Diamond 4c's Guide - Clarity
The Diamond's Clarity
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| Review the factors by which diamonds are graded. To understand the basics is to maximize your purchase. |
Clarity is the measure of visible activity within the diamond.
To determine a diamonds clarity, a diamond is viewed loose under 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Most diamonds contain very tiny natural "birth marks" which are known as inclusions. However, the fewer and smaller the inclusions are, the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light though the diamond, and the more beautiful the diamond will be. The impact of clarity is different cuts will vastly vary. For example, where the perfect eye clean result might be achieved in a very finely cut round at "SI2" in an Emerald cut the degree of activity would kill the diamond as a choice, to all but Helen Keller.
Remember that the masking effect of a very well cut diamond, and the brilliance that implies, will help carry what might otherwise be deemed a lower than desired grade. What I mean is that for a client seeking a very eye clean diamond an ideal cut "SI2" can be perfect for both savings and beauty. The clarity of a diamond will have a great impact on costs so geometry becomes a key factor for our choosing our diamonds, and should be for you choosing yours too. Most well cut brillianteered stones will be totally eye clean in the SI1 range and up, where step cut diamonds I highly recommend a clarity of VS1-2 or better for eye clean.
Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. A diamond that is free of both inclusions and surface blemishes is very rare and therefore more valuable. So, the clearer the diamond, the clearer your choice.
While you'll need to vary clarity with different shapes and consider the efficiency of that cut in most cases for a round brilliant SI1 and up is totally perfect to the unaided eye, for step cuts I recommend a VS1 for a sense of perfection.
To determine a diamonds clarity, a diamond is viewed loose under 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Most diamonds contain very tiny natural "birth marks" which are known as inclusions. However, the fewer and smaller the inclusions are, the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light though the diamond, and the more beautiful the diamond will be. The impact of clarity is different cuts will vastly vary. For example, where the perfect eye clean result might be achieved in a very finely cut round at "SI2" in an Emerald cut the degree of activity would kill the diamond as a choice, to all but Helen Keller.
Remember that the masking effect of a very well cut diamond, and the brilliance that implies, will help carry what might otherwise be deemed a lower than desired grade. What I mean is that for a client seeking a very eye clean diamond an ideal cut "SI2" can be perfect for both savings and beauty. The clarity of a diamond will have a great impact on costs so geometry becomes a key factor for our choosing our diamonds, and should be for you choosing yours too. Most well cut brillianteered stones will be totally eye clean in the SI1 range and up, where step cut diamonds I highly recommend a clarity of VS1-2 or better for eye clean.
Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. A diamond that is free of both inclusions and surface blemishes is very rare and therefore more valuable. So, the clearer the diamond, the clearer your choice.
While you'll need to vary clarity with different shapes and consider the efficiency of that cut in most cases for a round brilliant SI1 and up is totally perfect to the unaided eye, for step cuts I recommend a VS1 for a sense of perfection.