Checkered Pattern on Diamond
Recently, the Mumbai laboratory received a modified pear portrait-cut natural diamond weighing 1.02 ct and measuring 6.98 × 5.82 × 2.33 mm. A portrait cut consists of a flat crown and a flat pavilion, creating the appearance of a picture frame. The flat pavilion facet was fashioned with a checkered design using a laser (see above). This unique fashioning was done intentionally to enhance the appearance of the diamond. Therefore, it did not impact the diamond’s clarity, polish, and symmetry grading.
Standard gemological testing, including microscopic examination, proved that this was a laser-fashioned pattern, and no evidence of clarity or color enhancement was observed. Natural inclusions such as twinning wisps were present, and an SI1 clarity grade and H color were assigned.
