Let’s have a peak at the grading of diamonds – let’s talk about clarity!
Today I want to take a look at one of the “4 C’s” of how diamonds are graded. For those that aren’t aware, diamonds are graded in 4 main categories – cut, color, carat and clarity. Today I want to have a close look at one of the biggies – clarity.
The clarity grading scale goes from IF (the best) down to I3 (the worst). In total, there are ten grades that a diamond can be given.
Clarity refers to how many “inclusions” that are present in the stone. In a nut-shell, inclusions are small blemishes or imperfections. They occur naturally when the rock is forming in the earth and they can be found in nearly all diamonds.
In order to place a grade on the diamond, a gemologist looks at the diamond under intense magnification in order to look at any inclusions that are in the stone. The grading is then submitted based on the number of inclusions, and also how apparent or big they are.
As an example, a diamond that is given an IF grading has no inclusions whatsoever. This is extremely rare, and understandably, this type of diamond will have a huge price premium attached to it.
A diamond graded VS2 will have “very slight” inclusions – these will only be noticeable when viewed under a microscope and aren’t noticeable with just the human eye alone. These diamonds sell for a lot less that an IF graded diamond.
Make sure to understand the different ways diamonds are graded. Grab a diamond buying guide - you will be pleased you did in the end as you can save some huge cash on your purchase. It can be the difference between finding an affordable engagement ring instead of shelling out big bucks and filling your jeweler’s bank account.