Diamond Polish

What Is Diamond Polish?

Diamond polish is a crucial factor in determining a diamond's brilliance and overall appearance. The quality of a diamond's polish affects how well light can pass through the stone, influencing its sparkle and visual appeal. When selecting a diamond, it is essential to choose one with a polish grade of Good, Very Good, or Excellent, as certified by a reputable laboratory.
Diamonds with poor polish may have microscopic polish lines that blur the surface, reducing the amount of light that enters and exits the diamond, thus diminishing its brilliance. Some diamonds suffer from poor polish because diamond cutters may reduce costs by not spending enough time on proper polishing.

How Is Polish Graded?

Polish is graded similarly to symmetry, with specific grades assigned by gemological laboratories such as GIA, AGS, and IGI. The grades include:

EX or E (Excellent): Flawless at 10X magnification
VG or VGD (Very Good): Extremely difficult to locate flaws under 10X magnification
GD, GO, G (Good): Very difficult to see flaws under 10X magnification
F, FR, FA (Fair): Noticeable under 10X magnification
PR, PO, P (Poor): Easy to see flaws under 10X magnification / Visible to the unaided eye
VP, VE (Very Poor): Relatively easy to see flaws with the unaided eye
EX or EP (Extremely Poor): Obvious flaws visible to the unaided eye

While there may be minimal differences between these ratings to the unaided eye, a diamond with a Good polish grade can still be a remarkable stone. The distinctions between these ratings become more apparent under magnification. However, polish rated as Fair (FR) or Poor (PR) indicates that the polish flaws are visible to the naked eye, affecting the diamond's overall beauty.

Important Considerations for All Jewelry

In addition to diamond polish, it's vital to ensure that all pieces of jewelry do not have a porosity problem or rough spots in the metal. Porosity refers to tiny surface holes that worsen as they penetrate deeper into the metal. This issue is often a result of mass production with poor quality control and can make a piece of jewelry weak and non-repairable. Jewelry with porosity will eventually deteriorate and break down, compromising its structural integrity and beauty.

Whether you're selecting a ring, necklace, bracelet, or any other piece of diamond jewelry, understanding the importance of diamond polish and ensuring high-quality craftsmanship will help you choose pieces that maintain their brilliance and durability for a lifetime.