Clarity
Clarity refers to a diamonds internal or external characteristics called inclusions. You can think of them as birthmarks. These marks are graded using four main criteria. This grading is done under 10 power magnification, or 10x the power of the naked eye.
- Where are the inclusions located in the diamond?
- How many inclusions are there?
- What color are the inclusions?(colorless or clear crystals are better than black inclusions)
- How large are the inclusions?
The easiest way to remember clarity is the V’s stand for Very and the S’s stand for Small. A VS diamond will have Very Small inclusions while a VVS diamond will have Very, Very Small inclusions. There are flawless diamonds as well, but these are seldom set in rings as once they are set and worn they wont be flawless any longer...a huge loss in value.
When viewing clarity it is important to view your diamond using a Stereoscopic Gemscope. Our eyes work with one another to create focus and perception, meaning you need to use both your eyes simultaneously to properly and thoroughly examine your diamond for inclusions. Using a Loupe or any other device that limits your inspection to the use of only one eye severely reduces most peoples ability to look into and through the diamond, dramatically increasing the chances you are going to miss inclusions that greatly reduce it’s value.
The most common diamond clarity for engagement rings is VS1 through SI2. These diamonds are clean and beautiful to the naked eye but aren’t nearly as expensive as rarer, higher clarity grade diamonds.
Never buy a diamond online, or anywhere else for that matter, that has already been set in a mounting before you have had the opportunity to thoroughly examine it. There can be large inclusions or damage hidden under prongs that can reduce the value of your diamond by over 50%.