| Even though with naked eye all the diamonds | | | | VVS1/2 (Very Very Small Inclusions) Minor |
| can look the same, this is far from being | | | | inclusions that can barely be seen with a 10x |
| true. | | | | magnifier |
| | | | |
| It's important to define some concepts in | | | | VS1/2 (Very Small Inclusions) Little |
| order to learn about the clarity of these | | | | inclusions barely visibles with a 10x |
| precious gems. First of all, let's classify | | | | magnifier |
| the imperfections that can affect a diamond. | | | | |
| We can divide those in two categories, inner | | | | SI1/2/3 (Small inclusions) Little inclusions |
| (inside the gem) and outer (in the surface). | | | | easily spotted with a 10x magnifier, but |
| | | | invisible naked eyed |
| Inner imperfections (inclusions) | | | | |
| | | | I1 (Included) Inclusions easily spotted with |
| These ones are from natural source. During | | | | the 10x magnifier and hardly seen with naked |
| the formation stage, microscopic substances | | | | eye, not affecting the brilliance |
| called inclusions are formed inside the gems, | | | | |
| those are usually from mineral origin | | | | I2 (Included) Easily spotted inclusions, that |
| (carbons), cracks in the inner side of the | | | | affect softly the brilliance |
| diamond (feathers), white spots (crystals), | | | | |
| or very little points, smaller than the | | | | I3 (Included) Easily spotted inclusions that |
| crystal ones (pinpoints). | | | | sightly affect the brilliance |
| | | | |
| Outer imperfections (blemishes) | | | | The F and IF grades are very rare and |
| | | | expensive, only for the high budgeted ones, |
| Are caused by the jeweler, principally in the | | | | VVS1/2 grades are usually expensive and |
| cut and polishing stages of the diamond | | | | uncommon, VS1/2 are still very good quality |
| refinement process, and we call them | | | | but lower on price, so this grades are |
| blemishes. These can be simple cracks in the | | | | interesting for the "standard budget". SI1 |
| diamond surface (fractures), groups of | | | | have still a great quality with affordable |
| fractures located in an edge of the gemstone | | | | prices, but SI2/3 (the 3 is not really |
| (bearding), additional polished facets, that | | | | recognized grade by the IGI, but most |
| break the symmetry of the diamond (extra | | | | jewelers do, that is because we have included |
| facets), lack of polished parts (natural), or | | | | it here) start to be borderline quality. All |
| extra lines that were made in the polishing | | | | the I series are low quality and we do not |
| process (polishing lines), mistakes in the | | | | recommend purchasing one of those, unless the |
| cut stage (chips), or abrasions (scratches). | | | | budget is really low. (A diamond is a |
| | | | diamond!) |
| Obviously, the most inclusions and blemishes | | | | |
| the stone has, the lower will be its quality, | | | | The recommended quality grades for the |
| and in consequence, the lower its value | | | | standard budgets are (from most to less |
| (price). | | | | expensive) VS1 - VS2 - SI1, being this last |
| | | | one maybe the most attractive for the common |
| According to the IGI (International | | | | customer, since it's possible to manage a |
| Gemological Institute), the different diamond | | | | purchase of this quality level for the price |
| clarity levels can be measured with a scale. | | | | of the I series. |
| On it, we can find from the "perfect" | | | | |
| diamonds, labeled as Flawless, to the most | | | | Usually the grades SI2, I1, I2 and I3 can be |
| affected by the inclusions (I series). | | | | spotted with naked eye |
| | | | |
| FL (Flawless) No intern or extern defects at | | | | Even if we are not using the magnifier, it's |
| all with a x10 augments magnifier | | | | good to know about this scale and keep the |
| | | | advices in mind, so we will refine the final |
| IF (Internally Flawless) No inclusions with a | | | | decision that fits the most for our needing |
| x10 augments magnifier bigger than 5u | | | | and budget, and over all, we will not get |
| | | | scammed! |