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Clarity
Clarity
refers to the presence of internal flaws or inclusions in a diamond. The
type and placement of these imperfections are often as significant as
their presence when determining the value of a diamond. Generally, the
fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond.
These flaws will normally be invisible to the naked eye and require
viewing by a jeweler's magnifying loupe in order for them to be discerned
and appreciated.
Clarity Grading Scale of the Gemological Institute of America:
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FL - IF |
Flawless or Internally Flawless. FL diamonds are very rare and exhibit no inclusions even under 10X magnification. IF may show minor blemishes. |
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VVS1 - VVS2 |
Very, Very Small Inclusions. Requires 70X magnification to observe minute inclusions. |
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VS1 - VS2 |
Very Small Inclusions. Requires 30X magnification to clearly view inclusions. These appear as feathers, clouds or small crystals. |
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SI1 - SI2 - SI3 |
Small Inclusions. Described as clouds, crystals, knots, cavities and feathers observed clearly with 10X magnification. |
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I1 - I2 - I3 |
Imperfect-Eye-Visible Inclusions |
Crystals are mineral deposits inside the diamond. Clouds are specks that
give a diamond a milky appearance. Feathers are small tiny cracks that
look like feathers. Other common inclusions are called Pinpoints,
Naturals, Scratches, Knots and Cavities.
Inclusions are significant in terms of their effect to block and divert
the flow of light through a diamond. Additionally they provide each
diamond with a unique fingerprint that makes it unique and identifiable,
primarily through certification by Diamond Grading Reports.
Carat
A diamond's weight is expressed in carats, and one carat is roughly
equivalent to 200 milligrams. Each carat has 100 points, and fractions of
a carat can be decimally expressed as equivalent points. For example a
3/4-carat diamond has 75 points.
The complication of decimally expressing fractional carat weight is the
industry norm of giving fractional carat weight a broad decimal range to
maintain its qualification within a particular fractional carat weight.
For example, a 1/2-carat diamond may have between 45 and 58 points and
still be considered a 1/2-carat stone.
Diamond prices may increase disproportionately with the size of a stone
because larger-sized diamonds are more rare.
While it is a primary measure of a diamond's value, carat weight in no way
exceeds the importance of cut, clarity and color in estimating the worth
of a diamond. All 4Cs must be taken into consideration when looking for
the best diamond to meet your budget.
