Diamond Guide
Clarity measures how free a diamond is from internal inclusions and surface blemishes. Most of them are microscopic and completely invisible to the naked eye.
Clarity grades the tiny natural marks formed as the diamond grew. Nearly all of it is judged at 10x magnification, not with the naked eye.
FL / IF
Flawless
VVS1–VVS2
Very Very Slight
VS1–VS2
Very Slight
SI1–SI2
Slight
I1–I3
Included
Everything up to SI is typically eye-clean. If you need magnification to find it, it does not affect the ring.
No inclusions at 10x. Extremely rare and priced accordingly.
Minute inclusions that are difficult to find even under magnification.
Minor inclusions, hard to spot at 10x. Eye-clean and excellent value.
Noticeable at 10x but often still eye-clean. SI2 needs judging case by case.
Visible to the naked eye. We advise against these for a centre stone.
Clarity is the easiest of the 4 C's to overspend on, because the grade sounds important and the difference is invisible.
Position beats grade. An SI1 with its inclusion tucked near the girdle, where a prong can cover it, beats a VS2 with a mark sitting under the table. Two stones, same paperwork, completely different rings.
Size and shape change the maths. Larger stones spread everything across a bigger window, so inclusions get easier to see. Step cuts like emerald and asscher have open, mirror-like facets that hide nothing, so they deserve a grade or two higher. Brilliant cuts scatter light and forgive a great deal.
We inspect every stone with you at 10x before purchase, so you know exactly what is in your diamond and exactly where it sits.
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