Does it make any difference if I examine a diamond mounted or unmounted?

Does it make any difference if I examine a diamond mounted or unmounted?

John Cordova (Vice President of Human Resources, Robbins Bros.) gives expert video advice on: Does it make any difference if I examine a diamond mounted or unmounted?; Should I ask the salesperson to clean the diamond before I view it?; When I examine a diamond should I use my hands or tweezers? and more...

When examining a diamond, it makes a huge difference whether you see it mounted or unmounted. A mounted diamond hides up to 25 percent of the diamond from your eye. So you have to examine the diamond loose, using the proper lighting conditions, with the right microscopic tools to be able to see what's in a diamond. Now, when you're examining that diamond loose, many people concentrate simply on the top of the diamond. That's a mistake. You need to look at the diamond layer by layer, and delve deep into the interior of that diamond, so you can identify where all of the characteristics are that make that diamond unique.