Chips in a diamond generally happen when one of its edges or points hits something hard. This could be a countertop or such, or even another jeweler item lying close by. There are several ways to minimize the risk of this; below, we have the ones that work out the best in most cases.
Avoiding a Shape with Sharp or Pointed Corners
Any such shape including the emerald cut can be intuitively identified as a chip hazard, so avoid all of them when picking out a stone. Stick to the more rounded shapes and cuts such as the round brilliant, the oval, and the cushion. There is also a relatively new cutting technique called chamfering where the durability of a princess-cut stone can supposedly be improved.
Protecting the Culet
There was a time when almost all round brilliant cuts of the standard type were cut in such a way as to leave a small facet right at the culet, in order to protect it from chipping. These days cutters generally avoid that, although it increases the risk of the culet chipping. This is mainly because most stones are set in jewelry, where such risk becomes minimal.
Avoiding Girdles with Thin Sections
A strong blow is capable of breaking a diamond at its girdle, but the thicker the latter happens to be, the more difficult the stone becomes to chip at the edge. This is why it is, on the whole, a good idea to avoid stones with thin girdles along their sides or at the corners—they carry a much greater chance of damage.
Choosing a Setting Which Protects the Diamond
The more vulnerable a point on a stone, the more sense it makes to go for a setting that covers it at least partially. Diamonds are best protected in jewelry when you use bezels or prongs, so prefer that for your setting when the time comes to pick out a ring.
Be Cautious with Tension Settings
A tension setting is capable of holding a diamond by means of a groove in the metal of the band. This is, however, where the girdle is held, which means the two edges of the band press against the diamond tightly. Unless this is arranged in the proper way by a jeweler with the right experience, the girdle of the stone could be compromised, especially if the stone were to take a heavy knock.
