|
 Clarity
A diamond's clarity refers to the presence of
impurities on and within the stone. When a rough stone is extracted from carbon
deep beneath the earth, tiny traces of natural elements are almost always
trapped inside. These elements are called flaws or inclusions because they are
formed naturally and are unique to each stone. Inclusions may be crystals of a
foreign material or another diamond crystal, or structural imperfections such
as tiny cracks that can appear whitish or cloudy. The number, size, color,
relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the
relative clarity of a diamond. Diamonds with few inclusions are considered
particularly rare and highly valued. After carat weight, clarity has the most
influence on cost.
A well-cut diamond will optimize the use of
light, creating fire and brilliance. Inclusions can hinder how the light
reflects, lessening the brilliance and prismatic effect of color in a diamond.
When gemologists inspect diamonds for overall
quality, they must use a 10x magnification loupe (a small magnifying lens used
to examine diamonds) to determine the size, type, and position of the
imperfections.
Experienced graders use a 10X magnification to
determine the various clarity characteristics for the professional clarity
grading scale.
|
FL:
|
Flawless with no
internal or external flaws. Extremely rare and valuable. |
|
IF:
|
Internally Flawless. No Internal
flaws.
|
|
VVS1:
|
Very very slightly included 1.
Very difficult to see under 10x magnification. |
|
VVS2:
|
|
VS1:
|
Very slightly included 1.
Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. Typically can not see
inclusions with the naked eye.
|
|
VS2:
|
|
SI1:
|
|
SI2:
|
|
I1 - I3:
|
Included 1-3. Inclusions are
visible to the unaided eye. Not carried by Brilliant Earth. |
|