What is Diamond Clarity?

Diamond clarity refers to the purity and rarity of the stone. During formation, internal characteristics called inclusions may become trapped within the diamond or appear on its surface. These internal and surface characteristics are carefully inspected by gemologists using 10x magnification to determine the clarity grade of each diamond.

Since diamonds are formed under enormous pressure and heat deep within the Earth, natural inclusions and blemishes are unavoidable. The fewer the inclusions a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it becomes.

At New York Carat House, every diamond is carefully selected to ensure exceptional clarity and beauty.

What Causes Inclusions?

During a diamond’s natural formation, tiny solids, liquids, or gases may become trapped within or on the surface of the diamond. The size, position, and visibility of these inclusions determine the diamond’s clarity grade.

Inclusions typically become noticeable under 10x magnification and in some cases may slightly affect the diamond’s transparency and brilliance.

Diamond Clarity Chart

Using 10x magnification, gemologists examine and classify a diamond’s clarity based on the size, type, and position of inclusions. These inclusions are recorded on a diagram known as a diamond plot, which is unique for every diamond.

Respected gemological laboratories such as De Beers, Gemological Institute of America, and International Gemological Institute grade diamonds on a clarity scale ranging from Included (I3) to Flawless (FL).

How Obvious are Inclusions?

Clarity is generally the least visible factor among the 4Cs of diamonds. Most inclusions and blemishes are extremely small and can usually only be seen by a trained diamond expert using 10x magnification.

For this reason, many diamonds that contain minor inclusions still appear perfectly clear and brilliant to the naked eye.