Diamond Clarity Characteristics

Diamonds are made, at high temperature and under tremendous pressure, in the kiln of the Earth below the ground. They are most coveted for their brilliance and the investment, they represent. It will be impossible to find a woman who wouldn't want a diamond ring set with a old european cut diamond.

Before, these precious gemstones are set into jewelery, they are valued and bought. The price, one pays for them depends on the diamond's weight in carat, cut, color and clarity. These four qualities of diamonds are called the 4 C's of diamonds. Of these, diamond's clarity, itself, depends on the diamond clarity characteristics, that the diamond acquires during its formation and retains, even in the polished state.

Characteristics of Diamond Clarity

The diamond clarity is evaluated after studying them under microscopes that are capable of providing magnification of 10x. This study of diamonds reveals the identifying marks or inclusions or blemishes or clarity characteristics inside the diamonds and/or on its surfaces. They are as good as fingerprints or retina scans that are unique identifying marks for the humans. Depending on their nature and size these identifying marks or the diamond clarity characteristics are differentiated as described below:

Diamond crystals: Some diamond owners refer to these diamond clarity characteristics as the baby diamonds embedded inside his or her diamond. Diamond crystals are small diamonds that were trapped by a growing larger diamond crystal during its process of formation. Depending on its shape, diamond crystals are of following three types needles, clouds and pinpoints.

Pinpoints: This is a very commonly seen diamond clarity characteristics. This is a very tiny diamond crystal that is embedded inside the diamond. It looks like a pinpoint of light when the diamond is viewed under higher magnification of 20x and more.

Cloud: This diamond clarity characteristics is used to explains presence of a small group of 'pinpoint' which are again diamond crystals. You may expect to find a cloud containing three or more pinpoints in close proximity. If the cloud covers a third or more of a diamond, it may affect the light reflections inside the diamond and its brightness and value.

Needles: These are diamond crystals embedded inside the mother diamond. The tremendous pressure, to which a diamond is subjected during the process of formation, makes these crystals acquire, long and thin shape rather than circular shape, in which, the crystals are commonly found.

Knot: Knot is the diamond clarity characteristic that is used to describe a diamond crystal that is embedded inside a diamond and extends to its surface. Such a knot, in a diamond, is considered a risk from the point of view of durability of a diamond.

Chips: The diamond clarity characteristics known as chip is nothing but a blemish on the surface. A small impact can mark a diamond with the chip by breaking off a tiny part off its surface.

Feather: A crack or a minuscule fracture inside a diamond is referred as a feather in the diamond trade. If it extends to the surface of the diamond, it puts the durability of the diamond in question. These clarity characteristics within a diamond in the form of a feather are not considered as a risk though.

The diamond clarity is graded according to GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Clarity Grading System. A diamond is graded and valued using diamond cut grade, diamond clarity ratings, and diamond grading system is used to grade a diamond.

To determine the blemish or the inclusion in the diamonds, they are viewed under 10x magnification under controlled lighting. According to the GIA Clarity Grading System a diamond can be graded in 11 diamond clarity ratings or grades, that range from Flawless or Internally flawless(FL or IL), VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, Very, Small inclusions), VS1 and VS2 (Very Small), SI1 and SI2(slightly included), I 1,I 2 and I 3(Included diamonds). The blemishes or the diamond clarity characteristics are visible to the naked eye, in case of Included diamonds. On the contrary t,he diamonds that are graded as the Flawless does not show any flaw even under the magnification of power 10 to an experienced grader.