| What are the imperfections affecting diamond | | | | internal spots and acid is used to wash them out. |
| clarity? | | | | Cracks on diamonds can also be filled easily, but |
| A perfectly clear diamond (FL)Â is rare and | | | | the treatments are considered temporary in |
| expensive from a vast number of stones just a | | | | nature. Ask for certification and if the details state |
| very small percentage are flawless, a great | | | | that a diamond is 'enhanced' then be sure to |
| example can be seen in our diamond price | | | | compare the price. Enhanced diamonds are |
| comparison engine where you can easily notice | | | | treated diamonds and as a customer you have |
| that from our huge diamond database only a | | | | the right to ask which treatments have gone into |
| dozen are flawless (FL) diamonds and their prices | | | | enhancing the stone, for further info refer to our |
| are 20% higher from similar VVS loose diamonds. | | | | Diamond Enhancements article. |
| Most diamonds have imperfections; these flaws | | | | Â |
| can be present externally as blemishes or | | | | What diamonds buyers must look for! |
| internally as inclusions within the diamond. | | | | A perfectly clear loose diamond is not only |
| Â | | | | beautiful but highly expensive when buying. |
| Inclusions can be in the form of minute spots of | | | | Moreover, in an era where synthetic diamonds |
| black, white and other colors or as colored and | | | | are in fashion, imperfections only go on to tell that |
| uncolored crystals. These are usually caused due | | | | the diamond is original. While perfect clarity is not |
| to trace minerals in the stone from which the | | | | the main criteria to look for while buying |
| diamond is extracted. | | | | diamonds, buyers must keep the following issues |
| Â | | | | about diamond clarity in mind while purchasing. |
| Blemishes include the presence of scratches, | | | | Type of flaw: A large visible crack may cause the |
| cracks or pits on the surface of the diamond. | | | | diamond to break and must be avoided. Similarly a |
| While minute cracks may not cause any major | | | | large blemish may also cause the stone to look |
| problems, some cracks may cause the diamond | | | | dull and lifeless. Consider the kind of flaw your |
| to split. | | | | diamond has before purchasing one. Ask for |
| Depending upon the various imperfections | | | | certified diamonds such as GIA certified diamonds |
| diamonds have, the GIA has devised various | | | | or EGL certified diamonds. |
| grades for determining the degree of clarity. | | | | Location of flaw: Consider where the flaw is |
| These grades are given to diamonds based on | | | | located and how it affects the appearance of a |
| the number of inclusions, position on the stone, | | | | diamond. Flaws are visible only when diamonds are |
| composition and size. Using a magnification of 10X, | | | | put in a particular position and one must avoid |
| diamonds are ranked with the following grades. | | | | that while setting the diamond in jewelry. Â |
| Here are some examples from our online loose | | | | Size of the flaw: Look for a diamond that appears |
| diamonds search results: | | | | clean to normal viewing. If the flaw is of a bigger |
| •· Flawless (FL) Diamonds | | | | size, it would be visible to the naked eye. Trends |
| •· Internally Flawless (IF) Diamonds | | | | indicate that most diamond buyers opt for stones |
| •· Very Very Slightly Included | | | | with VS1 and VS2 grading over perfectly flawless |
| (VVS1) Diamonds | | | | stones. |
| •· VVS2 Diamonds | | | | Number of flaws: Finally if a stone has a large |
| •· Very Slightly Included (VS1) | | | | number of flaws, it would reduce the brilliance. |
| Diamonds | | | | Thus look for a diamond with fewer flaws so the |
| •· VS2 Diamonds | | | | brilliance of the diamond can be appreciated. |
| •· Slightly Included (SI1) Diamonds | | | | So before you buy a diamond go and take a look |
| •· SI2 Diamonds | | | | at the certificate, the drawing of the diamond will |
| •· SI3 Diamonds | | | | show you exactly how serious are the |
| •· Included (I1) Diamonds | | | | imperfections even if you are not a diamonds pro, |
| •· I2 Diamonds | | | | you can also send us a copy of the certificate |
| •· I3 Diamonds | | | | and we will do our best to explain to you about |
| Â | | | | your chosen stone. |
| As the abbreviations explain the grading, FL | | | | Diamonds dug out of mines surprisingly, only 20% |
| comprises of flawless diamonds while IF | | | | have clarity suitable for usage in jewelry. The rest |
| comprises of diamonds that are flawless inside but | | | | 80% diamonds are put to industrial usage. Among |
| have slight blemishes outside. VVS1 and VVS2 | | | | the 20%, many have visible inclusions and very |
| diamonds have minute inclusions that are difficult | | | | few are flawless. How ever negative the term |
| to detect even by experienced graders. VS1 and | | | | inclusions or flaws may sound, they do have |
| VS2 diamonds have minute inclusions too while | | | | benefits. The price difference between a flawless |
| SI1 and SI2 have noticeable inclusions. Finally the | | | | stone and a VS stone is enormous and thus by |
| I1, I2 and I3 diamonds are those which have | | | | buying a beautiful diamond that has slight inclusions |
| imperfections that can affect the brilliance and | | | | that the naked eye cannot notice you save big. If |
| transparency of diamonds. | | | | you are still unsure whether the diamond you plan |
| Modes for enhancing a diamond's clarity | | | | to buy is a high quality one or not, experts at |
| Today various technologies have evolved for | | | | gemisimo are there just to guide you through a |
| enhancing the clarity of diamonds. One example is | | | | buying process. |
| laser drilling where lasers are used to drill out the | | | | |