Diamond Clarity

What is Diamond Clarity?

When buying a diamond ring, it’s important to check the diamond clarity, especially if you’re looking for a ring that is free from flaws. Diamond clarity refers to the presence of internal stone inclusions and minor blemishes on the diamond’s surface. These imperfections affect the purity of the diamond, which can ultimately affect the sparkle and cost of the stone.

Clarity is just one of the 4 C’s regarding diamond quality, with the others being cut, colour, and carat. When it comes to clarity, carat weight can make defects like inclusions more pronounced. Cut can also affect the visibility of inclusions, but the colour is unlikely to make these more noticeable.

Are Inclusions a Sign for Inferior Quality?

Inclusions are found inside the diamond and are an entirely natural occurrence. Since diamonds are made beneath the earth’s surface in extremely hot and pressurised conditions, inclusions are a common side-effect. Depending on the size of the inclusion, it may not be apparent to the naked eye; most are only noticeable with 10X magnification.

Although technically flaws, inclusions and surface blemishes can actually make a diamond ring more distinctive and are a favourable addition for many clients. Considering the unique way in which diamonds are made, many view these slight imperfections as special characteristics rather than faults.

Clarity Grades

The GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) created a diamond clarity scale, an internationally acknowledged chart by which all diamond retailers use to measure stone quality. The chart consists of 6 classifications, with a few sub-categories. All in all, this equals 11 grades in total.

At 10x magnification

FL - flawless

At 10x magnification

IF - internally
flawless

At 10x magnification

VVS - very, very
small
inclusions

At 10x magnification

VS - very small
inclusions

At 10x magnification

SI - small
inclusions

At 10x magnification

I - inclusions

VVS1 & VVS2

VS1 & VS2

SI1 & SI2

I1, I2, & I3

As the name suggests, flawless diamonds are without any imperfections. A flawless diamond is very rare to come across since it means that there are no visible surface marks or inclusions, even under 10X magnification. Due to the extreme rarity of these diamonds, they are costly.

With an internally flawless diamond, the inside part of the stone is inclusion-free, even under 10X magnification. However, the outer surface may have small marks or have a slightly grainy texture, but these diamonds will have an exceptionally clean eye in general.

VVS1 & VVS2

VVS1 & VVS2

This grade is assigned to diamonds with slight inclusions that are barely visible under 10X magnification. It is hard, even for a skilled grader, to see them. VVS1 refers to inclusions in the pavilion area of the diamond, with VVS2 used to describe slight inclusions in the crown.

Very Slightly Included (VS1 & VS2)

VS1 & VS2

If a diamond is very slightly included, then minor inclusions are visible under magnification. However, some effort is needed by the grader to view them when observed with a magnifier.

SI1 & SI2

SI1 & SI2

A diamond that is slightly included has more noticeable inclusions that can be seen under 10X magnification. SI2 inclusions may be more easily detectable to the naked eye than those on SI1 diamonds.

I1, I2, & I3

I1, I2, & I3

Included diamonds have more obvious surface defects and inclusions which are very apparent under magnification. These inclusions can affect the diamond’s overall shine, sparkle, and clarity.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Each AURONIA ring made with a 0.3 carat diamond or bigger comes with a GIA-grade diamond to assure quality. All GIA certified diamonds that we use at AURONIA are Triple X cut, meaning the stone is excellent regarding its cut, polish, and symmetry.

GIA Certification

GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) is the leading global body regarding the grading and evaluating of gemstones. The GIA clarity scale enables all diamonds to be graded under an internationally standardised system to help customers purchase the best quality stone.

GIA examines diamonds before giving them a certificate that details all of the critical characteristics of the stone, including the clarity grade and whether there are any other noticeable surface blemishes.

As well as the above, certified GIA gemstone certificates include other information about the diamond, such as the shape, cut, carat, and colour. Certificates can also provide information about the fluorescence, polish, and symmetry of the diamond. Each certificate also contains a detailed diagram of the diamond’s proportions.

With a GIA-certified diamond, customers can rest assured that they are buying a piece of jewellery with a quality gemstone. The level of detail and research that goes into examining each diamond is first-class and carried out to the highest standards.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Does Clarity Matter?

Although minor inclusions and marks on a diamond are not a dealbreaker when it comes to buying a ring, clarity is an important factor to consider. Here are some tips to keep in mind when purchasing a diamond ring.

The lower the clarity of a diamond, the more flaws it has. Even if many of these flaws are internal and not visible on the diamond’s surface, this can seriously dull the stone's sparkle, creating a cloudy effect.

If you want a diamond that catches the light and disperses it into colours, then it is important to consider other characteristics of the gemstone. While clarity affects a diamond’s fire, the cut can also significantly affect the sparkle. The number of facets and the way they are balanced affects how the stone catches and reflects the light. If you want to minimise the appearance of inclusions, then purchase a stone with more facets.

As well as the above, the diamond's shape and size will affect how the diamond catches the light. For example, if you have a large carat with inclusions, then this can interfere with the diamond’s fire.

Therefore the heavier the carat, the more essential it is that you consider the clarity. Size magnifies everything with diamonds and can make VS1 or VS2 inclusions visible to the naked eye, affecting your ring's overall appearance.

However, it is important to bear in mind that lower clarity does not mean a diamond is worthless. For many, inclusions are not a major issue and can be easily overlooked if the diamond has excellent characteristics in other areas. Moreover, any diamond with an SI1 grading or higher is unlikely to be visibly blemished.

The heavier the carat, the more essential it is to consider the clarity.

Not only does the wedding band affect how the diamond’s colour appears, but so does the shape and cut. A diamond with fewer facets will have a larger surface area, meaning that the colour is more pronounced. If you have a lower-grade diamond and want it to appear as colourless as possible, stick to a round shape; this will make the yellow hue seem more muted.

Size also affects diamond colour. The larger the carat weight, the more prominent the colour will be; for this reason, most people tend to purchase a colourless diamond if they choose a large carat size.

AURONIA's Recommendation

We recommend opting for a balance across the 4 C’s when it comes to buying a diamond ring. If you are purchasing a diamond with a larger carat, don’t opt for an I1 ring. Likewise, if the carat is small, then you probably don’t need an FL rated diamond. Remember that the better the clarity, the more expensive a diamond ring will be.

The heavier the carat, the more essential it is to consider the clarity.

AURONIA's Recommendation

Diamond Clarity at AURONIA

At AURONIA, we offer four different standards of clarities: IF, VVS, VS and SI. The diamonds we use are meticulously analysed to ensure that customers get an accurate grading. The gradings we use guarantee that any inclusions are not easily visible to the eye and won’t interfere with the way the diamond reacts to light, or the shine of the stone.

At times, a diamond may fall in between two grade bands. If this happens, we will always assign the gemstone to the lower grade class. This ensures that we never falsely increase the diamond’s quality if it hasn’t met the higher grade’s criteria.

AURONIA's Guarantee

All AURONIA diamond rings with a carat size larger than 0.3 are GIA certified. None of our diamond rings possess any flaws that can be easily seen; inclusions on our diamonds are only detectable by trained professionals. Therefore, even if you opt for a ring with a lower clarity grade, this should not affect the ring’s overall appearance.