The clarity grade is a subjective determination of the visibility of a diamond's internal and external characteristics. The fewer number of inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, the more desirable and the higher the grade. A flawless diamond, one with no inclusions visible under ten-power magnification, is the most rare and therefore most costly.
Inclusions
Inclusions are found inside the diamond. Inclusions can consist of a single type or a combination of many. The size of the inclusions plays a more important role in determining a diamond’s clarity grade than does the number of inclusions.
TYPES OF INCLUSIONS
Blemishes
Blemishes are only on the surface of a diamond, and are usually very small. They play a lesser role in determining clarity grade than inclusions. If a blemish is minor, it most likely will affect the polish grade but not the clarity grade.
TYPES OF BLEMISHES
Grading Scale
In nature, no diamond is perfect. The grading scale used by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses ten-power magnification to measure and grade diamond clarity. This is considered the industry standard, and is what we use at Since1910.com. They are:
| FL: |
flawless - no blemishes or inclusions under 10 power magnification.
|
| IF: |
internally flawless - no inclusions and only very minor surface blemishes. |
| VVS1: |
very very small microscopic inclusions extremely difficult to see under 10 power magnification. |
| VVS2: |
very very small microscopic inclusions very difficult to see under 10 power magnification. |
| VS1: |
very small microscopic inclusions difficult to see under 10 power magnification. |
| VS2: |
very small inclusions somewhat easy to see under 10 power magnification. These diamonds represent a good value to someone looking for a high quality diamond as the very small imperfections do not affect the beauty of the diamond. |
| SI1: |
small inclusions that are easy to see under 10 power magnification. This clarity is an excellent choice for someone looking to stay within a budget but wants a diamond that will look as good as a higher clarity diamond except when viewed under magnification. |
| SI2: |
small inclusions that are very easy to see under 10 power magnification. Depending on their location within the diamond, they may sometimes be visible to the naked eye without magnification.They are priced attractively and usually no noticeable difference can be seen without magnification. If you wish you may call a since 1910 representative to look at a particular diamond to verify if it is clean to the eye. |
| I1* |
imperfect with inclusions that are obvious to the unaided eye and may affect the diamond's durability. |
| I2* |
imperfect with inclusions that are very obvious to the unaided eye and may affect the diamond's durability. |
| I3* |
imperfect with inclusions that are extremely obvious to the unaided eye and pose a definite threat to the diamond's durability. |
*At Since1910.com, we will not sell I1, I2, and I3 clarity diamonds.
It is worth noting that emerald cut and asscher cut diamonds, due to how these diamonds are cut, do not exhibit the brilliance of the other cuts; thus, they are more likely to show visible inclusion in the SI1 and the SI2 grades. This is especially true if the inclusions are in the center of the diamond. If you are considering this type of diamond, we advise you to have a since1910.com representative examine the diamond before you purchase it. However, keep in mind that it can be difficult to see an SI2 inclusion without magnification in the round brilliant cut because it displays the most brilliance of all the cuts.
Below is a table showing how clarity influences price in an excellent cut 1 carat round brilliant G color diamond.
Visit the Gemological Institute of America for more information.