What is Diamond clarity?
Diamond Clarity is a measure of a diamond’s internal flaws and impurities.
The most expensive types of diamond are the ones that are absolutely clear.
These are somewhat rare as many have what we call inclusions – this means they have scratches or trace minerals which take away from its purity.
Most internal inclusions are formed naturally and are considered as somewhat of a birthmark and the external marks are considered as blemishes.
Below is a six claw engagement ring of very high clarity:
Excellent Clarity
A large, flawless diamond is known as a paragon.
A flawless diamond is categorised as FL, meaning there are no marks of any kind inside or outside.
The next category is:-
• VVS 1 and a VVS 2
This means it is still an excellent quality diamond, the next best thing to a flawless but has a very, very slight mark or ‘inclusion’, which you would not be able to see with the naked eye.
• VS 1 and VS 2,
Very slightly included, not visible to the naked eye, but are typically visible under 10 x magnifications.
• SI 1 SI 2
Are slightly included and may actually be visible to the naked eye.
• SI 3
Slightly included but is usually not recognised by Certified Graders or gemmological institutions
And finally is:
• I 1, I 2, I 3
Image below: Left and centre
‘Visibly included’ to SI 2
When buying the best thing to do is to see the diamond in natural light as sometimes shop lights can mask defects and enhance the sparkle of a diamond unnaturally.
The quote for this blog is:
“The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the lustre of it will never appear”
Daniel Defoe quotation
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Hi there,
Thanks for the information. I was wondering if you believe clarity to be more important than cut, in other words if you were pricing a diamond, which of the two would you prioratise?
Many thanks
I am very glad our information was of help to you.
At Precious we consider the cut to be far more important than clarity. As long as the clarity is above our recommendations, at least a good Si1 accompanied with a reputable certificate and having no visible inclusions.
A Precious diamonds’ light performance will be seen on your jewellery for years to come. The Fire, Brilliance and Scintillation (Sparkle) of a Diamond is largely determined by the skill of the Diamond Cutter when polishing and shaping a Diamond.
Fire is the rainbow of colour and flashes seen in a precious diamond as a result of the white light entering and splitting, unmarred by inclusions into its full spectrum.
Brilliance is a the very bold reflection of white light shining out from within and scintillation is diamond’s allure, the teasing sparkle of glistening light seen from the corners of the facets when you move.
When viewing a diamond always ask to see them under natural light. Shop lights can mask defects in Diamonds and enhance the Diamond’s sparkle unnaturally.
So our recommendation is, provided your diamond is of ‘good’ Si1 clarity … Go for cut!