Confused About Diamond Clarity? The Answer is Clear
The term "clarity" is used to describe the flaws or a lack of flaws within a diamond and on the surface of a diamond. These flaws are called "inclusions" and "blemishes." Before you buy a diamond ring, bracelet or necklace, look at each diamond in the piece for minute flaws.
Clarity
Clarity refers to a lack of inclusions or blemishes in a diamond. Inclusions appear on the inside of a diamond and include spots or "clouds" of color, cracks and crystals, feathers, knots, cavities, cleavage, bearding and internal graining. Inclusions occur naturally as a result of minerals or gasses being trapped inside the diamond when it was formed. However, it's good to note that most inclusions in quality diamonds do not affect a diamond's structural integrity and can actually help identify a diamond. In fact, some experts consider these natural occurrences analogous to "fingerprints" and use them to identify specific diamonds.
Blemishes are flaws that appear on the surface of a diamond and are usually caused during the cutting or polishing of a diamond. Blemishes include polish lines, grain boundaries, scratches, nicks, pits and chips. Because blemishes are not part of the natural way a diamond is formed, they are undesirable in a diamond. The fewer inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, the greater its value.
How does Clarity Grade Work?
A diamond is graded on clarity not only by number of imperfections, but also by the type, size and location of the imperfections within the diamond. Most diamond flaws cannot be seen with the naked eye and are so tiny that they do not affect the brilliance of a diamond. If you can see a flaw in a diamond, look to see where the flaw is in relation to the cut of the diamond. If the diamond is still sparkling, it's probably still a good purchase. A little known fact is that the most perfect diamonds never even make it into a piece of jewelry, but are kept in vaults as hard currency.
An expert's trick is to look very closely at the diamond without magnification. If a diamond sparkles and looks clear using only the naked eye, it is a great jewelry purchase. (Not many people walk around with a 10X magnifying glass, after all!). That said, when looking at the clarity of a diamond, be sure to take a hard look at the table of the diamond, which is the top-most and largest facet of the diamond. An inclusion in this position is not desirable because it will reflect the flaw multiple times around the stone and create the appearance of multiple inclusions. The least-visible inclusions would appear under the crown facets or near the girdle of the diamond, which is its widest part.
Remember, tiny "flaws" are part of the natural process in which diamonds are created and are one of the characteristics that make every diamond unique.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Clarity Scale:
FL, IF: Flawless, Internally Flawless
VVS1, VVS2: Very, Very Slightly Included, it would still be difficult to find the flaws by looking at the diamond under 10X magnification.
SI1, SI2: Slightly Included, Flaws are visible under magnification
I1, I2, I3: Included, Flaws are visible with eye
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