Everyone knows that diamonds are valuable — but not everyone understands that their value rises in line with their clarity. To determine the purity or clarity of your diamond, it’s helpful to refer to a diamond clarity chart, this is a key step for anyone looking to invest in a dazzling piece of jewellery. We’re sharing our essential guide to interpreting diamond clarity, and we’ve provided all the guidance you need to help you make a purchase that’ll leave your loved one speechless.
What does diamond clarity mean?
Diamond clarity is the qualitative metric helpful in grading the visual appearance of every diamond.
What impacts the clarity of a diamond?
The amount and significance of blemishes or inclusions on a diamond will determine where it sits on the diamond clarity grade scale. Clarity refers to the lack of blemishes or impurities a diamond has, and though flawless diamonds do exist, they are extremely rare with only 0.5-1% of stones categorised as totally blemish free. and the fewer blemishes it has, the purer it is.
While clarity is an important consideration when buying a diamond, there are other considerations as well, including its colour, cut, and the diamonds origin i.e. natural v/s lab diamonds.
How are diamond blemishes and inclusions graded?
Every diamond available to purchase is graded by an expert diamond grader under 10x magnification, and subsequently, graded in accordance with the clarity grading methodology. They’ll pay close attention to each precious stone, determining the size, number, type and position of inclusions. When viewed with the naked eye, a slightly included diamond will look like a very slightly included one under magnification. During the grading process, the diamond is kept in an upright position and examined carefully, reviewed against the diamond clarity grades.
To provide you with a deeper understanding of the clarity level of each diamond, leading grading entities like Gemological Institute of America (GIA) analyse the stone and apply a clarity grade depending on its appearance — assigning every stone a clarity grade using the values of the scale. We’ve listed the ways in which the clarity of a diamond is measured below:
- Flawless diamonds: No blemishes or inclusions when viewed with 100x magnification.
- Internally flawless diamonds: No inclusions when viewed with 100x magnification.
- Very, very slightly included diamonds: There are inclusions but difficult to see with 100x magnification.
- Very slightly included diamonds: Minor inclusions can be seen with 10x magnification.
- Slightly included diamonds: Inclusions can be seen with 10x magnification.
- Included diamonds: Inclusions can be clearly seen with 10x magnification, and they can affect the brilliance of the diamond.
Why is understanding diamond clarity so important?
It’s important to understand the different grades of clarity before purchasing a diamond, as a diamond with poor quality might not be a piece that you’ll admire for years to come — but it’s essential to know exactly what you’re investing in. Poor quality diamonds can look dirty over time, but in the same vein, many inclusions won’t be visible to the naked eye. Knowing how your diamond of choice fares on the scale can simply help you to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your precious stone.
Our team of consultants will be able to provide a wealth of guidance on diamond clarity, simply visit us in store at the Australian Diamond Company, book an appointment online or call us on 1300 221 577.
