Three loose round brilliant diamonds on a dark red and black background, illustrating diamond durability and the risk of diamond damage.

Understanding Diamond Damage: What You Need to Know Before a Trade-Up

At Whiteflash, we are committed to ensuring that every diamond you purchase or trade for is of the highest quality. While diamonds are renowned for their hardness and durability, they are not indestructible. Over time, diamonds can sustain damage due to a variety of factors, and the longer a diamond has been worn the more likely that it has sustained some damage. It is important for our customers to understand this possibility before sending a diamond in for an upgrade, along with implications it has for the trade-in and possible remedies.

Upon receipt your diamond undergoes a careful inspection at Whiteflash and if an issue is found at this stage you will be promptly notified. The diamond then still must pass the GIA re-certification process as in original condition in order for a trade-up to proceed.

How Diamonds Can Be Damaged

Chipping and Cracking
Diamonds can chip along their edges or points if they experience a sharp impact, such as being dropped on a hard surface or hitting hard objects during daily wear. Even small chips which may not be obvious can affect the diamond’s structural integrity and value

Diamond with chip damage

Scratches and Abrasions
While diamonds rank at the top of the Mohs hardness scale, they can still be scratched by other diamonds or materials of extreme hardness. Scratches can appear over years of regular wear, and abrasions can occur at facet junctions.

Diamond with abrasion damage

Heat and Chemical Exposure
Extreme heat, rapid temperature changes, or exposure to harsh chemicals can potentially damage a diamond or compromise the metal setting, which may indirectly impact the condition of the diamond.
Setting Wear and Structural Stress
Improper or worn settings can leave diamonds vulnerable to loosening or falling out. Diamonds in rings worn together can damage one another, and stress on certain facet edges may lead to small fractures that make the diamond susceptible to further damage.

Trade-Up Eligibility and Diamond Damage

By the terms of our trade-up program, a diamond that is not returned in original condition is not eligible for trade. In some cases damage may be very minor such as a small scratch or chip. However, as even minor damage of this nature disqualifies a diamond from being sold as an A CUT ABOVE®, in order to proceed with a trade the diamond needs to be re-polished, a process that carries both expense and risk.

In certain circumstances, and at our discretion, Whiteflash may offer to facilitate repairs, at the customer’s risk and expense , in order to enable the customer to execute the upgrade. It is important to understand:

Whiteflash is not obligated to repair or re-cut a diamond.

Some repairs may not be feasible due to the nature or extent of the damage.
Even minor repolishing may drop a diamond below a critical weight resulting in significant value loss.

Key Takeaway

Before sending your diamond for a trade-up, we strongly encourage you to review its condition and consider potential risks. It is our intention to accommodate your request for an upgrade and to provide a smooth process. In many cases there are no issues of the kind described above. In other cases, Whiteflash may be able to facilitate repairs, on the customer’s behalf and at the customer’s expense, so that an upgrade can proceed. In some cases such a solution may be rejected by either the customer or by Whiteflash, for any reason.

For questions about your specific diamond or trade-up eligibility, please contact our customer care team. We are here to guide you every step of the way.