Diamond Clarity
Clarity refers to a diamond’s purity, and the clearer the diamond, the more valuable it is.
In nature, there are very few flawless diamonds as almost all diamonds contain impurities – either internally or on the surface. Surface blemishes and internal flaws affect how the light travels through a diamond and thus affect how much it sparkles. External blemishes, if they’re only small surface nicks or scratches can be polished away and are of little concern. However the internal imperfections, called inclusions, can really affect the diamond’s value as a stone with few imperfections or inclusions is worth more than a flawed one. Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare and very expensive.
Inclusions are naturally occurring features that occur when the diamond is formed, and include identifying characteristics such as trace minerals or fractures. Inclusions are useful as they act as diamond’s fingerprint, allowing anyone who’s familiar with a particular stone to identify it from any other. Generally, inclusions are invisible to the naked eye unless magnified. To view them, gemologists use a magnifying loupe that allows them to see a diamond at 10 times its actual size.
Clarity thus describes the degree to which the diamond is free of inclusions and external blemishes, with inclusions being ranked on a scale of perfection, known as the clarity scale. This scale ranges from F (Flawless) to Included (I) and is based on the visibility of inclusions at 10x magnification.
Before buying a diamond, consider the number, nature and position of inclusions as this can affect its value. A clever gemcutter will work around the inclusions and attempt to minimise them – without detracting from the beauty or brilliance of the diamond. Also, some inclusions can be hidden by a clever mounting.
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