| Diamond shoppers typically want a diamond that | | | | standards. |
| is big, bright and has lots of sparkle. Yet when | | | | What do these clarity grades mean for the |
| they go to the jewelry store, the attention | | | | diamond shopper? There are many clarity grades |
| seems to be on carat weight, color and clarity. | | | | and often a big price difference between Flawless |
| What is diamond clarity and how does it influence | | | | clarity and clean to the eye clarity. Most diamond |
| the beauty of the diamond? | | | | shoppers want a diamond that has no visible |
| All diamonds have inclusions in them because | | | | inclusions. For brilliant shapes like rounds, ovals, |
| nature forms diamonds in the high temperature, | | | | princess, and radiant cuts, that usually means at |
| high-pressure regions deep below the earth's | | | | least SI1 clarity. For step-cut shapes like the |
| surface. Diamonds are crystals of carbon and the | | | | emerald and Asscher that have fewer facets to |
| crystals formed in this harsh environment are | | | | hide the inclusions, at least VS2 clarity is generally |
| never perfect. Inclusions are the tiny identifying | | | | preferred. |
| characteristics inside a diamond. Some of the | | | | If these are the target clarity grades, why do |
| more common types of inclusions are feathers, | | | | shoppers buy diamond with higher or lower |
| crystals, pinpoints, clouds, needles, and twinning | | | | clarity? Sometimes shoppers are under the false |
| wisps. Diamonds also have characteristics on the | | | | impression that higher clarity will make a diamond |
| surface, called blemishes. Clarity affects a diamond | | | | more beautiful. This is a myth promoted by |
| purchase when inclusions and blemishes are visible | | | | jewelers who have high clarity diamonds they |
| to the eye, when they adversely influence the | | | | need to sell or want to sell because they require |
| path of light through the diamond, or when they | | | | higher prices and therefore more profit. Some |
| negatively affect the durability of the diamond. | | | | men feel only a perfect diamond (flawless) is |
| The diamond industry has established clarity | | | | good enough for a perfect woman. Some |
| grades to identify various levels of clarity in terms | | | | shoppers simply want to buy higher clarity, just |
| of visibility. The visibility of a particular inclusion or | | | | because they can. |
| blemish is dependent on its location within the | | | | Shoppers who purchase lower clarity diamonds |
| diamond, its physical size and the affect it has | | | | with eye visible inclusions often do so because |
| when viewed under different lighting conditions. | | | | lower clarity is the only way they can achieve |
| The clarity grades rate diamonds on the visibility | | | | bigger size within their budget. Sometimes |
| of inclusions and blemishes under 10-power | | | | diamond shoppers are swept up in the |
| magnification. | | | | excitement of the purchase and end up with a |
| Flawless and Internally Flawless (IF) are the | | | | diamond that looked great in the store lighting but |
| highest clarity grades and indicate no inclusions are | | | | has visible inclusions in normal lighting with closer |
| visible under 10-power magnification, with the | | | | examination. The bright lights in a jewelry store |
| Internally Flawless allowing only very minor | | | | often make it hard to see inclusions that are easy |
| blemishes. Even Internally Flawless diamonds have | | | | to see at home or in office lighting. |
| visible inclusions when viewed under higher | | | | The purchase decision of a diamond is a mix of |
| magnification. | | | | logic, emotion and convenience. The shoppers who |
| VVS1 and VVS2 grades indicate very, very small | | | | are happiest with their purchase long term are |
| inclusions, which might take 30 minutes to find | | | | those who understand their own shopping |
| with a microscope. | | | | priorities and then find a diamond that best meets |
| VS1 and VS2 grades have very small inclusions | | | | those requirements. For diamond clarity, the |
| that are visible under the microscope but seldom | | | | shoppers need to determine how important it is |
| every visible to the unaided eye. | | | | to them not to see any inclusions with the |
| SI1 and SI2 grades have small inclusions under the | | | | unaided eye. Then they have to decide how |
| microscope and are sometimes visible with the | | | | important the higher clarity grades are regardless |
| aided eye. | | | | of whether they influence the beauty of the |
| I1, I2 and I3 grades have inclusions that are | | | | diamond or not. |
| obvious with the unaided eye. | | | | Of course, the price of the diamond ultimately |
| It is important to have the clarity grade | | | | comes into play; even for those shoppers who |
| designated by one of the top diamond grading | | | | claim price is not an issue. Most shoppers are |
| laboratories such as the GIA (Gemological Institute | | | | seeking their own personalized mix of size, color, |
| of America) or AGS (American Gem Society). | | | | clarity, cut, and price when making the purchase |
| Clarity grades on other documentation can be | | | | decision for their special diamond. |
| exaggerated and inaccurate relative to industry | | | | |