You’ve probably heard someone talk about the clarity of a diamond. This is one of the terms known as the 4C’s, (color, carat, cut, clarity), that help in describing the quality and value of a diamond. But what exactly is clarity? How is it judged?
The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale
The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale is a universal way to determine the clarity of a diamond. It contains 6 major categories, with 5 subcategories inside the major categories. This permits a stone to be given any 1 of 11 grades. To understand the scale, it helps to realize that diamonds are created by incredible pressure and heat from carbon, deep underground.
The pressure and heat the carbon is subjected to can create internal flaws called inclusions and external flaws termed blemishes, although most are not even visible to the naked eye. The inclusions, or internal characteristics, are formed by solids, gases, or liquids trapped inside the mineral. The outer blemishes can be nicks, pits, scratches, abrasions, or other imperfections. Diamonds are rated as to the extent of these flaws. All diamonds are viewed for rating under 10x magnification, and are rated as follows:
- Included (l1,l2, l3): Obvious inclusions under 10x magnification that affect brilliance and transparency
- Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification
- Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Minor inclusions, observed with effort under 10x magnification
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): These are inclusions so minor when viewed under 10x magnification, they are difficult for a skilled grader to see
- Internally Flawless (IF): Under 10x magnification, diamond is free of inclusions
- Flawless (FL): Under 10x magnification, no visible blemishes or inclusions are visible
Trails On Falls
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