Clarity, being one of the four C’s, is one of the most emphasized components of evaluating the value of a diamond. Being overwhelmed when first starting out shopping for diamonds is not uncommon, especially when analyzing diamond clarity grade presented by a jeweler. However, after doing some research on the factors that determine the value of a diamond, you will soon realize that understanding how diamonds are grade is not so complicated.
Blemishes and inclusions essentially make up the two facets of diamond clarity grading. One example of an inclusion is laser lines, which result from diamond enhancement procedures. When a diamond has a scratch or abrasion on the surface, this is what’s known as a blemish.
Diamond Inclusions
An evaluation of a diamond’s clarity consists of factoring in eight different types of inclusions. An inclusion generally is located within the diamond and is thought of as a flaw. Therefore, the diamond will not be graded as high and not be worth as much.
Sometimes an inclusion results from the abnormal growth of a diamond’s crystals. Inclusions will sometimes take the appearance of slight lines and streaks on diamonds. Inclusions can also be caused by structural flaws, such as tiny cracks in the diamond.
Inclusions negatively affect the beauty and brilliance of a diamond because they don’t allow light to freely pass through. Also, inclusions affect the diamond’s ability to scatter and transmit light. Inclusions have been referred to as “nature’s fingerprints” and are natural imperfections, but are not able to be seen by the naked eye.
Examples of inclusions include minerals or crystals imbedded in a diamond. These could also be smaller diamonds that got stuck inside the larger diamond while the crystal was forming.
A few other kinds of inclusions include:
• Feathers
• Knots
• Cavities
• Internal graining
Diamond Blemishes
The amount of blemishes a diamond has is another key factor used in figuring out a clarity grade. While inclusions happen within the diamond, blemishes are flaws that occurr on the exterior of the diamond. Frequently, a blemish is caused by natural occurrences. However, it can also be caused by cutting and polishing the diamond.
Blemishes though are not easy to detect with the naked eye, meaning that they don’t impact the beauty of the diamond very much. Therefore, if you are more of a casual buyer and don’t care about owning a perfect diamond, this plays to your advantage. Because diamonds will receive a lower clarity grade when they have blemishes, the price for them will go down. This means that you will still get a beautiful diamond while not paying nearly as much for a flawless one.
Some examples of blemishes include:
• Grain boundries
• Scratches
• Pits
• Nicks
An important point to remember when searching for diamond jewelry or a diamond is to buy from a jeweler or company that you can trust. A qualified jeweler will assist you in understanding a diamond clarity chart even more and selecting the diamond you want.
See Also: Diamond Clarity and Color