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What is clarity?
Clarity indicates how "clean" or “clear” the diamond is, or how many inclusions - such as scratches, trace minerals or other tiny characteristics and imperfections- the diamond has. Inclusions are important to consider because they can detract from the pure beauty of a diamond.
Diamonds that are absolutely clear, or flawless (FL) are the most sought-after and therefore the most expensive. The world’s top independent grading labs such as the GIA, EGL or HRD use a detailed set of standards to summarize the number, location, size, and type of inclusions present in a diamond. These grades are summarized below:
| DIAMOND CLARITY GRADES |
| FL, IF |
Flawless, Internally Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Internally Flawless: No internal flaws. Very rare and beautiful diamonds. |
VVS1,
VVS2 |
Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond. |
VS1,
VS2 |
Very Slightly Included: Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades. |
SI1,
SI2 |
Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. A good diamond value. |
| I1, I2, I3 |
Included to Strongly Included: Inclusions are visible to the unaided eye. Safari Diamond does not generally carry or recommend diamonds of I-grade clarity. |
More Diamond Clarity Q & A
How is the clarity grade determined?
The clarity grade is based on the number, size, color, and location of inclusions or blemishes in the stone. The Flawless (FL) grade is given to a stone in which no imperfections can be seen internally (inclusions) or externally (blemishes) when examined with 10x magnification. For clarity grading purposes, if an inclusion cannot be seen at 10x magnification, it doesn't exist.
Industry standard clarity grades range from flawless (FL) to I3 (strongly included). The majority of diamonds today are purchased in the SI1, SI2, and I1 clarity range (“slightly included” to the lowest “included” level).
Are there specific diamond shapes where a higher clarity grade is more important?
Overall, you are less likely to see inclusions as the cut grade of your diamond increases. However, there are cuts when higher clarity is more important. For example, Ascher and Emerald shaped diamonds both have “step” facets, which means that the clarity may be more visible in these cuts than in others. For these types of diamond shapes, we recommend choosing a VS1 or above to best ensure that there will be no visible inclusions on your diamond.
What does it mean if a diamond is "eye clean"?
An "eye clean" diamond is one that has no inclusions visible to the unaided eye when viewed from the top down, and at arm's length.
How does clarity grade affect a diamond's sparkle and brilliance?
Contrary to popular belief, a diamond’s clarity grade actually has little effect on a diamond's visible appearance except in larger diamonds or to the expertly trained eye. A larger factor in how brilliant and sparkling a diamond will be is the size of the stone. The larger a diamond is, the larger the facet, and larger facets allow more light in and therefore expand the visible clarity and brilliance of a diamond. An even bigger factor to sparkle and brilliance is the precision of the cut. The better the cut, more light will refract out of the stone giving that beautiful sparkle effect, and the less likely you will be able to see a diamond's inclusions.
For a three-stone ring, should you keep the same color/cut/clarity parameters for the side diamonds?
For a three stone ring, we recommend that you choose the same cut grade for each of the diamonds, but color and/or clarity can differ somewhat with little if any noticeable difference to the unaided eye. For color, there generally will not be a visible difference within three grades. For example, D, E, and F will look approximately the same to the untrained or naked eye. For clarity, anything graded SI2 or above will appear approximately the same.
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