There are some things that everyone should know before setting out to purchase a diamond. The most important things to know are the four C's otherwise known as carats, cut, color and clarity. This article will focus on clarity to help you understand how to best assess this characteristic. You don't have to be a gemologist to make a good diamond purchase but a little knowledge can be quite helpful. Ask your jeweler about any questions that you may have.
Contrary to popular belief, very few diamonds are perfect and you shouldn't expect to buy a perfect one. There are two things that can affect a diamonds clarity score. These are blemishes and inclusions. Blemishes are imperfections on the surface of the diamond and inclusions are imperfections found inside. Some can be seen with the naked eye and some require magnification to be visible. The number and size of these imperfections are evaluated to get the clarity rating for each diamond.
Diamond graders use a scale to reflect the clarity rating of each diamond. At the top of the scale is FL or flawless. The lower portion of the scale is I1-I3 or included. Most diamonds fall within the lower ratings. The higher rating diamonds rating, the less common and more valuable the diamond. It is usually best to find a stone that is slightly included (SI) or better. Any imperfections above the slightly included grade usually require magnification to be seen.
Choosing your diamond is going to take some time. It should be clean when seen with your naked eyes. You should talk to your jeweler to see if they can help you examine the diamonds to find the best one for your needs. There are some jewelers that will allow you to look through gem scopes to get a more detailed look at the diamond. To ensure clarity of a diamond, you can get one with a certificate issued from the Gemological Institute of America.
While there are other things to consider when purchasing a diamond, clarity is one of the most important. The truth is that most diamonds sold contain visible inclusions. To avoid this, stick with a minimum of SI clarity. Even though the inclusions may be seen at this rating they are usually hard to notice. Be prepared to pay a higher price for clearer diamonds. Find a combination of clarity and price that you are comfortable with for the diamond that is right for you.
Contrary to popular belief, very few diamonds are perfect and you shouldn't expect to buy a perfect one. There are two things that can affect a diamonds clarity score. These are blemishes and inclusions. Blemishes are imperfections on the surface of the diamond and inclusions are imperfections found inside. Some can be seen with the naked eye and some require magnification to be visible. The number and size of these imperfections are evaluated to get the clarity rating for each diamond.
Diamond graders use a scale to reflect the clarity rating of each diamond. At the top of the scale is FL or flawless. The lower portion of the scale is I1-I3 or included. Most diamonds fall within the lower ratings. The higher rating diamonds rating, the less common and more valuable the diamond. It is usually best to find a stone that is slightly included (SI) or better. Any imperfections above the slightly included grade usually require magnification to be seen.
Choosing your diamond is going to take some time. It should be clean when seen with your naked eyes. You should talk to your jeweler to see if they can help you examine the diamonds to find the best one for your needs. There are some jewelers that will allow you to look through gem scopes to get a more detailed look at the diamond. To ensure clarity of a diamond, you can get one with a certificate issued from the Gemological Institute of America.
While there are other things to consider when purchasing a diamond, clarity is one of the most important. The truth is that most diamonds sold contain visible inclusions. To avoid this, stick with a minimum of SI clarity. Even though the inclusions may be seen at this rating they are usually hard to notice. Be prepared to pay a higher price for clearer diamonds. Find a combination of clarity and price that you are comfortable with for the diamond that is right for you.
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