Why do major gem labs report features left by laser drilling as clarity characteristics?

• A. Because they can be removed with proper treatment.
• B. Because they are permanent.
• C. Because they indicate enhanced brilliance.
• D. Because they are reversible through cleaning.

Answer: (B)

Laser drilling creates internal channels to reach and affect an inclusion inside the diamond. This alters the crystal structure along the drill path, and even if the inclusion is bleached or the surface is polished, the drill channel itself remains inside the stone. Because this changes the diamond’s internal clarity in a lasting way, labs classify and report these features as clarity characteristics. They’re not something you can simply remove with cleaning, and while recutting could remove the modification, as-is the feature is a permanent part of the stone’s history. That’s why major labs disclose laser-drilled features on the report.