Blemishes in diamonds are natural but can also be caused by polishing and in particular when the diamond is cut to shape. Blemishes are not to be overly worried about as most are natural but a blemish to the surface can effect the color and value of the stone. There are far more important defects that are more worrying such as Nicks, Scratches and Pits.

Nicks relate to areas of the diamond that has been chipped. If you notice a nick in the diamond it is advised to seek professional intervention. A jeweler can polish small nicks and repair the stone by creating an extra facet. Over polishing is not advised as this may result in too many facets and devaluation of the diamond.

Scratches tend to be a lot easier to repair. To repair the scratches it is once again advised to seek professional help as most scratches can be carefully polished away. To remove scratches the diamond has to be removed from its casing (ring band). Do not attempt this yourself, many people try with a sharp needle and this simple results in extra scratches on the stone.

Pits in a nutshell are small holes within the stones facet. Most can be polished away but pits can in certain circumstances very visible and can in turn affect the clarity.

Another term to be aware of is the Polishing Lines. These lines develop at the time of the stone cutting and essential polishing. Nine times out of ten these are not very noticeable but certainly worth knowing about.

A Natural is another term used in the Jewelry industry. A natural is an area of the stone that has not yet been polished down and in its original rough housing. Natural tend to be left in the stone to increase its weight (carat) and allowing the diamond cutter to produce a larger stone.

A diamond engagement ring is expensive so it is important to be aware of what type of diamond you are buying and if it is defected. When I say defected I only mean extra blemishes etc. All these little rough edges etc should be look after before you finally take the ring home for the proposal.