knots and included crystals positioned where they extend to

1872-444: The diamond, but Komkommer recognised its historical significance and refused. Instead, he joined a group of dealers that bought it. The diamond had been in a private collection since 1964; Helmut Horten had presented it to his wife Heidi at their wedding. On 10 December 2008, the 35.56-carat (7.112 g) Wittelsbach Diamond was sold to London-based jeweller Laurence Graff for £16.4 million sterling, or US$ 23.4 million, at

1924-408: The final judgment is made on the clarity of the stone. The grader first decides the clarity category of the diamond: none (FL, or IF for a blemish), minute (VVS), minor (VS), noticeable (SI), or obvious (I). The decision is then made on the grade of the diamond. The clarity grading system developed by the GIA has been used throughout the industry as well as by other diamond grading agencies including

1976-468: The girdle or crown of the stone affect the clarity grade. Diamonds worn in jewelry typically will withstand breakage, however inclusions of this nature and in these positions can pose a risk for further extension of the break in the structure of the diamond. Inclusions that are judged to pose at least a moderate risk of breakage to the stone are graded in the Included category. The fourth clarity factor which

2028-404: The industry at the time and refined the definitions to produce a clarity scale by which diamonds could be consistently graded. The system at that time contained nine grades: Flawless, VVS 1 , VVS 2 , VS 1 , VS 2 , SI 1 , SI 2 , I 1 , and I 2 . The 'I' of the I 1 , and I 2 grades originally stood for "Imperfect". During the 1970s, two changes were made to the system. Firstly,

2080-681: The jewel remained on top of the Bavarian crown. It was seen last in public at Ludwig III of Bavaria 's funeral in 1921. The Wittelsbach family tried to sell the diamond in 1931 during the Great Depression but found no buyers. It eventually sold the jewel in 1951. In 1958, the stone was exhibited at the World Expo in Brussels . In the 1960s, the Goldmuntz family asked Joseph Komkommer, a jeweller, to re-cut

2132-537: The process. The resulting stone has been renamed the Wittelsbach-Graff. The move was met with heavy criticism by some experts: Gabriel Tolkowsky called it "the end of culture." Shortly after the auction of the diamond, American gem cutter and replicator of famous diamonds Scott Sucher stated, "In the case of the Wittelsbach, what's at stake is at minimum over 350 years of history, as every nick, chip, and scratch has

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2184-561: The same time exhibited significantly greater brilliance and fire. This was achieved by increasing the path of light through the diamond, so that the diamond appears to sparkle from all angles. Tolkowsky was interviewed in The Play of Light , a 2000 documentary film about the creation of a diamond from a rough stone, and in 2003 he was knighted by the Belgian government with the title of Chevalier de L'Ordre du Roi Leopold II , for his services to

2236-450: The setting. The first clarity factor which is assessed is a clarity characteristic's size. Larger characteristics are typically more noticeable under magnification, thereby placing the diamond into a lower clarity grade. The second clarity factor which is assessed is the number of clarity characteristics. Generally, the more characteristics, the lower the clarity grade. This assessment is made by judging how readily they can be seen, not by

2288-407: The so-called "grade setting inclusions". Less significant inclusions are ignored for the purposes of setting the grade; however, they may still be plotted onto a diamond plot chart. Accurate clarity grading as with other grading steps must be done with the diamond "loose", i.e. not set into any mounting. Inclusions are often difficult to see from the crown side of the diamond, and may be concealed by

2340-406: The stone under ten times magnification, which is the standard magnification for loupes used in the gem world. Most inclusions present in gem-quality diamonds do not affect the diamonds' performance or structural integrity and are not visible to the naked eyes. However, large clouds can affect a diamond's ability to transmit and scatter light. Large cracks close to or breaking the surface may reduce

2392-633: The time the highest price ever paid at auction for a diamond. (The previous record had been held by a pear-shaped 100-carat (20 g) stone named the Star of the Season .) The record was eclipsed on 16 November 2010, when a 24.78 carat pink diamond was sold for £29 million Sterling, or US$ 46 million, again to Mr. Graff. In June 2011, Graff apparently sold the diamond to the former emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa , for at least US$ 80 million. If you discovered

2444-468: The tweezers in a table-to-culet hold. In this position, the diamond can be studied from the pavilion side, and the crown side, examining the diamond through each facet for inclusions. Once a sector of the diamond has been thoroughly examined, the grader rotates the diamond in the tweezer, so that the neighboring sector can be examined. The grader uses darkfield lighting to reveal characteristics, and alternates to reflected, overhead lighting to ascertain whether

2496-513: Was born on June 5, 1838 in Russia. In the 1880s, he moved from Bialystok in Poland, to Antwerp , Belgium and started a successful career as a diamond merchant. He married Lifsche Moed, and inspired a number of their nine children to pursue careers in the diamond trade. Their son Moise or Maurice developed various methods for cutting round diamonds, and Samuel or Sam was appointed as the inaugural chairman of

2548-433: Was commissioned to act as master cutter for the 273.85 carats (54.770 g) Centenary Diamond . This diamond remained untouched for over a year while the correct tools and technical conditions were created by Gabi and his team. The gem was kerfed (hand cleaved) in order to avoid heat or vibration-related damage from using saws or lasers. In 1991, after working on the project for three years, Tolkowsky's Centenary Diamond

2600-560: Was officially completed, weighing 273.85 carats (54.770 g). It presented 247 facets and has been acknowledged as the largest, most color-perfect and flawless modern diamond cut in the world. During this time, Gabi Tolkowsky was again selected by the De Beers group in order to design and cut the Golden Jubilee Diamond . The Golden Jubilee is the largest faceted diamond in the world, weighing 545.67 carats (109.134 g), more than

2652-518: Was renamed the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond. There is controversy, as critics claim the recutting has so altered the diamond as to make it unrecognisable, compromising its historical integrity. The original Wittelsbach Diamond, also known as Der Blaue Wittelsbacher , was a 35.56-carat (7.112 g) fancy, deep, greyish-blue diamond with VS2 clarity that had been part of both the Austrian and

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2704-409: Was the introduction of the I 3 grade. This change was made in response to a growing number of diamonds of very low clarity being cut. The last change to the clarity grading system took place in the 1990s when the term "imperfect" was changed to "included". The GIA diamond grading scale is divided into six categories and eleven grades. The clarity categories and grades are: GIA clarity grading

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