Diamond Clarity Scale
- FL-"Flawless" no inclusions at 10 x magnification
- IF-"Internally Flawless" no inclusions at 10 x mag.-small blemishes
- VVS-1-"Very Very Small" inclusions hard to see at 10 x magnification
- VVS-2-"Very Very Small" inclusions. VVS1 better than VVS2
- VS-1-"Very Small" inclusions visible at 10 x mag.-not naked eye
- VS-2-"Very Small" inclusions VS1 is better grade than VS2
- SI-1-"Small" or "Slight" Inclusions or "Imperfections" may be "eye clean"
- SI-2-"Small" or "Slight" Inclusions or "Imperfections" visible to naked eye
- SI-3-Inclusions large and obvious, little or no brilliance
- I1 to I3-Imperfect, with large Inclusions, fractures, and flaws
In order to grade the clarity of a diamond, it is necessary to observe the number and nature of any internal characteristics in the stone as well as their size and position. A stone's relative position on a flawless-to-imperfect scale. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions (internal) or blemishes (external). The size, number, position, nature, and colour or relief of characteristics determine the clarity grade. Very few diamonds are flawless, that is, show no inclusions or blemishes when examined by a skilled grader under 10x magnification. If other factors are equal, flawless stones are most expensive. This Diamond Clarity Grading is carried out using the IGI scope and a loupe 10x under the experienced eye of laboratory gemologists. A diamond is said to be "Internally Flawless" when it presents no internal defects under 10x magnification.
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Internally Flawless |
Very Very Slightly include_onced |
Very Slightly include_onced |
Free from internal blemishes visible under 10x magnification (small external details tolerated). |
Inclusions and/or external blemishes very difficult to locate under 10x magnification. |
Inclusions and external blemishes difficult to locate under 10x magnification. |
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Slightly include_onced |
Imperfect |
Imperfect |
Imperfect |
Inclusions and external blemishes easy to locate under 10x magnification. |
Inclusions and external blemishes hard to locate with naked eye. |
Inclusions and external blemishes easy to locate with naked eye. |
Heavy inclusions very easy to locate with the naked eye. |