With this blog post we will delve into one of the Four Cs called clarity. Clarity refers to the stone’s purity and is evaluated while viewing the diamond under 10x magnification. Almost all diamonds contain small natural birthmarks that are present to different degrees. Nature is almost never perfect and because diamonds are natural, that extends to diamonds as well. At Shane Co. we use these marks to identify a specific diamond because each set of marks can serve as a fingerprint that uniquely identifies the stone.
- Why Is There A Spot In My Diamond?
The small specks in almost every diamond consist of “naturals” and can be found on the outside or inclusions on the inside of the stone. Inclusions can be anything that is trapped within the crystal of the diamond and are almost inevitable in all stones. Inclusions can be defined in the following ways.
| Mineral inclusions | A dark spot from a trapped bit of mineral |
| Naturals | Open cavities interrupting the diamond surface that were a part of the original diamond crystal |
| Feathers | Internal cracks or fractures caused by either internal or external stress during the diamond’s formation. |
- How is Clarity Graded?
There are several grading systems that are used within the industry but the most recognized system is the one developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Here is a look at their system.
| FL | Flawless. Shows no inclusions or blemishes of any sort under 10X magnification when examined by an experienced grader. Extremely rare. |
| IF | Internally Flawless. Has no inclusions when examined by an experienced grader using 10X magnification. Very rare. |
| VVS1, VVS2 | Very, Very Slightly Included. Contains minute inclusions that are difficult even for experienced graders to see under 10X magnification. |
| VS1, VS2 | Very Slightly Included. Contains minor inclusions ranging from difficult to somewhat easy to see for an experienced grader when examined under 10X magnification. |
| SI1, SI2 | Slightly Included. Contains inclusions that are easy to very easy to see for an experienced grader under 10X magnification. Some inclusions may be visible to the unaided eye. |
| I1 | Included. Contains obvious inclusions visible to an experienced grader under 10X magnification; can be visible without magnification. |
| I2, I3 | Included. Contains obvious inclusions. Visible without magnification, and may affect durability. |
I hope this helps clear up what the term clarity means as it pertains to diamonds.
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