This article will be a complete guide on how a reputed institute grades a diamond's clarity and how you can select a perfect diamond according to your budget and preferences.
Are you confused about the clarity grades of diamonds? Don't worry; this article will be a complete guide on how a reputed institute grades a diamond's clarity and how you can select a perfect diamond according to your budget and preferences.
Clarity is one of the most important things to keep in mind while choosing a diamond. It is one of the 4Cs, so the value of a diamond also depends on its clarity. You will find different types of diamonds based on their clarity. Some diamonds are very clear, and you cannot find any inclusion in them, while some diamonds have some visible inclusions. If you want to pick the right diamond, you need to understand the clarity grades. You need to understand the imperfections and the diamond's clarity. After understanding these two terms, it will become easy for anyone to pick the right diamond and save money.
If you are buying a diamond for the first time, you might have some confusion related to its clarity. Buyers usually don't know about the clarity chart of diamonds; therefore, they could make a wrong decision. In this article, we are going to walk you through the actual definition of diamond's clarity. We will also discuss the internationally accepted grades. We will discuss GIA clarity grades so that you can understand the meaning of these grades. Let's start the discussion.
We can define a diamond's clarity based on the inclusions and blemishes present in it. Clarity issues come into existence because of impurities in the crystals or during the cutting process. There could be inclusions or blemishes; let's discuss them separately to make them easy to understand.
Inclusions are the imperfections present inside the diamond. These occur because of extreme temperature and high pressure during the formation of diamonds under the earth.
Inclusions sometimes also refer to flaws because a diamond with inclusion is usually not considered a flawless diamond. The ideal one would be the diamond with no inclusions at all.
Almost all the diamonds have inclusions in them. An inclusion-free diamond is quite rare, and it does not have inclusions even if you see it under a microscope. Diamonds are graded based on these inclusions.
Blemishes are also imperfections, but they are considered man-made defects. These defects occur during cutting, polishing, and mounting a diamond crystal. Blemishes can be controlled to an extent by improving the types of equipment and quality of work.
Diamonds are graded according to the clarity of crystals. Experts give grades to diamonds on the basis of inclusions present in them. As diamonds are formed by a natural process, all diamonds are unique, and almost all have more or fewer imperfections (inclusions) in them.
The diamonds are graded by examining a particular crystal under magnification power of 10x and eye vision. In some areas, microscopes of more than 10x magnification power are used to examine the diamond clearly.
After examining the diamond, a grade is given to it. There are gemological institutes and laboratories that examine the diamond and give a verdict. The grade is then mentioned in the certificate. GIA is one of the most famous and trusted laboratories, and it has a clarity grading chart.
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is a well-reputed laboratory for examining and grading diamonds. Buyers and resellers in the international market easily accept a diamond graded by GIA.
GIA categorizes diamonds on the basis of impurities (inclusions) in them. There are 11 grades on GIA's clarity scale.
A diamond with zero inclusions and blemishes is considered a flawless diamond. This type of crystal is the rarest in nature and is the ideal one. A diamond of FL grade shows no inclusions and blemishes even under a microscope of 10x magnification. That's why these diamonds are known as impurity-free and inclusion-free diamonds.
The diamond that shows blemishes under 10x magnification power and high examination only is graded as IF. IF graded diamonds have some minor blemishes on the upper surface, but they do not have any inclusions in them. They are quite clear, and you cannot see anything from the naked eye. Without any inclusions, these diamonds are very rare and demanded.
It is the category in which diamonds are very close to no inclusions if you see the crystals under high microscopic power. Inclusions in this grade are difficult to be noticed by the viewer under a microscope, and these inclusions cannot be seen by a human's naked eye.
Very Very Slightly Included grade is further divided into two levels. It is very difficult or impossible for a human eye to differentiate a VVS1 and VVS2 graded diamond. However, these diamonds show a minor difference under a 10x magnifying microscope.
VVS1 diamonds come just after Internally Flawless diamonds. They possess minor inclusions that are quite hard to notice even under a powerful microscope. These are considered more clear than VVS2 graded diamonds. They are quite demanded, and people love to get them as they also have no visible inclusions.
VVS2 are positioned second in the VVS clarity grade. These diamonds have barely noticeable inclusions under strict and high examination. It will be difficult for you to find the inclusions using a 10X microscope.
VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds are ranked lower than IF in the clarity chart, but both these diamonds have great value as they are the same as flawless diamonds from the naked eyes.
It is the grade in which minor inclusions are present, and these inclusions can be detected by an expert under high magnification power, usually 10x. These types of diamonds are considered as economical as well as eye-clean. You can save some money if you pick these grades, and they look clean to the eyes.
Such diamonds have inclusion that can be noticeable by using a microscope of 10x magnification. The inclusions are a bit difficult to find but not as hard as in VVS1 and VVS2. Experts can easily find these minor inclusions by using a 10X microscope. But again, the diamond appears clean to the eyes.
Very Slightly Included grade 2 also has noticeable inclusions in the diamond. Inclusions can be easily seen only by experts under a microscope.
In SI diamonds, inclusions can easily be detected by experts under a microscope. The inclusions are also visible to the human eye, and there is no need for a powerful microscope. It is further divided into two levels:
SI1 diamond inclusion can be easily seen under a microscope. It also depends on the cuts and shape of the crystal. Some shapes cover the inclusions and do not allow the naked eye to identify them. However, some diamonds have visible inclusions to the human eye. But the inclusions are barely noticeable.
These diamonds contain inclusions that are easily noticeable compared to SI1. Experts can easily detect this type of diamond. The inclusions are also visible to the naked eye. Jewelers can easily see these inclusions using a loupe; there is no need for a powerful microscope.
The is the lowest category of diamond clarity. In this category, the inclusions can easily be detected with and without a microscope. Moreover, inclusions also affect the quality, transparency, and sparkling property of the diamond.
I1 has the least number of inclusions.
I2 has more visible imperfections than I1. These inclusions dissolve the beauty of the diamond by ruining the sparkling power.
I3 is the lowest grade in the diamond's clarity chart, and the diamond contains many eye-visible inclusions.
The presence of inclusion is not the only factor that affects the quality and price of any diamond. There are some other factors that have strong effects on the diamond's price, durability, and demand.
The position of inclusion matters a lot while grading any diamond crystal. The major position where inclusion pops up and can be detected is the Table facet. It is a large facet and acts as the window of a diamond. Inclusion at this spot will destroy the cleanliness and clarity of the diamond. It will also affect the reflection and refraction of light. On the other hand, some inclusions are present at some small facets and are usually ignored by the wearer and viewer.
It is important to know where the inclusions are. If the inclusions are not clearly visible, you can consider the diamond, but if the inclusions are clearly visible and affecting the look of the piece, you must avoid it.
The number of inclusions can also ruin a diamond's look. A single inclusion at any small facet can be acceptable, but too many inclusions, even of small size, destroy the whole appearance of the crystal. A diamond with many inclusions looks so unnatural and stained. Thus, a diamond with light but many inclusions has a lower grade in the chart.
The inclusion of small size is usually ignored. On the contrary, a large inclusion definitely appears prominently in the crystal; thus, it destroys the look and beauty of the diamond. A small size inclusion can be accepted by people, but a diamond with large inclusion is always rejected by viewers because it gives an impure look to a diamond.
We have discussed inclusions in the upper section and now let's have a look at the types of inclusions. The types also matter a lot, whether the inclusion is visible or unnoticeable.
Pinpoint inclusions look like a black spot in the diamond as blackheads on the skin. It is the most common type of inclusion.
Some diamonds have small holes in them, and it is a rare type of inclusion compared to others. It is considered the worst type of inclusion. A diamond with a cavity is usually unacceptable in the market.
Feather inclusions appear like small cracks in the diamond. Some crystals have cracks from the surface to the bottom. This type of crystal is delicate and cannot be acceptable for dealing purposes.
The diamonds that have inclusions but the inclusions cannot be seen without a microscope are usually known as eye-clean diamonds. The term Eye-clean also refers to a diamond with inclusions but excellent transparency and sparkling features. It does not matter whether the diamond has inclusions or not because the only thing that matters is its clarity for the naked eye. If the diamond is clear to the naked eye, it is eye-clean.
On the GIA scale, the grades FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2 are considered eye-clean diamonds. On the other hand, the grades SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3 are not eye-clean diamonds. Keep in mind that the clarity grade is not enough for the eye-cleanliness because you also need to see the position, size, and type of inclusion.
FL and IF diamonds are ideal and very rare in nature. They are very hard to find because they are near to perfection. These diamonds are the first choice of collectors and investors.
These diamonds are usually considered the most suitable option for buyers because they have minor inclusions. The inclusions are not visible to the eye, so the diamond is eye-clean. Moreover, they are economical as compared to FL and IF diamonds. If you want a clear diamond at a low budget, these are the grades you need to consider.
These are the most avoided and low-value diamonds. These diamonds are mostly used for jewelry where the inclusions are not clearly visible. These are not suitable for loose diamonds. SI can still be accepted, but Included diamonds are usually avoided. Moreover, these diamonds are easily available in the market on a low budget.
Clarity is one of the main concerns while buying a diamond as it is one of the 4Cs. Before selecting any diamond, it is important to understand its clarity according to an international clarity chart. In this article, we have shared a comprehensive guide to all the grades of a diamond. We have discussed GIA grades in detail. Now, you can easily choose the best diamond clarity.
It is important to have a close look at the diamond to know the position, size, and type of inclusion. At every cost, you need to pick an eye-clean diamond. You can also book a free consultation from our experts. We will help you out in selecting the right diamond according to your preferences and budget.