Diamond clarity can sound technical, but it plays a major role in how your diamond looks, performs, and is priced. The good news is that, especially for lab diamonds, many inclusions are microscopic, which is why you will often hear the term “eye clean,” meaning any imperfections are not visible to the naked eye. In this guide, we will break down the diamond clarity scale from flawless to included, explain what each grade really means, and help you choose the right clarity for your budget, your chosen cut, and the sparkle you want.
What is Diamond Clarity?
Diamond clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions and blemishes in a diamond. It’s also one of the 4Cs, which determine the price of a diamond, along with colour, cut and carat weight. Inclusions are imperfections that form throughout the growing process, whether in the Earth's crust or in a laboratory. Inclusions are not uniform, so the diamond industry needed a way to label and price diamonds. Many of these inclusions are not visible to a normal person, and so diamonds called “eye clean” are diamonds that have imperfections, but aren’t visible to the naked eye. Clarity isn’t only a vanity consideration - whilst a heavily included diamond will have inclusions that can distract from its inherently brilliant sparkle, it may also potentially cause durability issues that can compromise the incredible durability of a diamond.
Diamond Clarity Chart
The Diamond Clarity Scale was developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and rates a diamond from “flawless" to “included”. This cannot be done with the naked eye, and professionals use 10x magnifiers to see the internal and external state of the diamond.
A “Flawless” [FL] diamond
has no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification. Mined diamonds are all likely to have some kind of inclusion after being formed by a natural process, so finding “flawless” diamonds is extremely rare, making these the most expensive clarity of diamond.
“Internally Flawless” [IF] diamonds
have no inclusions [internal imperfections] visible under 10x magnification but may have some blemishes [external imperfections] under magnification. These diamonds are “eye clean” and so these are still a great option to include as a centre stone on an engagement ring.
“Very, Very Slightly Included” [VVS1 and VVS2] diamonds
When a diamond grader can see that there are some levels of inclusions at 10x magnification, but can barely make them out - a diamond will be given this grade. These are also “eye clean” diamonds, so you won't see inclusions to the naked eye, making this an incredible choice for those seeking a diamond with no visibile inclusions.
“Very Slightly Included” [VS1 and VS2] diamonds
have slightly more visible inclusions under magnification, but still minor, and are mostly still “eye clean”. “Slightly Included’. Probably the most common grading we see clients opting for lab diamond is VS1.
“Slightly Included” [SI1 and SI2] diamonds
have inclusions which are very noticeable under 10x magnification, and will be extremely likely to show up to the naked eye.
“Included” [I1, I2, and I3] diamonds
have even more obvious inclusions under 10x magnification and will always show to the naked eye. Despite diamond's incredible hardness, stones with these gradings may affect the quality and durability, making them more prone to chipping or cracking under pressure.
Choosing a Clarity Grade
When it comes to the 4Cs, it can become overwhelming to understand what suits your budget and lifestyle, what would involve a compromise and what wouldn’t. It’s important to note that some diamond cuts are more forgiving to inclusions than others. Facets are the flat surfaces that are arranged in a geometrical pattern, and the more facets, the less visible any inclusions will be. Emerald cuts have fewer facets and a stunning hall of mirrors look, whilst radiant cuts have significantly more facets and so are more forgiving to a lower clarity. For this reason, we recommend VS1 and above for emerald cuts specifically.
If you have a budget in mind, when it comes to clarity, the main thing to focus on is whether the diamond is “eye clean,” like a VS1 diamond, which is technically included, but not generally to the naked eye. So, unless you’re going to be looking at your diamonds through a magnifier daily, it means you can get a bigger ring for your budget, without compromising on the sparkle or durability.
When it comes to choosing the best diamond for you– look at the bigger picture. What size matters to you, what cut do you want? It’s also important to see different clarity grades in person where possible, whether in one of our showrooms or in a virtual consultation, so you can understand how clarity grade affects the look you are going for. If you’d like to view an extensive range of lab diamonds at different clarity grades, book an appointment with us today.
