Most diamonds develop natural “inclusions” such as “crystals” or “feathers” during their formation deep within the earth. Diamond clarity is graded based upon position, colour, number, nature, and size of these inclusions. The fewer the inclusions, the rarer the diamond, and the greater the value.
Flawless and internally flawless diamonds are extremely rare.
Clarity Description
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Flawless
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FL
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No internal or external flaws. Very rare. Very expensive.
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Internally Flawless
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IF
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No internal flaws, slight external blemishes. Very rare. Very expensive.
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Very, Very Slight Inclusions
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VVS1,VVS2
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Inclusions very difficult to see under 10X magnification. Rare and expensive.
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Very Slight Inclusions
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VS1, VS2
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Inclusions difficult to see under 10X magnification. Less expensive than VVS diamonds.
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Slight Inclusions
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SI1, SI2
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Inclusions easy to see under 10X magnification and might be visible to the naked eye. Can be excellent value.
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Included
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I1, I2, I3
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Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Low cost promotional diamonds.
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An inclusion under the middle or the table of the diamond can affect the dispersion of light and make a diamond appear less brilliant, however you can get excellent value with diamonds that have Slight Inclusions (SI1, SI2), especially when inclusions are off to the side or close to the diamond's girdle.
The Diamond Shop Clarity Recommendation
The Diamond Shop recommends clarity gradings VS1 to SI2 for best value.
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