The Four C’s of a Diamond – Clarity January 30, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds , trackbackOne of the telling qualities of a cut and polished diamond is clarity. The gemstone’s near transparency has done a great deal to contribute to both the sense of beauty and the associated value of the diamond.
But how clear is a diamond, really?
The answer, like color, varies from diamond to diamond. Though the gems by and large maintain an overall sense of clarity, diamonds do tend to have minor internal imperfections, known affectionately as birthmarks. Because many of these birthmarks are too small with the naked eye, diamonds have a clarity rating similar to the color, which can seem abstract at first glance.
Clarity Guide
- F – IF (Flawless to Internally Flawless) – these diamonds are as clear as a diamond can be.
- VVS 1 and 2 (Very Very Slightly Included) minute imperfections that are difficult to detect by a trained professional at 10x magnification.
- VS 1 and 2 (Very Slightly Included) as the name might suggest, these diamonds have tiny imperfections that are invisible to the naked eye and still difficult to see under magnification, essentially requiring 10x to make them out. Probably the sweet spot in balancing affordability with clarity
- SI 1 and 2 (Slight Included) The difference between SI1 and SI2 is largely the naked eye. Both have birthmarks that readily evident under magnification, however, the SI2 can occasionally have birthmarks which are visible to the untrained and unaided observer.
- I 1, 2, and 3 – (Inclusions) These diamonds have obvious birthmarks which are easily observed by the naked eye.
Birthmarks Make for Unique Diamonds
Just like a finger print, no two diamonds will have the same set of birthmarks. When a diamond is certified, these birthmarks are noted in a “plot” which can be used to uniquely identify the stone.
That sense of the unique also adds a measure of character to a diamond. Birthmarks that are invisible to the naked eye still affect the diamond by altering the diamond’s light refracting properties. This means that diamonds of the same clarity grade, will sparkle differently.
What grade is right for you?
Danforth Diamond is very careful to sort out any diamonds which are not “eye–clean.” The diamonds that do not meet this measure have inclusions which are visible to the naked eye. This means that Danforth sells diamonds rated at SI1 and better.
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