What is diamond clarity?

Diamonds look beautiful, but when zoomed in, there are tiny inclusions within a diamond, or blemishes on the surface. If a diamond has greater clarity and fewer inclusions and blemishes, it is more valuable. Flawless and internally flawless diamonds are the most valuable.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the industry standard in diamond grading.

• Flawless (FL) No blemishes and no inclusions under x10 magnification

• Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under x10 magnification; there could be minor blemishes on the surface

• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) Tiny inclusions that are difficult for a skilled grader to see under x10 magnification

• Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) With some effort, some minor inclusions are observed under x10 magnification.

• Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under x10 magnification

• Included (I1, I2, and I3) Inclusions are large under x10 magnification, which may affect the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond.

Therefore, when buying diamonds, try to go for at least VVS or VS diamonds.

Diamond clarity - Cosmosgood

Source: Gemological Institute of America (GIA)