Diamond Education...

Diamond Clarity

Most diamonds have unique clarity characteristics that can be classified as inclusions and blemishes.

• FL - Flawless, no inclusions or blemishes of any sort under 10x magnification.
• IF - Internally Flawless, no inclusions and only insignificant blemishes under 10x magnification.

Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds are very rare and the most expensive.

• VVS1 - Inclusions are difficult to locate or see under 10x magnification.
• VVS2 - Inclusions are difficult to locate or see under 10x magnification.
• VS1 - Inclusions present less difficulty to locate or see under 10x magnification.
• VS2 - Inclusions present less difficulty to locate or see under 10x magnification.

VVS and VS diamond are nearly flawless and appear perfect to the unaided eye.

• SI1 - Inclusions are readily seen at 10x magnification, although they remain invisible to the unaided eye.
• SI2 - Inclusions are readily seen at 10x magnification although they remain invisible to the unaided eye.

There is significantly no difference between SI1 and SI2 except that SI2 may have a few more inclusions.  In both grades inclusions remain invisible to the unaided eye.

• I1 - One or more inclusions or their effect can be seen by the unaided eye.
• I2 - Inclusions are easily visible to the unaided eye.
• I3 - Inclusions are so obvious and large that they affect both brilliancy and beauty of the diamond

I1, I2 and I3 diamonds have inclusions visible to the unaided eye.  The size and position of the inclusions can impact the dispersion of light, thus making some diamonds less brilliant.  Some inclusion can be hidden by a prong when mounted or be in a position that does not affect the brilliance of the diamond.  Most diamonds with visible inclusions can still be very beautiful and are less expensive than the higher grades.

 Diamond Color

• D - Colorless: perfect or almost perfect color.
• E  - Colorless: perfect or almost perfect color.
• F - Colorless: perfect or almost perfect color.
• G - Near colorless: good to very good color.
• H - Near colorless: good to very good color.
• J - Near colorless: good to very good color.
• K - Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint.
• L - Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint
• M - Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint.
• N-R - Light yellow or brown tint.
• S-Z - Yellow or brown tint.

Diamonds with no color like D, E, and F are very rare and are more expensive than the near-colorless G, H, I and J. 

Diamond with a faint tinge of color such as K, L, M have a slightly warm color and are more affordable.  These diamonds often look best set in yellow gold.