Mask Inhabiting a Natural Diamond
The mirroring of a feather inclusion in diamond, viewed through the step-cut facets of the pavilion, creates an apparent theater mask in a close-up view captured in monochrome. Photomicrograph by Kaivan Shah; field of view 3.00 mm.
While diamond graders spend a good deal of time looking at inclusions, rarely do we see a clarity feature staring back at us, such as the example in the figure above. The 0.90 ct F-color type Ia natural diamond with VS2 clarity contained a feather that reached the surface of the table. When viewed through the pavilion, the mirror image caused by the faceting created an effect resembling a distinctive theater mask. This striking inclusion showcases the wide variety of inclusions that are possible in diamond and leaves a memorable, almost haunting impression.
