Saint Petersburg Philharmonics | Grades Of Diamond Clarity And VVS Diamonds - A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.

silver diamond rings For centuries now, diamonds have remained the most coveted of all gemstones. The beauty of a diamond is often associated with its clarity.

So, what factors determine the clarity of a diamond? To be able to answer this question, we must first understand the process of diamond formation.

Diamonds were created approximately 3 million years ago when the carbon atoms present in the Earth’s crust underwent the process of crystallization and transformed into precious stones under the effect of immense heat and pressure. However, not every diamond was created equal — the heat and pressure that caused crystallization also caused the appearance of inclusions and blemishes in diamonds. The term ‘inclusion’ refers to the internal defects in a diamond while the term ‘blemishes’ refers to its surface flaws.

What Is Diamond Clarity?

Diamond clarity is a metric used to study the minute imperfections present on a diamond’s surface and within it. Heat and pressure play an important role in the formation of diamonds and thus, inclusions and blemishes are inevitable. However, it must be highlighted that most of the imperfections that exist within a diamond cannot be seen by the naked eye and are often referred to as ‘internal characteristics’ by gemologists as they give diamonds their natural character, which is analyzed in detail on other source for instance click this link.

Studying diamond clarity involves studying the number, nature, size, position, and relief of these internal characteristics and assessing how these internal characteristics affect the beauty and quality of a diamond. The diamonds with the highest clarity have fewest and minutest imperfections and thus, are priced very high. Every diamond has some internal characteristics and no diamond is pure. However, the more pure a diamond, the higher will be its clarity.

What Factors Determine the Diamond Clarity Grade?

Before we can discuss the six categories on the diamond clarity grade scale, we must attempt to understand how varying factors affect a diamond’s clarity. Here we discuss the most important of these factors.

Size of Inclusions

The clarity grade of a diamond will be much lower when there is the presence of several different clarity characteristics.

Number of Internal Characteristics

The count of internal characteristics also affects the clarity of a diamond — the more the number of internal characteristics, the lower will be the diamond clarity.

Location of Inclusions

An inclusion located close to the center of the diamond will impact the diamond clarity more than an inclusion located on the girdle of the diamond. Similarly, if inclusion is located near the pavilion, it will get reflected, thereby lowering the diamond clarity grade.

Nature of Inclusions

The nature of the inclusion takes into account the type and depth of the inclusion. However, it must be highlighted that any characteristic restricted to the surface and that has not penetrated the diamond is considered a blemish and not inclusion.

Relief

The relief indicates how noticeable the inclusion is on the host diamond. The more the relief, the darker will be the diamond, and the lower will be its diamond clarity grade.

Diamond Clarity Grades Explained

In 1953, Richard T. Liddicoat, an American Gemologist, founded the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) diamond grading system and clarity scale. The GIA has six categories, with some of the categories further divided, leading to 11 specific grades. Here are we discuss these six broad categories.

Flawless and Internally Flawless Diamonds

silver and gold diamond ring Flawless diamonds have no inclusions or characteristics and are extremely rare. The inclusions and blemishes present on flawless diamonds cannot be seen with even 10X magnification by even the most skilled graders.

These diamonds also tend to be far smaller in size and of all the diamonds found in the world, less than 0.1% fall under the flawless category. Flawless diamonds, therefore, tend to be incredibly expensive. Internally flawless diamonds, on the other hand, have no inclusions but can have minute blemishes, detectable in 10x magnification. Most of the blemishes are polish lines left behind during polishing. The good thing is that these blemishes do not affect the sparkle of the diamond and thus, internally flawless diamonds are also highly coveted and incredibly expensive.

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) Diamonds

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVSI) diamonds are further sub-categorized into Very, Very Slightly Included 1 (VVS1) diamonds and Very, Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS2) diamonds.

Very, Very Slightly Included 1 (VVS1) Diamonds

Very, Very Slight Included 1 or VVS1 diamonds have very minute, either pin-point or natural inclusions that are not detectable even under 10x magnification. A skilled grader may be able to see these inclusions, especially if they exist near the pavilion. However, the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. VVS1 diamonds have almost the same appeal and sparkle as Flawless or Internally Flawless diamonds. However, since these diamonds have minute inclusions, they are more affordable than Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds and offer better value for money.

Very, Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS2) Diamonds

Very, Very Slightly Included 2 or VVS2 diamonds have minute inclusions that are visible under magnification. However, these inclusions do not compromise the quality or the sparkle of the diamond and thus, VVS2 diamonds are considered to be high-grade, high-quality diamonds. The most common types of inclusions found on VVS2 diamonds include cloud, feather, natural, and pinpoint inclusions.

Very Slightly Included (VS) Diamonds

This broader category is further divided into two sub-categories: Very Slightly Included 1 (VS1) and Very Slightly Included 2 (VS2).

Very Slightly Included 1 (VS1) Diamonds

Very Slightly Included or VS1 diamonds have small inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye but can impact the brilliance of a diamond. Cloud, crystal, feather, indented natural, and needle are the common types of inclusions found in VS1 diamonds. VS1 diamonds are quite popular among jewelry lovers.

Very Slightly Included 2 (VS2) Diamonds

Very Slightly Included 2 or VS2 diamonds have inclusions that are only slightly bigger than the inclusions present on VS1 diamonds. The common types of inclusions found in these diamonds include cloud, crystal, feather, indented natural, and twinning wisp inclusions. Though these inclusions are slightly bigger, they are still not visible to the naked eye — only a skilled grader can separate a VS2 from a VS1 diamond. VS2 diamonds are more affordable and thus, buyers going with this variety can choose a higher carat or better cut for the same price.

Slightly Included (SI) Diamonds

Slightly Included diamonds are further categorized into two categories: Slightly Included 1 (SI1) and Slightly Included 2 (SI2).

Slightly Included 1 (SI1)

Slightly Included diamonds have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. However, in the case of Slightly Included 1 or SI1 diamonds, the inclusions are mostly small and not visible to the unaided eye. SI1 diamonds with inclusions located off-center are considered a better choice than diamonds with inclusions close to the center. Slightly Included diamonds are not easy to find. However, their affordable price and good brilliance make them a popular choice.

Slightly Included 2 (SI2)

SI2 diamonds possess good brilliance. However, the inclusions located on these diamonds may have inclusions visible to the naked eye. If you are planning to buy an SI2 grade diamond, it’s a better idea to choose a diamond with many small inclusions over a diamond with a big inclusion. Similarly, buyers must also refrain from investing their money in an SI2 diamond with a large and central cloud or crystal inclusions as these types of inclusions are easily noticeable to the naked eye. Inclusions found in SI2 diamonds are mostly black.

Included Diamonds

Included diamonds are further categorized into I1, I2, and I3 categories. Though the I1 category has inclusions visible to the naked eye, these inclusions do not significantly affect the brilliance of the diamond. Thus, those shopping on constricted budgets or looking for budget-friendly choices can opt for these diamonds. Common I1 inclusions include clouds, crystals, feathers, and knots. Steer clear of any I1 diamond with a single large inclusion. I2 and I3 diamonds, on the other hand, have inclusions large enough to meddle with the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. Thus, jewelers often advise against investing in I2 and I3 diamonds.

Here Are a Few Tips on How to Get Best Value for Money While Buying Diamonds

Of all the four Cs, diamond clarity is perhaps the most important factor to consider while buying a diamond. However, many people presume that a high-clarity grade that burns holes in pockets will sparkle the best and thus, is the best choice. This is a misconception. The truth is VS and SI grades are considered to be the best choices while buying diamonds as the inclusions in these diamonds are not noticeable to the naked eye and do not affect the brilliance of the diamond. At the same time, their affordable pricing allows buyers to also focus on the other Cs, i.e. cut, color, and carat. Further, buyers must also know that a diamond’s cut and color also affect its clarity. Thus, if you are planning to buy a big diamond in a fancy shape, such as the Asscher or Emerald cut, it is a better idea to invest in a higher quality grade diamond.

We hope this guide has been successful in clearly explaining the diamond clarity grade chart to its readers and will allow them to make the right choice while buying their next diamond.