The clarity of a diamond refers to the quality of diamonds with no inclusions but may still have surface defects.
Clarity is a crucial factor in determining the value of a diamond. A diamond without inclusions is considered pure. Differences in clarity between stones that appear similar can be challenging to establish, and only a “gemologist” with the help of white light and a loupe can determine whether a diamond is VS1 or VVS2. To the untrained eye, two diamonds may appear identical, yet there is a difference in quality. That’s why it’s always better to purchase a diamond from a trustworthy expert to avoid any ambiguity when you decide to resell it.
Make sure to ask for the characteristics of the diamond you plan to buy.
Here are some examples:
VVS1/VVS2: Clarity grade given to a diamond with very tiny inclusions and surface defects that are very difficult to detect with a loupe.
VS1/VS2: Clarity grade assigned to a diamond that, when examined under a microscope, reveals minor surface defects and inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye.
SI1–SI2: Includes slight inclusions and external defects easily visible with a loupe.
P1–P2–P3: Inclusions and external defects visible to the naked eye.
To determine the clarity of your diamond, please feel free to contact us. We analyze many diamonds and leverage our extensive experience.
Diamond purity:
When it crystallized, the diamond underwent various inclusions from its place of origin. Thus, the significance of these inclusions, their nature, number, and location have had an impact on the diamond’s purity and individual rarity. These criteria significantly influence the price. Furthermore, upon discovery, it had a certain orientation, and this orientation can affect the diamond’s light-handling capability.
The evaluation of a diamond’s purity is governed by international standards. Here are some details to help you understand better:
IF (Internally Flawless): A diamond is considered “pure” when an expert has examined it ten times under magnification using an achromatic and aplanatic loupe under normal lighting. The diamond should be free of inclusions and transparent.
VVS1-VVS2 (Very Very Slight Inclusions): Tiny inclusions are challenging to spot under 10x magnification.
VS1-VS2 (Very Slight Inclusions): Very small inclusions are still difficult to see under 10x magnification.
SI1-SI2 (Slight Inclusions): Small inclusions can be seen easily under 10x magnification but are invisible to the naked eye when viewed from the crown.
PI (Piqué 1st grade): Inclusions are also easy to see under magnification and remain invisible to the naked eye when viewed from the previous position. However, these inclusions do not affect the diamond’s brilliance.
PII (Piqué 2nd grade): Several inclusions can be easily seen by the naked eye when viewed from the same position. This time, the inclusions have a slight effect on the diamond’s brilliance.
PIII (Piqué 3rd grade): Many inclusions are visible to the naked eye and significantly affect the diamond’s brilliance.
Our advice is to choose a diamond that is not perfectly pure at 10x magnification. It’s better to select clarities that do not endanger the diamond’s brilliance, such as SI.