Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is rated based on how clean and free from blemishes and natural inclusions it is. The majority of diamond engagement rings possess slight inclusions on the diamond, hence the big price differences. The table below has been developed to help buyers distinguish between those at the top, and those at the bottom end of the clarity scale:
|
GRADE |
TERM |
DESCRIPTION |
|
F1 |
Flawless |
Free from inclusions |
|
IF |
Internally flawless |
May have slight blemishes when viewed under magnification |
|
VVS1, VVS2 |
Very, very slight inclusions |
Minute inclusions or blemishes when viewed under magnification |
|
VS1, VS2 |
Very slight inclusions |
Tiny inclusions or blemishes when viewed under magnification |
|
SI1 |
Slight inclusions |
Small inclusions or blemishes when viewed under magnification |
|
SI2 |
Slight inclusions |
May have imperfections visible to the naked eye |
|
I1, I2, I3 |
Imperfect |
Inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye that make the diamond look cloudy and lifeless |
As with all things diamond, the nearer you are to perfection, the nearer you are to needing a bank loan to pay for it!
Colour
Light is reflected and refracted better when there is no colour, so in this case the less colour there is in the stone, the better (and more expensive) it is. Again, a scale has been developed to help you assess the stones in diamond engagement rings:
|
GRADE |
COLOUR |
|
D,E,F |
Colourless (white) |
|
G,H,I,J |
Nearly colourless |
|
K,L,M |
Faintly yellow |
|
N,O,P,Q,R |
Very light yellow |
|
S,T,U,V,W,X,Y |
Light yellow |
|
Z+ |
Coloured |
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