Diamond Clarity
Diamond Clarity: An important when buying a Diamond
Buying a diamond is no easy matter. Regardless whether money is a problem or not, one would want to buy something that is worth its price. In this case shoppers are suggested to look into the 4C aspects in diamond; namely the Cut, the Clarity, the Color and the Carat. This article will focus on Clarity.
Diamond clarity definition
Clarity in diamond is also called Purity in another culture. It refers to how clear – or how pure – a diamond is from defects and imperfections. Based on this understanding, diamond clarity is graded according to the attributes of the imperfections, including here are the numbers of imperfections, the sizes, the positions, the colors and the visibilities to human’s eyes. Some diamonds look absolutely spotless when seen with unaided eye and some others show visible marks. Most of the time, these imperfections do not affect the diamond’s sparkle. Though in some rare cases, the defects are so large that they overshadow the returned light. This means a loss of brilliance for the diamond.
How is diamond clarity graded?
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has a good grading system for diamond clarity. Ranging from the highest quality to the lowest, diamonds are graded as Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), Very Slightly Included (VS), Slightly Included (SI) and Included (I). The GIA skillful graders award these grades based on how difficult it is for them to find the flaws. Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds are very rare since diamonds, like other things in life, are created with defects. FL diamonds are so hard to find that most price reports don’t even have FL listed.
IF diamonds are clean inside, but under 10x magnification, some slight, really tiny bit of dot or two may be found on the surface. VVS and VS diamonds come next in the rare diamond category with still an eye-clean look. This means if you see them with your naked eyes, it’s impossible to see any imperfection. SI diamonds have reasonably good clarity. You can find some visible flaws with your bare eyes in some SI diamonds, but some others could still look spotless. Included diamonds are the worst in the grade list. It shows very visible marks, attained both by nature and by the polishing process. In some diamonds, these marks are so large and dark that they dim the shine of the diamond. This is why diamond enthusiasts started “enhancing” diamond clarity.
What is clarity enhanced diamond?
Clarity enhanced diamond is a diamond that has undergone enhancement process. Diamond enhancement can be done in two ways: fracture filling and laser treatment. Fracture-filled diamonds may have the chance that the filling comes out under very rare circumstances, such as being exposed to fire. But if you buy a fracture-filled diamond, you will get a lifetime guarantee, which is pretty fair. Laser-treated diamond offers permanent treatment, which makes its price higher than the fracture-filled ones. However, both enhancements smoothes the look of the diamond at the same time it reduces the buying price. For some shoppers, this is an advantage enough.
How important is diamond clarity for you?
Everyone has different budget and expectation when it comes to buying diamonds. The higher your budget is, the easier for you to find higher quality diamond. If your budget is restrained, try to get a diamond with medium-graded clarity. You’ll still be able to enjoy its beauty with your naked eyes at the same time saving thousands of dollars for the features that you’ll enjoy more; cut for example. Shop wisely and have fun!
