The 4 C's of Diamond Shopping - a Brief Explanation And Chart of
Clarity
The value
of a diamond is determined by the four C's. Cut, color, carat weight, and clarity. The clarity of the
diamond, also known as the purity, relates to what is inside the diamond. Like the grain in a piece of wood, a
diamond will have growth marks inside it.
Nothing in nature is perfect and the growth marks and minor imperfections in a diamond are
known as inclusions. The fewer inclusions in a diamond, the more valuable it will
be.
Clarity
is graded on a scale ranging from internally flawless to imperfect. The criteria is based on whether someone
with a trained eye can spot the inclusions under 10X magnification. If a trained expert that knows what to look
for can not see any inclusions under 10X magnification the diamond would be labeled internally
flawless.
If just
the slightest little dots or marks are visible under magnification the diamond would be labeled either VVS1 or
VVS2, which stands for very, very small inclusions. If the inclusions are a little larger and a little easier to
find under magnification, the diamond would be categorized as VS1 or VS2 which stands for very small inclusions.
These are still undetectable to the naked eye.
The next
category on the scale is small inclusions which are labeled as SI1, SI2, or SI3. By the time you reach SI2 a
trained eye can start to detect some inclusions without the aid of magnification. At the end of the scale is the
imperfect category labeled as I1, I2, or I3. Again, a good eye can detect these
inclusions.

Most of
the time you will not be able to detect whether a diamond has any inclusions or not. It usually takes a trained
eye and magnification to detect any imperfections. The only reason that a stone with fewer inclusions is more
valuable is because they are also more rare.
Personally I would not buy a diamond with less than a VS2 clarity..
Click Here to learn how I bought a VS2 clarity diamond for $1500.00 below
retail.
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