Clarity refers to how clean or clear the diamond is with respect to natural microscopic characteristics that were trapped within or on the diamond while it was forming. Internal characteristics are known as inclusions, and characteristics on the surface of the gem are known as blemishes. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or structural imperfections such as tiny cracks, known as feathers, which can appear whitish or cloudy.
Often times the inclusions are microscopic diamonds that were absorbed by the larger crystal before the diamond was carried to the surface of the Earth. The quantity, size, color, location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions all affect the final clarity grade of a diamond. Diamonds with no or few inclusions are considered particularly rare and highly valued.
10x magnification
The Brilliant Earth Diamond Education Guide will help you choose the ideal gemstone for your ring. Learn about diamond shapes and the four C’s, as well as how to maximize the value of your diamond to fit your budget.
request the guideWhen gemologists inspect diamonds for clarity, they use a maximum of 10x magnification and only judge the diamond face up. If an inclusion is not visible when the diamond is viewed from the top, then it cannot be used in determining the clarity grade. Gemologists use microscopes and loupes (small handheld magnifying lenses) to determine the size, type, and position of the inclusions.
Experienced graders use 10X magnification to identify the various clarity characteristics, and to map their location on "diamond plots." These plots are like small maps for each individual diamond, and are used to identify each individual stone. No two diamonds will ever have the same internal pattern, and the plots work as a form of individual identification, much like a fingerprint. GIA and IGI grading laboratories grade diamonds on the I3 – FL scale. HRD Antwerp grading laboratory’s highest clarity grade is LC, which means Loupe Clean. In an effort to standardize clarity grades across different grading systems, we assign an HRD Antwerp clarity grade of LC to the IF grade.
| FL | Flawless |
|---|---|
| IF | Internally Flawless |
| VVS1 VVS2 |
Very Very Slightly Included |
| VS1 VS2 |
Very Slightly Included |
| SI1 SI2 |
Slightly Included |
| I1 I2 I3 |
Included (Not Carried by Brilliant Earth) |
