Diamond Clarity Defined

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 at 1:36 pm

Diamond clarity is a term used to illustrate the lack or presence of flaws inside a diamond and gemstone or on the surface of the stone. Without looking at the gems via a jeweler’s magnification loupe, most imperfections that can be found in jewelry grade diamonds cannot be noticed; and a perfect stone with perfect clarity or clearness is uncommon.If you have ever considered buying diamonds online to save some hard earned cash then I recommend that you go and visit our review of James Allen.com

Terms to Know About Diamond Clarity

Inclusions in Diamond Clarity

* Imperfections or disorders, within a diamond.

* Tiny spots of white, black, or other colors.

* Breaks. There might be no problem for some. But others could potentially cause a split to the stone.

* Crystals with or without colors.

Diamond Blemishes

* Flaws found on the outer surface of the diamond.

* Due to the cutting and polishing procedure, several disorders are on the outer surface of the diamond.

In grading diamond clarity, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses 10 times magnification. Diamond labellings for clarity are the following:

Fl, Flawless

* No internal or external flaws.

IF, Internally Flawless

* No internal defects. There are exterior blemishes, but very minimal.

VVS1 & VVS2, Very, very slightly included.

* Minute inclusions. Difficult to detect, even for a seasoned grader.

VS1 & VS2, Very slightly included

* Tiny inclusions; not easily seen by a skilled grader.

SI1 & SI2, Slightly included

* For a seasoned grader, inclusions are visible.

I1 & I2 & I3, Included

* The diamond’s transparency and brilliance are affected by obvious blemishes.

As described here in detail, we can read that even to an experienced jeweler, imperfections usually cannot be noticed with no magnification. Primarily, they are tiny defects that do not affect a stone’s brilliance. Until level “I” categories are reached will defects begin to deter from the beauty of the stone.

If the clarity of the diamond you select is not close to the top of the scale, you shouldn’t be concerned.

Consider the Spot of Diamond Flaws

Some defects are more noticeable when situated in certain areas; that’s the reason you should consider where a stone’s flaw is found in connection with the diamond’s cut. You can ask advice from your jeweler about poor positions of imperfections.

Because no two stones are identical, the defects provide a road map for us to spot our own diamonds; this was stated by the writer of the book “Diamonds, The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide”; she further motivates to get to know the imperfections within our diamonds.I highly recommend you visit Diamond Ring Shapes For our full in-depth look at diamond shapes.

Clarity Enhancement of Diamonds

Even though treatments can enhance diamond clarity, not all enhancement methods are lasting. Two of the most popular treatments are:

Laser Treated Diamonds

* Some kinds of blemishes are removed with the use of a laser. The laser leaves a path which is usually seen by a seasoned jeweler.

* Clarity enhancements through laser treatments are fixed.

Fracture Filled Diamonds

* The cracks in a diamond, however small, are filled with a colorless chemical.

* Clarity improvement through fracture filling is not permanent.

A diamond seems to be of higher clarity than it truly is, after the treatment. When a stone has been treated, it should be cheaper; therefore your jeweler should be able to evaluate and disclose any type of treatment that has been carried out.

Of the elements considered when purchasing a diamond, clarity is simply one of them. Other factors that you should consider are its color, carat weight and price. The search for the best stone that matches your needs is like a jigsaw puzzle. When you have set all the parts together, that’s when you have the perfect choice for you. I recommend that you visit Easydiamondguide.com For our full guide on buying diamonds.