Clarity – Understanding Purity and Inclusions
Clarity – Understanding Diamond Clarity and Inclusions
Clarity describes a diamond’s clarity features – inside and on its surface.
However, a higher clarity grade does not automatically mean that the difference will be visible to the naked eye in the worn piece of jewelry.
What does Clarity mean?
Diamonds can develop various internal and external features during their growth or subsequent processing.
Clarity assessment considers, among other things, the type, size, number, position, and visibility of these features.
What are Inclusions?
Inclusions are features located inside the diamond or extending from the interior to the surface.
They can look very different and may appear, for example, as small crystals, pinpoints, feathers, or other growth features.
Inclusion or Blemish?
Gemological examination distinguishes between internal and predominantly surface features.
Inclusion
A feature inside the diamond, or an internal feature that may extend to the surface.
Blemish
A feature relating to the surface of the cut diamond.
Both types of features may be considered in a professional clarity assessment.
How are Clarity Grades classified?
On the classic clarity scale, the grades range from extremely rare diamonds with no visible clarity features under the specified examination conditions to stones with clearly visible inclusions.
FL & IF
Flawless or Internally Flawless – very high clarity grades.
VVS1 & VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included – Features are very difficult to see under magnification.
VS1 & VS2
Very Slightly Included – small features assessed under magnification.
SI1 & SI2
Slightly Included – Inclusions are more clearly visible under magnification.
I1–I3
Included – Features are more pronounced and may affect the visual appearance or other properties.
No Simple Beauty Value
The clarity grade alone does not determine which diamond is the best choice for a piece of jewelry.
Why 10× magnification matters
Professional clarity assessment is typically performed under 10× magnification and defined viewing conditions.
This makes it possible to assess characteristics that may be barely noticeable or not noticeable at all in everyday conditions.
What does “eye-clean” mean?
In the jewelry trade, the term Eye-Clean, or “eye-clean,” is occasionally used.
It usually means that, under normal viewing conditions, no distracting inclusions are visible to the naked eye.
Not every inclusion has the same visual impact
For clarity assessment, it is not only the presence of a characteristic that matters.
Size
A very small characteristic is assessed differently from a noticeably larger one.
Position
A characteristic near the center can appear visually different from one near the edge.
Contrast
Light, transparent, or darker characteristics can be noticeable to different degrees.
The number, type, and relative location of the characteristics also play a role in the overall assessment.
How is clarity examined?
Gemological professionals examine the diamond under suitable magnification and controlled conditions.
This does not simply involve counting how many inclusions are present.
- Type of clarity characteristics
- Size
- Number
- Position
- Contrast and visibility
- Impact on the overall appearance
How does cut influence perception?
The facet structure and light performance of a diamond can influence how easily certain clarity characteristics are perceived.
A very brilliant diamond can make small characteristics appear visually different from a stone with less pronounced light performance.
Does it have to be VVS or even IF?
Not necessarily. Very high clarity grades may be particularly rare gemmologically, but the visible difference from a selected VS grade can be small in a piece of jewelry when worn.
Maximum clarity
May be worthwhile if a very high gemmological clarity grade is personally particularly important to you.
Balanced clarity
This may leave more budget for Cut, size, or other characteristics without creating a noticeable visual disadvantage.
What does the laboratory report document?
An independent gemmological report documents the established clarity grade of the examined diamond.
Depending on the report, additional information or illustrations of clarity characteristics may be included.
Which Clarity grade is right for me?
- Do not evaluate only the letters on the report.
- Pay attention to the type, size, and position of inclusions.
- Check whether characteristics are noticeable at all without magnification.
- Take the diamond’s size into account.
- Compare Clarity together with Cut and Color.
- Decide how important maximum clarity is to you personally.
- Use the grading report as a source of information, not as the sole basis for your purchase decision.
Clarity at a glance
- Clarity describes internal and external clarity characteristics.
- Inclusions are located inside the diamond or may extend to the surface.
- Blemishes primarily refer to surface features.
- Professional grading is typically carried out at 10× magnification.
- FL, IF, VVS, VS, SI, and I describe different clarity ranges.
- A higher Clarity grade does not automatically mean a visible difference in everyday life.
- Eye-clean is a practical description, but not an official gemmological grade.
- Clarity should always be considered together with the other 4Cs.
Understand clarity. Choose wisely instead of aiming for the maximum.
With Clarity, the fourth quality factor is now explained as well. Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity together provide a much more complete picture of a diamond.
Discover diamond knowledge The 4Cs at a glance Understand Color