Diamond Clarity

Subject: Diamond Clarity Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:11 pm

Diamond Clarity
Chemically the same as the graphite found in a pencil, diamonds are composed of pure carbon that has been subjected to millions of years of tremendous heat and pressure within the Earth. Diamonds are the most popular gemstones for engagement rings because their radiance, fire, and beauty are unrivaled by any other stone. Possessing timeless beauty, diamonds are classic and elegant, making them the perfect stone to symbolize love and commitment.
When shopping for diamonds, you’ll soon realize that all diamonds are not created equal and do not command the same premium price. In the diamond industry, there are four characteristics called “the four C’s” that influence the value of a diamond. They are cut, color, carat weight, and clarity.

What is Clarity?

When jewelers and diamond merchants refer to a diamond’s clarity, they are evaluating how clear the diamond is and whether or not it has a lot of imperfections and blemishes. Naturally forming diamonds develop under great pressures and temperatures over millions of years that can leave flaws in the crystals, which will lower the stone’s value. Ideally, a diamond will be flawless, which will allow the stone to refract and reflect the most amount of light when it is cut, which influences how the stone sparkles and looks.

There are two broad categories of flaws in clarity than a diamond can have. The first type of flaw is called a blemish. Blemishes are imperfections on the surface of the stone and can include flaws like scratches, pitting, and chipping. Sometimes blemishes are the result of the cutting process, although many times they are just a byproduct of the natural formation process. The second kind of flaw in a diamond’s clarity is called an inclusion. Whereas the term blemish refers to surface flaws on the diamond, inclusions are internal flaws. Diamonds with inclusions may have internal cracks, air bubbles, or other types of minerals within them, which can detract from the stone’s beauty.

Clarity Grading

Diamond merchants use a system of letters and numbers to grade the quality of a diamond’s clarity. Grades range from F (flawless) to I3 (Included 3). Diamonds that are graded F (flawless) are extremely rare and cost the most. As the clarity grade of the diamond diminishes, so too will the price of the diamond. Below are the grades for diamond clarity:

F: Flawless diamonds with no external or internal flaws.
IF: Internally flawless diamonds that have small surface imperfections.
VVS1: Very very slightly included diamonds which are hard for even trained experts to detect.
VVS2: Very very slightly included diamonds which are hard for even trained experts to detect. Slightly more imperfect than VVS1.
VS1: Very slightly included diamonds that have inclusions which can be seen with a jeweler’s loupe.
VS2: Very slightly included diamonds that have inclusions which can be seen with a jeweler’s loupe. These have a few more inclusions than VS1.
SI1: Slightly included diamonds that have small inclusions that can be seen easily under magnification.
SI2: Slightly included diamonds that have small inclusions that can be seen easily under magnification. The flaws are more noticeable than SI1 diamonds.
I1, I2, I3: These diamonds are included and have flaws that are visible under magnification and to the unassisted eye.
Clarity Grades and Value

Diamonds with a better grade in clarity cost more than those that are graded lower. To the untrained eye, most diamonds graded above I will look the same without magnification, however, anything below that grade will have flaws that are visible to the naked eye. The grade of the diamond can have a great influence on the price though, despite the flaws being invisible to the naked eye. For each grade below F, the price of the diamond can drop as much as 40% from the price of the previous level. For most people, VS diamonds represent the best compromise between excellent clarity and price.

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