What Is A Feather Inclusion?

Diamonds are one of the precious stones on earth. It is also the world’s strongest natural substance. Many people are interested in diamonds because of their beauty, hardness, and durability.

But there is more to these precious stones than beauty; one of them is the inclusions in a diamond. There are different types of inclusions such as; cloud, cavity, chip, crystal, graining, and feather.

In this blog post, we will focus more on feather inclusion and all there is to know about it.

What Is An Inclusion In A Diamond?

An inclusion is any material that has made its way into a diamond.  They are formed when a diamond crystal grows.

As the rough diamond crystallizes, foreign materials such as a small piece of another mineral or even an organic matter may enter into its interior and become enclosed within it.

Inclusions are usually very tiny and can only be seen with the help of a microscope. 

What Is A Feather Inclusion In A Diamond?

Feather Inclusions are a unique and rare type of inclusion that is usually only seen in very high-quality diamonds.

A feather inclusion is a type of diamond that has inclusions made up of “feather-like” features.  They’re typically only seen at 10x magnification.  However, to be visible without magnification, the feather should be at least two to five or more mm long.  Since they’re one of the most eye-catching diamond inclusions, many people save them as reminders of their diamonds.

What Causes Feather Inclusion?

Feathers typically occur when carbon crystals grow inside diamonds and are common in stones with high clarity grades. The feathers can be caused by fractures that occurred while the diamond was forming, or during polishing and cutting later on.

The Importance Of Feathers Inclusions

Feathers are one of the most prized and beautiful types of inclusion in a diamond. They’re often left as reminders that despite their differences, diamonds can be surprisingly fragile and delicate inside.

What Is A Feather-Filled Diamond?

Feather-filled diamonds are diamonds that include one or more feathers. These types of inclusions can be seen without magnification and make the diamond appear blurry. Diamonds with these kinds of inclusions may still have significant value, depending on how visible they are and other aspects such as color and cut. 

How Do You Know If Your Diamond Has A Feather Inclusion?

Inclusions are difficult for the untrained eye to identify and unless you have access to a microscope or another form of magnification device, there’s no way for you to know whether yours includes feathers without sending them away for testing. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask an expert at a reputable jeweler or retailer before purchasing the diamond. 

Does Feather Inclusion Affect The Brilliance?

Feathers are usually visible when seen under magnification, but if they’re small enough and aren’t cut in the wrong direction then a feather won’t impact your diamond’s sparkle. Instead, it’ll only make the stone look blurry or distorted from certain angles. However, bigger feathers can affect brilliance because there will be more of a visible gap between the diamond and its facets.

Will Feather Inclusion Affect A Diamond’s Durability?

Feathers, if they’re small enough and aren’t cut in the wrong direction then won’t impact your diamond’s durability. However, bigger feathers can affect its integrity depending on how well it was set into place. As with any other type of inclusion, a feather isn’t likely to cause you any problems unless there are many visible cracks.

Does Feather Inclusion Affect Clarity?

The answer is no. This is because it can easily be covered up by the setting. If they’re small enough and aren’t cut in the wrong direction then a feather won’t impact your diamond’s clarity. However bigger feathers can affect its clarity depending on how well they were set into place. As with any other type of inclusion, a feather isn’t likely to cause you any problems unless there are many visible cracks.

Does The Size Of The Feather Inclusion Affect The Diamond?

The size of a feather inclusion does not affect the diamond as long as it is not large enough to interfere with clarity. The larger the feathers, however, the more difficult they are going to be for you and other people looking at your diamond.

Does The Location Of The Inclusion Affect The Diamond?

The location of the feather inclusions does not affect the diamond. Instead, it is how visible they are that makes a difference to their value. If you cannot see them without magnification equipment (i.e., microscope), then there isn’t much point in worrying about them.

Is A Feather Inclusion Bad For Diamonds?

Feathers are typically much smaller than other types of inclusions and do not affect the durability or structure of diamonds. They will not damage your diamond under normal circumstances, so there’s no need to worry about them hurting it. 

However, if you’re looking for an investment-grade diamond; one that is worth a lot but has few imperfections, feathers may make it difficult to find one. Large feathers can be detrimental to the clarity grade of a diamond and may affect its value.

What Should I Do If My Diamond Has A Feather?

If you find that your diamond includes feathers, there’s no need to worry. Not only are they common in diamonds, but they don’t usually affect the diamond at all and can sometimes even enhance its beauty!

Can You Remove A Feather Inclusion?

Feathers are difficult to remove because they’re so tiny and well set into place. Because of this, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to get rid of them yourself unless you take your diamond to a professional who will do the work for you. However, there is no guarantee that removing feathers won’t damage other parts of your diamond, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons before deciding.

If I Have Feather Inclusion Will My Jeweler Tell Me?

It’s important to remember that even if your diamond has feathers, it is still beautiful! Your jeweler will likely make sure you are aware of them before purchasing the diamond, but they won’t be able to tell you how visible or noticeable they are. This means that someone looking at your finished ring may not see them without magnification, so you don’t have to worry about them being a deal-breaker.

What Are Some Tips For Finding A Feather-Free Diamond?

As mentioned above, diamonds with obvious feathers may still have significant value depending on their other aspects such as color and cut. However, if you’re looking to buy an expensive stone then checking for inclusions is a good idea. There are some things you can do to help yourself before purchasing a diamond.

• Avoid buying diamonds online unless the seller offers third-party certificates for every stone they sell on their website, along with hundreds of customer reviews that will confirm its authenticity and quality. 
• Ask for images of your diamond under magnification or take it into an expert jeweler yourself so that you can get the peace of mind that it’s perfect. 
• Avoid buying diamonds in big chain stores as these are often not genuine and may not be ethically sourced. 
• Consider buying from a smaller, more experienced jeweler that will guarantee the quality of your diamond and provide excellent customer service throughout your shopping experience. 

By following these tips, you can find diamonds with high value for less money than bigger stores offer, which is great if you’re looking to buy an expensive stone without spending much.

Conclusion

Feathers are one of the most sought-after types of inclusion in a diamond. They’re often left as reminders that despite their differences, diamonds can be surprisingly fragile and delicate inside. Although they won’t damage your diamond under normal circumstances, larger feathers may decrease its value depending on how visible they are to buyers. If you find that your stone includes feathers, there’s no need to worry as all diamonds have them and they don’t usually affect it at all.