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Clarity :-
Clarity refers to the relative purity of a diamond. Almost all diamonds will contain a certain amount of impurities, either internally in the form of inclusions, or on the surface of the stone in the form of blemishes..
Diamonds with no surface blemishes or internal flaws are referred to as flawless (FL) and command a very high price see the page a little further on.
Inclusions :-
Inclusions can be helpful in a number of ways. They provide a unique 'fingerprint' and will allow anyone who is familiar with a particular stone to immediately distinguish it from any other.
The amount of inclusions present in a stone will start to have a negative affect on the brilliance of a diamond when you get towards the lower end of the clarity scale. Surface blemishes and internal flaws affect how light travels through a diamond and will therefore directly affect how much it sparkles.
The fewer the inclusions in the stone the better and hence the value.
Beware however of completely clear stones, as naturally flawless stones are rare and very valuable.
A stone without inclusions may well be some other material such as cubic zirconia. GIA Clarity Scale :-
(FL) Flawless
Shows no inclusions or blemishes of any sort under 10X magnification when observed by an experienced grader.
(IF) Internally Flawless
Have no inclusions when examined by an experienced grader using 10X magnification, but will have some minor blemishes.
(VVS1 and VVS2) Very Very Slightly Included
Contains minute inclusions that are difficult even for experienced graders to see under 10X magnification.
(VS1 and VS2) Very Slightly Included
Contains minute inclusions such as small crystals, clouds, or feathers when observed with effort under 10X magnification.
(SI1 and SI2) Slightly Included
Contains inclusions (clouds, included crystals, knots, cavities, and feathers) that are noticeable to an experienced grader under 10X magnification.
(I1, I2, I3) Included
Contains inclusions (possibly large feathers or large included crystals) that are obvious under 10X magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance.
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