Diamond Clarity

Clarity has to do with what you see inside the diamond when you take a 10x magnification to the top of the diamond. The less inclusions, the better the diamond is in quality. Some inclusions you might see are pinpoints, feathers, clouds, and carbon deposits. The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale has 6 categories, some of which are divided, for a total of 11 specific grades.

• Flawless (FL) No inclusions and no blemishes visible under a 10x magnification
• Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under a 10x magnification
• Very, Very Slight Inclusions (VVS1 and VVS2) Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under a 10x magnification
• Very Slight Inclusion (VS1 and VS2) Inclusions are observed with effort under a 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor
• Slight Inclusion (SI1 and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under a 10x magnification
• Inclusion (I1, I2, and I3) Inclusions are obvious under a 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance

Many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, a VS1 and an SI2 diamond may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality. This is why expert and accurate assessment of diamond clarity is extremely important.