A close look at how a diamond is graded – let’s talk about clarity!
This time I want to have a look at one of the “4 C’s” of diamonds. In case you don’t know, diamonds are ranked in 4 main categories – cut, color, carat and clarity. Let’s take a close look at the last one – clarity.
The range for grading clarity goes from IF (the best) down to I3 (the worst). In total, there are 10 grades that a diamond can fall into.
Clarity refers to the number of “inclusions” that are found in the stone. Basically, inclusions are small blemishes or imperfections. These form naturally when the rock is forming in the earth and inclusions are found in almost all diamonds.
In order to place a grade on the diamond, a gemologist looks at the diamond under magnification to look at the inclusions that are in the stone. The grading is then decided on how many inclusions, and also how noticeable or large they are.
As an example, a diamond that is given an IF grading has no inclusions at all. This is extremely rare, and understandably, this type of diamond will have a huge price premium attached to it.
A diamond graded VS2 will have “very slight” inclusions – these are only noticeable when viewed under a microscope and aren’t noticeable with just the naked eye. These diamonds sell for significantly less that an IF graded diamond.
It’s important to understand the different ways diamonds are graded. Grab a diamond buying guide - you will be pleased you did in the end and will make it possible to save a lot of money on your purchase. Just a little education will be the difference in finding an affordable engagement ring instead of overpaying and putting a huge smile on your jewelers face.
Related posts:
- A Buyers Guide to Diamond Engagement Rings No engagement is complete without the diamond engagement ring. Engagement...
- The Ideal Diamond Earrings Diamonds are considered to be the most valuable type of...
- A diamond shines with the light Light is the element which adds fire and flame to...
- Consider Interesting Designer Diamond Necklaces Diamonds have been a tradition for centuries. The most common...
- Loose Diamond Buying Tips You should consider getting an engagement ring that is especially...
