Hoppers
This ring was submitted to the laboratory and upon examination we noticed a natural ‘part of the skin’ of the diamond. On the pavilion, you can see what is sometimes referred to as a ‘hopper’.
This ring was submitted to the laboratory for examination, during which we observed a natural “part of the skin” remaining on the diamond. This feature represents an original surface of the crystal that has not been fully polished away and is consistent with natural diamond growth.
On the pavilion, this area displays what is commonly referred to as a “hopper”. This term is commonly associated with the Herkimer diamond quartz, not a true diamond, which can feature similar skeletal and hopper crystals. The image to the right shows the most common "pine tree" texture.
In diamond terminology, a hopper is a growth-related feature formed when the edges of a crystal grow more rapidly than the central area. This uneven growth results in a stepped or hollowed appearance, often resembling a terraced structure.
"pine tree" texture in Herkimer diamond quartz
Hopper features develop deep within the Earth under fluctuating conditions of temperature, pressure, and chemical environment during the diamond’s formation. Their presence is considered a natural growth characteristic rather than damage or wear. Such features can provide insight into the diamond’s crystallization history and are commonly used by gemologists as supporting evidence of natural origin.
In this case, the hopper is confined to the pavilion and does not detract from the structural integrity of the stone. Instead, it serves as a record of the diamond’s natural growth process and geological history.
“The photo, taken with a macro lens, is 4 cm across and from TCR (donated by the mine owner). Arrow points to the scalloped etching. Photo Dr.C., 2010. “