What is laser drilling?
The laser drilling process was invented by Zvi YEHUDA in 1965. Some diamonds contain natural black inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. In the laser drilling process a microscopic laser beam is used to drill into the diamond in order to reach the black inclusion. The diamond is boiled in strong acids that clean out the inclusion. After the procedure the black inclusion becomes clear, thus, less noticeable to the naked eye. The process is irreversible and completely stable. The laser drilled diamond should be cared for in the same manner as a non laser drilled diamond. By law, the fact that a diamond has been laser drilled has to be disclosed at every level of sale.
Laser drilling is used to improve the appearance of diamonds with dark imperfections. The most common procedure uses a fine laser beam to tunnel into a diamond and burn the existing inclusion, which is further lightened with acid. As this process is stable, all labs will grade lasered drilled diamonds and indicate the process on their report. The Federal Trade Commission also requires disclosure of laser-drilled diamonds to consumers at the point-of-sale.
