Consumers are hearing these labels, but even seasoned professionals can fail to grasp the broad implications of each. Saying ‘painting’ or ‘digging’ is like saying ‘walking’ or ‘running:’ Without context they are merely terms. There are different applications and degrees to each. To assess the net result as additive or subtractive we must know the diamond’s configuration, what degree of painting or digging was done and where on the diamond it occurred.
 
This article identifies both approaches, illustrates the varying degrees and shows notably different results for “superideal” diamonds in numerous categories of painting & digging. Special attention is given to the category of crown-only painting.