Diamond Clarity:

Choosing A Stone To Suit Your Taste And Budget

Diamond clarity is an important characteristic pertaining to a diamond that affects its value. Of all the different factors that affect a stone’s worth, diamond clarity is considered to be the least important one. A diamond’s cut is considered to be the most important factor that determines its worth.   

A Diamond’s Inclusions And Blemishes 

Diamond clarity can be defined as the absence of inclusions and blemishes found on either on the inside or on the surface of a diamond. An inclusion is a flaw found on the inside of a diamond while a blemish can be found on its surface. The internal flaws are cracks, knots, or cavities. In general, the clarity grade of a diamond will determine the degree of visibility of these inclusions and blemishes.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a clarity rating scale which measures the degree of inclusions found in diamonds. If a diamond has a rating of FL, it is classified as being flawless. Stones that fall into that category are rare, expensive, and have no imperfections. 

A clarity grade of VVSI refers to a diamond as being very very slightly included. A diamond in this category is not as expensive as one that is flawless. In addition a VVSI diamond’s inclusions are very difficult to be detected with 10x magnification.

A diamond with a clarity grade of VS1 or VS2 is said to be very slightly included. A stone of this grade is also of good quality and may best suit your budget since it is less expensive than a stone with a VVSI clarity grade. If diamond clarity is important to you, a stone of this clarity grade is a good option. 

Diamonds that fall into the S1 or S2 clarity grade will be the best choice for small diamonds. A stones inclusion in this grade is visible under magnification and also may be seen by the naked eye. Stones in this category are also of good value and its diamond clarity will be acceptable as long as one is selected with a better grade of cut.  

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds 

If you cannot afford a diamond with a good clarity grade, you can consider purchasing a clarity enhanced diamond. Two treatments that a diamond most undergo to alter its clarity are laser drilling and fracture filling. If you decide to purchase any type of treated diamond, you should only do so at an online or fine jewelry store that has an outstanding reputation and offers a money back guarantee. 

Lasers have been used to treat diamonds and will help eliminate some of their inclusions. Fortunately, this type of treatment will yield permanent results and this stone’s cost will be less than an untreated diamond. Diamond fracture filling as its name implies uses a colorless liquid to fill cracks found on the inside of a diamond. Unfortunately, this type of treatment does not yield permanent results.  

Improving A Diamond’s Clarity 

If diamond clarity is important to you, a clarity enhanced diamond may be a viable option for you. A reputable online or fine jewelry store should reveal to you before you make a purchase whether the stone has been treated in any way. If you can visit this type of store, you can compare treated and untreated diamonds.

By doing this, you can determine which type you will prefer and will best suit your style preference and budget. Even though diamond clarity is an important characteristic relating to a diamond’s worth, you should also pay attention to its color, carat weight, and cut. By following these tips, you will be able to make an educated decision and find the best quality diamond at an affordable price!