Clarity
Diamonds that are absolutely clear without inclusions-fractures, scratches, or trace minerals are referred to as flawless and are the rarest. Most diamonds, like people, have natural blemishes which are physical characteristics of that particular piece just as a persons DNA. The best way to view these blemishes (inclusions) is with the use of a 10x jeweler’s magnifying loupe. Even though an inclusion may not be visible to the naked eye it can have an effect because when light enters a diamond it is reflected and refracted. If anything disrupts the light flow, such as an inclusion, a portion of the light that would be reflected is immediately lost. Certification societies, notably the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), have standardized the diamond grading system to more accurately describe the 4c’s of a diamond. As it can be seen, below are some examples of the physical requirements attributed to a diamonds clarity.
| Clarity |
Description |
| Flawless FL |
No internal or external flaws |
| Internally Flawless IF |
No internal flaws, slight external blemishes |
| Very, Very Slight Inclusions VVS1, VVS2 |
Inclusions very difficult to see under 10X magnification |
| Very Slight Inclusions VS1, VS2 |
Inclusions difficult to see under 10X magnification |
| Slight Inclusions SI1, SI2, SI3 |
Inclusions easy to see under 10X magnification and might be visible to the naked eye |
| Included I1, I2, I3 |
Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye |
Tomorrow we will cover the third of the 4C’s in our diamond education series. Its always a good thing to know a little something especially about jewelry. Please feel free to like our page and leave any questions or comments.
Live, Life, Lamour
R.Lamour
