| Clarity
Almost all diamonds contain very tiny natural birthmarks known
as inclusions. To determine a diamond's clarity, an expert
views it under 10 power magnification. In addition to internal
inclusions, surface irregularities are referred to as blemishes.
These two categories of imperfections-inclusions (internal)
and blemishes (external)-make up clarity.
The fewer the imperfections, the rarer and more valuable
the diamond. Many inclusions are not discernable to the naked
eye and require magnification to become apparent. A laboratory-certified
clarity rating of SI2 represents the point at which inclusions
are technically not apparent to the average naked eye.
Clarity is graded using a very precise and complex method
of evaluating the size, location, and visibility of inclusions.
The diagrams to the right show a top view of a round diamond.
The inclusions, shown in red, are an approximate sample for
each clarity rating. The plotted inclusions may not be actual
size for display purposes. Remember, the inclusions depicted
in red are not visible to the average naked eye until the
I1-I3 clarities. |
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The 4
C's
A diamond’s beauty, rarity, and price depend on
the interplay of all the 4Cs - cut, clarity, carat, and color.
Please click on the links below for more information.
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