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CLARITY

Clarity, according to Socrates... Not found in the female mind… anywhere.

Webster's Dictionary defines clarity as "clearness", he Nice Ice agreed with Socrates.

According to the superior male mind, flaws are not to be found in men.

However, diamonds have long been recognized as "A Girls Best Friend" and just as with men,
These "little guys" definitely have flaws, which by the way,
Women tend to overlook to get what they want...

The Moral of the Story:
Since women don't make sense to men, and men can't see their flaws,
Then the flaws in a diamond should be accepted as they are, and priced accordingly.

The term "Clarity" refers to how clear or pure a diamond is.  As with everything else in the world, the better it is the more it costs.  The clarity grade is determined by a skilled diamond grader based upon the number, size, nature and location of the internal (inclusions) and external (blemishes) imperfections.

Inclusions are defined by The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as "characteristics which are entirely inside a stone or extend into it from the surface."  These internal clarity characteristics, refer to natural impurities or markings such as: other mineral crystals, or small diamond particles that are present within the host diamond; feathers and/or breaks; carbon spots; air bubbles; pin points; clouds; knots; naturals; visible distortions of the crystal structure; and even laser drill holes left by man's attempts to remove or lighten other natural inclusions (see Clarity Treatments & Fracture Filled Diamonds).  In short, inclusions are nothing more than Mother Nature's little fingerprints.

Blemishes according to the GIA are "characteristics confined to or primarily affecting the surface."  These can be in the form of scratches, small nicks, chips, abraded facet edges, and portions of the rough crystals surface left on the finished diamond (naturals).

Most of our industry relies on the diamond clarity grading scale developed by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.).  The clarity grading scale is as follows:

FLAWLESS (FL): Describes a diamond in which a skilled observer, under favorable lighting conditions, cannot see any inclusions (internal imperfections) or surface blemishes, after thorough examination with a binocular microscope at ten power magnification or with a 10x corrected loupe.  Internal graining is permitted, provided it does not draw any color or texture and is not observable through the crown (upper portion).  Small extra facets on the pavilion (bottom portion) near the girdle (ridge between crown and pavilion) are permitted, provided they are not visible when viewed from above.  So are small naturals, provided they are confined to the girdle and do not flatten the girdle outline.  It is standard industry practice for the laboratories to add the comment "minor details of polish are not shown" on grading reports for Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds, it's one of those legal catch-all phrases to limit their liability and seems to appear on all FL and IF lab reports so don't be freaked out by it...

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS (IF):  Describes diamonds which have no internal characteristics observable under the same conditions as previously described, but which have minor surface blemishes that do not penetrate the diamond. Internal graining is permitted, provided it does not draw any color or texture. Surface grain lines are permitted provided they are not too thick or numerous as to detract from the beauty of the diamond.

VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VVS-¹ & VVS-²):   Describes diamonds which have very, very small inclusions which are difficult for a trained observer to detect under the aforementioned conditions.  Colored or textured graining is permitted, provided it is not observable through the crown.  Note: Because the inclusions in such a diamond are so minute, we usually locate them under 30 - 40x magnification and work our way down.

VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VS-1 & VS-2): Describes diamonds with very small inclusions that can be difficult to detect under the aforementioned conditions.  With the exception of very large diamonds and occasionally emerald cut diamonds, these inclusions are rarely visible to the unaided eye.

This oval shape diamond, pictured here at 20x magnification, is graded VS-2 under 10x magnification and as you can see the inclusions are quite difficult to locate. Nice Ice Photo.

SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (SI-1, SI-2 & SI-3):  Describes diamonds with small inclusions which are usually obvious under the aforementioned conditions.  Minor or very small inclusions can sometimes be detected in SI clarity diamonds (SI¹ - SI² - SI³) with the unaided eye after being located under 10x magnification, however some people may be able to locate inclusions in SI clarity diamonds with just their eyes.  People frequently ask us to locate SI clarity diamonds which are "eye clean" because they have been told that SI clarity diamonds can be eye clean, however our experience in recent months has been that those few SI clarity diamonds which are "eye clean" often contain inclusions such as extensive feathers or stacks of feathers (small feathers in series) which may present a durability risk to the stone... Given the choice between a small diamond crystal or crystals which may be visible without magnification when the diamond is under close scrutiny and an extensive feather or a series of feathers stacking upon one another, we would definitely opt for the slightly visible diamond crystal... thus the concept of the "eye clean" SI clarity diamond is more a myth than a reality in the current market, if you're looking for "eye clean" then we suggest moving up to the VS² clarity grade.

This round brilliant cut diamond, pictured here at 20x magnification, has inclusions which are much easier to detect than those in the oval diamond pictured above. The inclusion pattern resembles a star burst.  This diamond is graded as SI under 10x magnification.  Nice Ice Photo.

Note: SI³ is not a grade recognized by the G.I.A. or the AGS Laboratory. The SI³ grade is part of the European Gemological Laboratories (E.G.L.) grading system.

IMPERFECT (I^-1, I^-2 & I-³):   Describes diamonds with medium or large inclusions which are usually obvious to a skilled observer with the unaided eye under favorable lighting conditions.

This round brilliant cut diamond, pictured here at 20x magnification, is graded as I-1 even though the majority of the stone is clean because of the large feather-like inclusion (crack) in it's center is immediately visible to the unaided eye.  Nice Ice Photo.

This round brilliant cut diamond, pictured here at 20x magnification, is quite included.  It is graded as I-2 and looks similar to this without magnification.  Notice how much clearer the I-1 (pictured above) is in comparison to this diamond.  Nice Ice Photo.

Many lower-end mall jewelry stores, department stores, television shopping channels & warehouse type discount outlets sell merchandise of this quality.   It resembles crushed rock quartz, but is technically a diamond.  By the way, if you just have to have the fine specimen I² specimen pictured above, we're accepting sealed bids starting at $450- and that includes the solitaire mounting.

Note:  All preceding photographs were taken by, and are the exclusive property of Nice Ice, Inc. and serve to provide you with examples of each clarity grade and familiarize you with different types of inclusion patterns. They should not be considered, nor are they intended to be, absolute definitive examples for each clarity grade represented.  Clarity grading consists of more than just visual identification of a diamond's inclusions and inclusion pattern.  A diamond should be examined with the unaided eye and under 10x magnification so that an overall visual impression of the stone may be considered.  As you grade for clarity, consider:

• Diamonds are not defective if they have inclusions.  They are normal characteristics and all diamonds have inclusions, even flawless ones when viewed under 20 - 30x magnification.

• Diamonds must be clean for accurate grading.  It is quite easy to mistake dust, dirt and oil for inclusions.

• Is the diamond being graded mounted or unmounted?  Metal prongs and bezels (metal frames) can hide inclusions, blemishes, and chips.

• Large inclusions tend to lower clarity grades more than small inclusions. Usually a clarity grade is based on one or two of the largest inclusions and small dust-like inclusions (called pinpoints) are generally ignored.

• The type of inclusion can have a dramatic affect on the grade.  For example, the feather (crack) in the round brilliant cut diamond graded as I-1 (pictured above) would have a greater affect on the stone than a small garnet crystal.

• Inclusions that appear in the diamond's table (center)tend to lower clarity grades more than inclusions located near the girdle edge of the stone.

• Dark inclusions tend to lower clarity grades more than colorless or white inclusions.

• If it is easy for you to detect inclusions through the top of a diamond without magnification, it is almost certainly an I grade.  For a diamond to be graded as SI-2 or SI-3 in clarity you should have to locate the inclusions under 10x magnification or have them pointed out to you before you could locate them clearly with the unaided eye.

• Remember that your opinion of a diamond can be affected by the quality of diamonds you have available for comparison.  If you compare an SI clarity diamond with the I-2 pictured above, the SI will always look considerably better.  Many jewelry stores carry only one or two qualities of diamonds so that all of their merchandise looks comparable and no one diamond ring will look better than another.

• Higher clarity grades are not always more desirable than lower clarity grades.  A diamond graded as I-1 might look better than an SI because of it's cut or color.

• The clarity grade of a diamond is not fixed and can change due circumstances such as scratches or chips caused by daily wear.  For this reason, carefully examine any diamond certified more than six months ago or that is certified and being re-sold.  A diamond certified by the GIA in 1991 as being VS in clarity that sustained a chip might be re-graded as an I-2 today, which would represent a substantial reduction in value.

• Clarity Enhanced or Fracture Filled diamonds are graded as to what they face up as after treatment.  Generally the clarity enhancement process can improve a diamond by one clarity grade, therefore an I-1 might grade as an SI-1 after treatment.

Grading is an intricate process and a large portion of it is subjective.  One diamond, graded by several different Graduate Gemologists is likely to be given several different, but similar grades.  Likewise, diamonds sent to multiple gemological laboratories for certification frequently come back with slightly different grades.  Sometimes, a diamond can even be sent back to the same laboratory that previously certified it and receive an entirely different, but similar grade just a few weeks later.  What's important is that the grades are similar and not at opposite ends of the scale. By the way, the same conditions apply to color grading.

Diamond grading is subjective, and not an exact science. So, don't get stuck in hard rules and absolutes because they're aren't any. There are however guidelines and individual interpretations based on education and experience. If you're looking at a diamond and you doubt the grade a store has given it, simply ask them to explain their basis for the grade. If they can't, or won't take the time to explain it, they probably aren't the store for you…

We use a binocular microscope and television camera that takes a picture of the inside of the diamond and put it on a television screen to explain clarity to our customers.  It's a little hard to hide the inclusions in a diamond when the stone looks bigger than your head… We like to inspect diamonds with our customers under twenty or thirty power so that they can get a real good look at what's inside of the diamond they are buying… Sometimes we play under seventy power, simply because it looks cool.

It's our understanding from talking with customers who have been referred to us that we're one of a few jewelers who want people to know what's inside of the diamond they are buying.  Apparently, getting some jewelers to give you a loupe is like pulling teeth.  What their problem is we don't know... But we want you to be able to see what you're buying, so we offer loupes for sale at very reasonable prices in our Gem Tools For Sale section.

Oh, and on that note, something to hide that is… Rumor has it that some disreputable jewelers switch stones and/or sell synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ), paste, white sapphire, or whatever… Some ingenious jewelers even add a few "inclusions"… Don't panic because this is a no-brainer, take a few minutes to read the section on detecting simulants where you'll learn how to separate diamonds from there man-made look-alikes.  If after that you're still unsure about what your buying, click on Gem Tools For Sale because we have a point and shoot tool (yes, tool) just for you.  It's a lot more effective than asking "Duh, how do I know this is a real diamond?"  Which by the way, translates as "How do I know you're not a sleaze ball, who's going to rip me off?" and is a good way to get punched in the snoz!  I swear, some people have no tact… Otherwise they'd say something like "Would you show me how to tell the difference between a diamond and a (CZ) cubic zirconia?"  Or for you Type A's, substitute the word "simulant" for CZ.