Indented Natural on Pear Cut

An indented natural is exactly what it sounds like. It is a small section of the diamond’s original rough surface that dips slightly into the finished gem. It is similar to a regular natural inclusion, but instead of sitting flat against the surface, it creates a shallow indentation that becomes visible under magnification.

This zoomed-in image captures a sharp view of an indented natural inclusion dipping just below the polished surface near the girdle edge. On the right side, the red boxes highlight the matching location in both the crown view (left plot) and pavilion view (right plot) of the GIA clarity diagram. You’re looking at the same exact spot from two angles, just like rotating the diamond slightly on its side.

In this pear-shaped diamond, the indented natural appears right along the upper-left shoulder. When a diamond is mapped in the GIA plot, the crown view shows inclusions visible from the top, while the pavilion view reveals those seen from the bottom. Since indented naturals cross into the surface at the girdle (the dividing edge), they can be recorded in both views. This visual pairing is a rare chance to see how plot symbols and real-world inclusions align.

Just like standard naturals, indented naturals are usually located around the girdle edge. They are often left in place by the cutter on purpose. Polishing them away would require removing more of the diamond’s weight, which might reduce its carat value. If the indented natural is small and well-placed, most cutters leave it untouched to preserve carat weight and avoid unnecessary polishing.