Cloudy Diamonds – Milky, Foggy, Dull and Lifeless Diamonds

What is a cloudy diamond? A cloudy diamond appears hazy owing to microscopic inclusions within the stone. In some instances, a concentration of small inclusions clustered together causes the diamond to look foggy, lifeless and dull.

Main Photograph: A Comparison of two diamonds. The diamond on the left appears cloudy, dull, milky and lifeless compared to the diamond on the right. 

Internal characteristics have caused a diamond to look hazy compared to a regular diamond with greater diamond sparkle.

Milky, hazy and dull diamonds. Reasons for diamonds being dull and sleepy.

There are various reasons why your diamond appears foggy, dull or cloudy. Experts struggle to advise without seeing specific diamonds.

Cloudiness typically derives from the internal structure of the diamond, rather than the surface. For this reason, we rarely reverse the effect of a hazy appearance.

Every diamond has inclusions unless you choose a truly flawless gem. But, most diamonds feature slight inclusions rather than cloud inclusions of evenly dispersed particles.

Common inclusions include twinning wisps and feathers. Some of these may break the surface of the diamond. By contrast, some diamonds appear to be eye-clean diamonds, owing to the even spread of the cloudy effect.

Read on to gain a better understanding of why diamonds may appear milky. We refer to such diamonds as sleepy diamonds, lacking life and sparkle compared to other diamonds.

Where do cloudy diamonds originate?

From experience, many of the smaller cloudy diamonds I have sourced came from India. But, remember that India cuts many of the World’s diamonds. Their true origin can be from any of the World’s diamond mines.

Many online diamond retailers sell such diamonds, for example, James Allen and Blue Nile. Furthermore, such diamonds feature in all sizes and shapes including the classic brilliant-cut diamond.

When buying a diamond, we recommend getting expert help to avoid the pitfalls of choosing the wrong stone.

Cloudy diamonds clarity grades.

Clarity characteristics are dispersed evenly in many such diamonds so that we see no single inclusion.

Instead, many microscopic inclusions spread within the diamond similar to within a suspension. As a result, the passage of light slows and a milky appearance through the diamond. Unlike low clarity diamonds with visible marks, such diamonds appear clear, with no visible inclusions.

Such diamonds appear to be good value for money but lack the dazzle of higher clarity diamonds.

Remember that foggy diamonds adhere to the same clarity scale as all other diamonds. A cloudy stone will often achieve the lowest I3 clarity grade applied to diamonds of the lowest clarity. Refer to your grading report to find the clarity assessment for your stone.

Diamond fluorescence and cloudy diamonds.

Some diamonds fluoresce under UV light. Reviewing your diamond certificate, fluorescence will typically appear with a description such as nil, very slight, slight, medium, or strong. Diamonds graded with strong fluorescence may exhibit a milky appearance, especially in strong sunlight. UV light results in many such diamonds glowing.

Is fluorescence in diamonds good or bad?

Jewellers rarely consider fluorescence as good or bad. However, a strong fluorescence sometimes results in a hazy appearance in strong sunlight. For this reason, many strongly fluorescent diamonds fetch lower prices and rarely accompany a high-quality diamond.

Strong fluorescence (and the reduced value in a diamond).

Strong or very strong fluorescence in white diamonds sometimes results in a milky hue. Many buyers first notice this effect when wearing their new engagement ring in bright sunlight.

This is often most apparent in sunlight. For this reason, strong fluorescence often relates to a much lower price for a certified stone.

When does fluorescence add value to a diamond?

Tinted diamonds appearing slightly yellow sometimes benefit from a lift in whiteness as a direct result of fluorescence. UV light reflected back from tinted diamonds results in a whiter appearance.

As a result, diamonds appear whiter than their specified colour grade. This effect appears when viewing a diamond from above. In contrast, viewed from the side, we see the true colour of the diamond.

‘Smoked’ diamond – oxidation of a diamond’s surface

Occasionally, an oily film can appear on the surface of a diamond ring that cannot be removed. This film can result in the diamond looking milky or foggy.

Moreover, the greasy film cannot be wiped away. The effect often follows a noticeable change in the appearance of the diamond from bright and clear, to cloudy.

One of the reasons for this change results from a ‘smoked’ effect caused by extreme temperature. As a result, the diamond surface oxidizes and leaves an unsightly effect on the stone’s surface.

The only remedy for this will be re-polishing the surface of the diamond with the expertise of a diamond polisher.

It’s always best to un-set diamonds before melting down the setting. At very high temperatures, a diamond’s surface oxidises resulting in a dull coated appearance. 

How much do cloudy diamonds cost?

Milky diamonds frequently sell at a very competitive price compared to bright, clear diamonds. For this reason, we recommend talking to an expert before making your purchase.

Part of our work involved photographing certified diamonds for clients as part of our diamond concierge service.

We also provide microscopic imagery and 365-degree videos in many instances where clients cannot visit to inspect diamonds in person. Expect to pay around 20% to 30% less for a milky or cloudy diamond.

Depending on the degree of haziness in a diamond, prices will vary for any given diamond size. Keep in mind that colour and cut also contribute along with clarity. Some buyers forgive a small degree of haziness in their diamond. In fact, many buyers never notice reduced brilliance because they do not have another diamond for comparison.

As a result, we recommend buyers view a selection of different diamonds to compare different degrees of brilliance. We prepare a selection of suitable diamonds for any client who pre-arranges an appointment to view diamonds.

Do lab diamonds get cloudy?

Lab diamonds never become cloudy or dull over time. In fact, lab-grown diamonds make a cost-effective alternative to natural diamonds with no visible difference in their appearance.

However, just like natural diamonds, excessive heat can cause the oxidation of a lab-grown diamond’s surface. As we explained above, the resulting ‘bloom’ on the surface causes a milky or cloudy appearance.

For more information, help and guidance on avoiding or buying cloudy diamonds, contact our helpful team.