Diamond Clarity Chart

Diamond clarity chart represents the diamond quality grading system that measures how clear a diamond is from flaws. The most popular and used chart today is the one that was formed by the GIA and is defined by 13 grades.

Diamond clarity

Generally, there are four diamond parameters (the 4 C’s), that are used to measure the quality of a diamond. Diamond clarity is one of them and it measures the diamond’s clearness through its internal aspects (commonly known as inclusions) and surface flaws (known as blemishes). The inclusions refer to the crystals and cavities. Blemishes apply to scratches and breaks on the structure of the diamond. The more inclusions and/or blemishes a diamond has, lower will be the clarity grading.

The Diamond Clarity Chart

The clarity chart describes the Clarity Grading System and it has different grades that were created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). These grades are commonly used to set apart the clarity of each diamond from the others. Color, nature, number, position, and size are the factors used in grading diamonds.

The following are the GIA Diamond Clarity grades:

FL (Flawless)

The diamonds that are FL graded have both no visible inclusions and blemishes in a ten times (10x) magnification. However, a Flawless-graded diamonds are exceptionally rare.

IF (Internally Flawless)

Diamonds that are graded as Internally Flawless have no inclusions seen but only blemishes that are barely visible in a 10x magnification.

VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included)

A Very, Very Slightly Included grade diamonds that have inclusions but are hard to see under a 10x magnification. This grade is divided into two; VVS1 and VVS2 which both differ on the position and size of the inclusions. Inclusions seen on the pavilion (or the lower part of the diamond) is a VVS1 while inclusions that were seen on the crown (or upper part of the diamond) are a VVS2 grade.

VS (Very Slightly Included)

A VS grade diamond has minor inclusions that are easily viewed under a 10x magnification. VS1 and VS2 only differ on seeing inclusions. VS1 inclusions are more difficult to see than of VS2 inclusions.

SI (Slightly Included)

Diamonds that are Slightly Included graded have inclusions that are noticeable under a 10x magnification. SI clarity is divided again into two grades: SI1 and SI2 grades are again differ in size and position of the flaws.

I (Included)

I1, I2, and I3 diamond grades have a number of inclusions that are clearly visible to the eye. I1 clarity has high demand nowadays, especially the ones with well-located inclusion. I2 and I3 are more problematic since their inclusions are very noticeable.

Diamond graders should be skilled enough to identify inclusions in each diamond as categorized in the Diamond Clarity Chart. The GIA chart has been typically used since middle 1950’s and currently become one of the best and standard ways to grade diamonds clarity.