Clarity
|
Description
|
Flawless FL
|
No internal or external flaws
|
Internally Flawless IF
|
No internal flaws, slight external blemishes
|
Very, Very Slight Inclusions VVS1, VVS2
|
Inclusions very difficult to see under 10X magnification
|
Very Slight Inclusions VS1, VS2
|
Inclusions difficult to see under 10X magnification
|
Slight Inclusions SI1, SI2, SI3
|
Inclusions easy to see under 10X magnification and might be visible to the naked eye
|
Included I1, I2, I3
|
Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye
|
|
Examples:
SI1, SI2, SI3 I1 I2, I3
Stay AWAY from I1, I2, I3 (Included clarity) diamonds! These can be visible with the
naked eye.
It is important to keep in mind that some inclusions may be able to be hidden behind a
part of the mounting. You can substantially reduce the cost of a diamond if you see that
the inclusion will be hidden behind the mounting and not affect the beauty of the
diamond. On the other hand, an inclusion on the middle or top of the diamond can
affect the dispersion of light and make a diamond appear less brilliant.
You can get an excellent value with diamonds that have Slight Inclusions (SI1, SI2, SI3),
but you should consult with the dealer as to whether any of the inclusions can be visible
to the naked eye and if so, will they be able to hidden by the mounting.
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Diamond Buying Guide
Quality
Clarity
Clarity
Refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond
Diamonds that are absolutely clear without inclusions-fractures,
scratches, or trace minerals are referred to as flawless and are the
rarest. Most diamonds, like people, have natural blemishes that
are characteristic of that particular piece. The best way to view
these blemishes (inclusions) is with the use of a 10x jeweler's
magnifying loupe. Even though an inclusion may not be visible to
the naked eye it can have an effect because when light enters a
diamond it is reflected and refracted. If anything is disrupting the
light flow, such as an inclusion, a portion of the light that would be
reflected is lost. The certification societies have standardized a
grading system to describe the clarity of a diamond.
FL VVS1, VVS2 VS1, VS2