This time I want to have a look at one of the “4 C’s” of how diamonds are graded. For those that aren’t aware, diamonds are ranked in 4 main categories – cut, color, carat and clarity. Let’s take a close look at the last one – clarity.
The clarity grading scale ranges from IF (the best) down to I3 (the worst). In total, there are ten grades that a diamond can fall into.
Clarity looks at the number of “inclusions” that are present in the diamond. In a nut-shell, inclusions are small blemishes or imperfections. These form naturally when the rock is forming in the earth and inclusions are found in almost all diamonds.
When grading the diamond, a gemologist inspects the diamond under magnification to look at any inclusions that are present. The grading is then decided on the number of inclusions, and also how noticeable or big they are.
Just to illustrate, a diamond that is given an IF grading has no inclusions whatsoever. This is incredibly rare, and understandably, this type of diamond carries a huge price premium attached to it.
A stone with a grading of VS2 will have “very slight” inclusions – these will only be noticeable when viewed under a microscope and aren’t noticeable with your naked eye. These diamonds are priced for a lot less that an IF graded diamond.
It’s important to understand the different ways diamonds are graded. Grab a diamond buying guide - this will make a huge difference in the end as you can save some huge cash on your purchase. Just a little education will be the difference in finding an affordable engagement ring instead of shelling out big bucks and making your jeweler richer.