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How To Buy A Diamond |
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Diamond Clarity
How To Buy A Diamond: Understanding Diamonds
A good understanding of diamonds is necessary
before you begin shopping. We've put the basics together here to
help guide you. Learning about diamonds is really learning about
the "four Cs" of diamonds - cut, clarity, color and carat
weight. These are the criteria jewelers use when grading
diamonds, and they're the ones you'll need to understand to find
the right diamond for you.
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Diamond Clarity
Most diamonds contain some inner
flaws, or inclusions, that occur during the formation
process. The visibility, number, and size of these
inclusions determine what is called the clarity of a
diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance,
and thus are more highly prized, and priced. This guide
shows you how to find the best grade of clarity for you.
When we speak of a diamond's clarity, we are
referring to the presence of identifying characteristics on and
within the stone. While most of these characteristics are
inherent qualities of the rough diamond and have been present
since the earliest stages of the crystal's growth below ground,
a few are actually a result of the harsh stress that a diamond
undergoes during the cutting process itself.
If you think about the incredible amount of pressure it takes to
create a diamond, it's no surprise that many diamonds have
inclusions-scratches, blemishes, air bubbles, or non-diamond
mineral material-on their surface or inside. Diamonds with no or
few inclusions and blemishes are more highly valued than those
with less clarity, not just because they are more pleasing to
the eye, but also because they are rarer.
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How Are Diamonds
Graded For Clarity?
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Diamonds are graded for clarity under
10x loupe magnification. Grades range from Internally
Flawless, diamonds which are completely free of
blemishes and inclusions even under 10x magnification,
to Imperfect 3, diamonds which possess large, heavy
blemishes and inclusions that are visible to the naked
eye.
F-IF VVS1-VVS2 VS1-VS2 SI1-SI2 I1
F-IF-Flawless or Internally Flawless. This diamond has
no internal inclusions. Very rare.
VVS1-VVS2 - Very Very Slightly included. Very difficult
to detect under 10x magnification.
VS1-VS2-Very Slightly included (two grades). Minute
inclusions invisible to the naked eye and seen only with
difficulty under 10x magnification.
SI1-SI2- Slightly Included (two grades). Minute
inclusions Can be seen under 10x magnification and in
some cases, in SI2, inclusions are visible to the naked
eye.
I1-I2-I3-Included (three grades). Inclusions visible
under 10x magnification as well as to the human eye.
While the presence of these clarity characteristics do
lower the clarity grade, and therefore the value, of a
diamond they can also be viewed as proof of a diamond's
identity. GIA certificates include what is known as a
"plot" of a diamond's inclusions. Since no two diamonds
are exactly the same, comparing the uniqueness of your
diamond's clarity characteristics with the plot provided
on the diamond certificate offers assurance that the
diamond you pay for is the same diamond you receive.
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It is very common for diamonds to be
formed with slight imperfections. These are known as
"inclusions" and can come in many forms, including tiny
white points, dark dots, or feathery cracks. The fewer
inclusions, the more the stone is worth. A diamond's
clarity ranking is determined by the number, size, type
and placement of the inclusions.
A stone with only a few hard-to-see pinpricks located
near the edge, where they can be covered by the
mounting, has better clarity than a stone with a crack
located right under the table (the large top facet of
the stone). Cracks from the surface to the interior are
especially dangerous because the diamond could break if
hit the wrong way. On the other hand, small nicks and
chips on the surface are often of little concern because
they can be polished away.
For the most part, diamonds used in jewelry are clean to
the naked eye. In a certified diamond, the cracks are
charted on the certificate and act as a fingerprint for
identifying a particular stone.
The following is the GIA clarity scale, along with
corresponding definitions for different clarity grades,
which is very commonly used in the United States:
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Which Clarity Grade
should I Choose?
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While Flawless diamonds are the
rarest, and arguably the most beautiful diamonds, a
diamond does not have to be completely clean to be
extremely attractive. Those diamonds with VVS and VS
grades can be excellent choices as well. More affordable
are those diamonds which gemologists call "eye-clean" -
diamonds with no inclusions visible to the naked eye.
These diamonds are SI or SI2. |
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© Hannoush
Jewelers, Inc. 2004
All rights reserved. Toll Free 1-888-325-3935 |
Last Updated
May, 2005
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© Hannoush Jewelers 2007
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