What is Diamond Clarity?
As diamonds form deep within the earth at extreme temperatures and harsh pressures, minerals, air, and other substances can get trapped within. The diamond may also acquire tiny cracks, breaks or fissures. Internal birthmarks are referred to as “inclusions” or “internal characteristics” and exterior birthmarks are referred to as “blemishes” or “external characteristics”. Once a diamond is cut and polished, the visibility and severity of these ‘birthmarks’, so to speak, form the basis for the evaluation of a diamond’s clarity. These birthmarks are also used as a sort of fingerprint, each diamond’s inclusions and blemishes being unique and distinctive.
Most jewelry-quality diamonds are very clear. Typically, their inclusions and blemishes are invisible to the naked eye. However, some inclusions are more noticeable than others and are thought to diminish the overall beauty and quality of the diamond. Additionally, diamonds with very few inclusions and blemishes are exceedingly rare and therefore more valuable.
Clarity Grading
A diamond’s clarity is evaluated by identifying its inclusions and blemishes under a 10x magnifying glass. Grades range from FL (Flawless) for diamonds which have no detectable inclusions or blemishes, to I (Included) for diamonds which exhibit inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye. For an interactive, visual explanation of each clarity grade, take a look at Zoara.com's
Diamond Clarity Grading Tool.
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FL
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(Flawless) No detectable inclusions or
blemishes when examined by an expert gemologist under a 10x magnifying
loupe. FL diamonds are exceptionally
rare.
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IL
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(Internally Flawless) No detectable
inclusions when examined by an expert gemologist under a 10x magnifying
loupe. IL diamonds are very rare.
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VVS₁
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(Very Very Slightly Included) Inclusions
are very difficult for an expert gemologist to detect under a 10x magnifying
loupe.
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VVS₂
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(Very Very Slightly Included)Inclusions are
difficult for an expert gemologist to detect under a 10x magnifying loupe.
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VS₁
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(Very Slightly Included) Minor or
insignificant inclusions are visible to an expert gemologist under 10x
magnification. These inclusions are rarely visible to the naked eye.
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VS₂
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(Very Slightly Included) Minor or
insignificant inclusions are clearly visible to an expert gemologist under
10x magnification. These inclusions are rarely visible to the naked eye.
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SI₁
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(Slightly Included) Noticeable inclusions are visible
to an expert gemologist under 10x magnification. They may also be visible to
the naked eye.
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SI₂
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(Slightly Included) Noticeable inclusions are clearly
visible to an expert gemologist under 10x magnification. They may also be
visible to the naked eye.
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I₁, I₂, I₃
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(Included) Inclusions are clearly visible
to an expert gemologist under 10x
magnification. These inclusions are also
visible to the naked eye.
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Clarity Characteristics Map
Diamond Grading Reports also include a map of the diamond’s internal characteristics, also known as inclusions, and external characteristics, also known as blemishes. The diagram is a representation of the diamond face up and face down and uses symbols to denote the position, type and size of the stone’s clarity characteristics. Since no two diamonds ever have exactly the same inclusions, this map of clarity characteristics is not only a way to grade the diamond’s clarity; it also serves as a kind of fingerprint that can be used for identification purposes.
