Diamond Clarity

Clarity is an essential property of a diamond. It is heavily considered when finding the quality of a diamond. This article will briefly discuss what grades you can choose from and what factors can affect a diamond’s clarity.

Diamond Clarity

Clarity looks for any flaw in a diamond’s external and internal characteristics. It is the absence of inclusions and blemishes incurred by the diamond during its natural formation.

Factors Influencing the Grading System

Clarity determination can be difficult for amateurs since not all flaws are easily visible to the naked eye. Even a diamond expert sometimes needs high magnification.

Five factors can influence diamond grading:

• Size – The larger size of the inclusion, the more vulnerable the diamond’s clarity and durability.
• Nature – Pertains to the types of inclusion and how deep it is within the diamond. If the inclusions are on the surface, they are called blemishes; if they are within the material, they are called inclusions.
• Number – If the diamond has more inclusions, it will fall under a lower grade.
• Location – The location of the inclusion can affect not only clarity but also the other properties of a diamond. These are where they are located, inside or outside, the culet, pavilion, girdle, and table.
• Relief – This is how distinguishable and distinct the clarity characteristics are in contrast to the material. There is a higher relief to a dark-coloured diamond compared with lighter a coloured one.

Diamond Clarity Scale

The GIA diamond grading report is the widely used scale to categorize the visibility of flaws in diamonds. Its grades are as follows:

• Included – Visible inclusions under 10x magnification. This grade can be I1, I2, and I3.
• Slightly Included – Noticeable slight inclusions under 10x magnification. This can be SI1 and SI2.
• Very Slightly Included – Barely visible inclusions even under magnification. This grade can be VS1 and VS2.
• Very, Very Slightly Included – Hardly seen inclusions even by a skilled grader. This grade can be VVS1 and VVS2.
• Internally Flawless (IF) – No evident inclusions from an x10 magnified perspective.
• Flawless (F) – Absence of inclusions and blemishes even under high magnification.

Pricing Based on Grades

For a diamond with more carat weight at a lower price, you should choose the Slightly Included to the Included diamonds variety. Slightly Included grades have flaws that can only be detected under an expert's eye and by using high magnification, so they are not visible to the naked eye.

Most diamond enthusiasts buy a diamond with a VSI grade since they are considered high quality and are not too expensive like the premium ones. If you want an inclusion-free diamond, choose a higher clarity grade, although these cost a higher amount.

Takeaway

A diamond’s quality also depends on its clarity. Based on your budget and preference, there are many clarity grades for diamonds you can choose from. It is good to remember that most flaws are only visible under 10x magnification, so they are almost invisible to the naked eye.