Diamond Clarity: Shoppers Buying Guide

Diamond shoppers typically want a diamond thatstandards.
is big, bright and has lots of sparkle. Yet whenWhat do these clarity grades mean for the
they go to the jewelry store, the attentiondiamond 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 influenceclarity 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 becauseinclusions. 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'sleast SI1 clarity. For step-cut shapes like the
surface. Diamonds are crystals of carbon and theemerald and Asscher that have fewer facets to
crystals formed in this harsh environment arehide the inclusions, at least VS2 clarity is generally
never perfect. Inclusions are the tiny identifyingpreferred.
characteristics inside a diamond. Some of theIf 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 twinningclarity? Sometimes shoppers are under the false
wisps. Diamonds also have characteristics on theimpression that higher clarity will make a diamond
surface, called blemishes. Clarity affects a diamondmore beautiful. This is a myth promoted by
purchase when inclusions and blemishes are visiblejewelers who have high clarity diamonds they
to the eye, when they adversely influence theneed to sell or want to sell because they require
path of light through the diamond, or when theyhigher 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 claritygood enough for a perfect woman. Some
grades to identify various levels of clarity in termsshoppers simply want to buy higher clarity, just
of visibility. The visibility of a particular inclusion orbecause they can.
blemish is dependent on its location within theShoppers who purchase lower clarity diamonds
diamond, its physical size and the affect it haswith 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 visibilitybigger size within their budget. Sometimes
of inclusions and blemishes under 10-powerdiamond shoppers are swept up in the
magnification.excitement of the purchase and end up with a
Flawless and Internally Flawless (IF) are thediamond that looked great in the store lighting but
highest clarity grades and indicate no inclusions arehas visible inclusions in normal lighting with closer
visible under 10-power magnification, with theexamination. The bright lights in a jewelry store
Internally Flawless allowing only very minoroften make it hard to see inclusions that are easy
blemishes. Even Internally Flawless diamonds haveto see at home or in office lighting.
visible inclusions when viewed under higherThe purchase decision of a diamond is a mix of
magnification.logic, emotion and convenience. The shoppers who
VVS1 and VVS2 grades indicate very, very smallare happiest with their purchase long term are
inclusions, which might take 30 minutes to findthose who understand their own shopping
with a microscope.priorities and then find a diamond that best meets
VS1 and VS2 grades have very small inclusionsthose requirements. For diamond clarity, the
that are visible under the microscope but seldomshoppers 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 theunaided eye. Then they have to decide how
microscope and are sometimes visible with theimportant the higher clarity grades are regardless
aided eye.of whether they influence the beauty of the
I1, I2 and I3 grades have inclusions that arediamond or not.
obvious with the unaided eye.Of course, the price of the diamond ultimately
It is important to have the clarity gradecomes into play; even for those shoppers who
designated by one of the top diamond gradingclaim price is not an issue. Most shoppers are
laboratories such as the GIA (Gemological Instituteseeking 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 bedecision for their special diamond.
exaggerated and inaccurate relative to industry