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A Simple Look at Diamond Clarity
Not all diamonds were created equal. They vary widely in quality, size, colour, and contain lesser or few flaws in the crystalline structure. Clarity is just what it sounds like – how clear the stone is, and that does vary too. The finest and clearest stones are usually reserved for the centrepieces of wedding and engagement rings. Those that aren’t clear enough find their way into less outstanding pieces of jewellery or are used for other purposes.
Pure diamond with a perfect crystal structure is completely clear, but small internal cracks can appear as whitish spots in the stone. A tiny trace of another element inside will also damage the clarity of diamonds. There could even be a tiny hole or bubble that affects clarity. Sometimes these patches will be removed and fancy cuts made with the remaining stone, but often this isn’t practical and if clarity isn’t much affected, they are ignored.
Clarity grading is done under 10x magnification by a skilled judge who knows exactly what to look for. Various classification systems are used, but most agree at least on the two top categories F or Flawless and IF or Internally Flawless, which are perfect stones for wedding and engagement rings of the most premium quality. Some scales combine the two categories and just use IF for outstandingly clear stones. There are usually two VVS (Very Very Small flaws in clarity) categories next and two VS. You still won’t be able to se any fault in these just by looking without magnification, and diamonds with these clarities are considered excellent for jewellery.
Related posts:
- Why is diamond clarity important?
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Finding the perfect diamond is a rare occurrence and diamonds without some flaws or blemishes are extremely expensive. In most diamonds you will some inclusions and flaws and it is these imperfections, both size and amount, that determine a diamond’s clarity. Types of Inclusions and Flaws in Diamonds Inclusions In...
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