Hi All:
We are beginning to see Oved clarity enhanced diamonds in our repair
business. The necessity of retipping on these stones will rear its
ugly head soon enough. I am certain that they can’t be torch
retipped, but I’m wondering if anyone of you have had experience
(good or bad) retipping these stones with a laser welder.
Thanks, Kevin
I had the joyful experience of using a laser for about 8 months last
year. If the beam strikes any stone its going to do something, minor
blemish to catastrophe, depending on the settings you have and how
the beam hits. Yeah, I deliberate zapped a few stones to see what
happens. I retipped some emeralds without problem so an enhanced
diamond should be no different. Shield the stone with toothpaste, it
deflects the beam. If you’re not getting the penetration you need on
the prong a little black marker will absorb the energy better and not
reflect the beam into the stone to boot. When you switch to blackend
target, decrease your settings from what you just used on the bare
metal, then bring them back up til you find the right power. If the
head allows, you might try replacing the whole prong, assuming you
have access to blending the weld.
But in any case, a caveat to the customer would be advisable.
Afterall, it was their choice to buy a stone with an impermanent
treatment. If you have the inclination to be a bit self serving, send
them back to the seller for the repair after you diplomatically
explain the risks and downside to treated diamonds. Maybe they will
come back you for a natural stone next time, because you took the
time to inform completely, in their best interests ofcourse. Knocking
without knocking.
Hi Kevin
I have had an experince with torch tipping an undisclosed fracture
filled diamond. It is an interesting feeling watching a diamond go
from a VS to an I2 before your eyes…The customer had no problem
getting a replacement, but included a note from the supplier that
said under no circumstances should heat be applied to the stone. They
had not disclosed to him that the first stone was clarity inhanced.
I now do all my enhanced diamond retipping on my laser machine. I
thoroughly wax the stone and use beam protector plates for “just in
case”, and all is fine. I haven’t tried to see what happens when a
beam hits a filled diamond. I don’t know if it would create an
inclusion, but I would guess it would. Diamonds are pretty resiliant
under the laser, but filled stones are a differnt aninmal.
Dave Mereski
Hi Kevin.
We are beginning to see Oved clarity enhanced diamonds in our repair business. The necessity of retipping on these stones will rear its ugly head soon enough. I am certain that they can't be torch retipped, but I'm wondering if anyone of you have had experience (good or bad) retipping these stones with a laser welder
I’ve had one experience retipping one prong of a mounting containing
one of these clarity enhanced diamonds, and it was a good experience.
However, the reason it was a good experience is because I took the
same precaution I use when lasering colored stones, and that is to
make a sterling silver shim.
Basically, I take a fairly heavy gauge piece of.925 wire and roll
the end flat, then give it a mirror polish while keeping it as thick
as possible. Holding the mounting, shim and laser wire is extremely
tricky, but it is worth the effort. Basically, you position the shim
between the area to be lasered and the stone. The pulse shape for most
metals is different for sterling than it is for white or yellow gold,
as is the pulse amplitude, so the laser bounces off the shim due to
the high reflectivity of the silver. If the mounting is platinum or
palladium, however, you’d be better of removing the stone since their
laser settings can punch right through a relatively thin silver
shim…
Speaking of palladium, I recently completed a simple palladium ring
project using flat, half round and bezel stock that I cut, filed,
formed, etc., and assembled using only the laser welder. I’ve worn it
every day for a few months and it is holding up very well. I took
photos of the entire process, so I’ll try to find the time for an
article (step-by-step) soon.
James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL
Dave,
Selling a “clarity-enhanced” diamond without disclosure is a
violation of Federal Trade Commission Guidelines, and, depending on
the amount charged, can be prosecuted as felony fraud. Depending on
local statutes, other laws may have been broken. This is no longer a
"caveat emptor" world, this is serious business, and anyone who
sells such a stone to a jeweler or retail customer should be
prosecuted to th full extent of the law. Also, be aware, that in all
50 states, having knowledge of a felony having been committed and
not reporting it to the authorities is a crime in itself.
Beyond that, such activity diminishes the legitimacy of us all in
the minds of the buying public.
You now have a legal and ethical obligation…what are you going to
do?
Wayne Emery
Hi Wayne
My post might not have been clear, and I understand your
interpritation. The customer’s original diamond was not sold by me.
He had obtained it from the internet ( surprise), and it ended up on
my desk for repair. He returned the stone to where he got it from for
replacement. The item didn’t come in the shop with any documentation,
and he stated he wasn’t aware of any enhancement after the fact. That
being said, he was a direct consumer from the internet and had very
little understanding of what he was buying beyond the shine and
glitter. He could very well have recieved about it when
he purchased the item, and didn’t understand it, and failed to pass
that on when the item was brought in for repair.
He got an immeadiate replacement from his source, and was happy. I
just left it at that.
Dave Mereski
Treat like you would an emerald. Take several shots, then let cool,
and repeat. Also take into consideration the thickness of the prong.
S. Grayson Carroll II
Laser Sales/Trainer
337.262.7700 ext. 2230
PO Box 87777
Lafayette, LA 70598