Clarity is one of the 4Cs of a diamond, along with cut, color and carat. It describes the tiny marks inside a diamond and on its surface, and it affects how clean the stone looks, how rare it is and what it costs.
Here is how clarity is graded and how much it matters when you choose a diamond.
What Is Diamond Clarity?
Clarity measures the inclusions inside a diamond and the blemishes on its surface. In a natural diamond, they form deep in the earth under heat and pressure. In a lab-grown diamond, they form while the crystal grows. Either way, they make every diamond slightly different.
The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the higher the clarity grade, and usually the higher the price.
The Diamond Clarity Scale
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the clarity scale used across the industry. Lab-grown diamonds are graded by IGI on the same scale. Each grade is judged under 10x magnification.
| Clarity grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| Flawless (FL) | No inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification |
| Internally Flawless (IF) | No inclusions under 10x magnification, only minor surface blemishes |
| Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1, VVS2) | Inclusions so small that a skilled grader has difficulty seeing them under 10x |
| Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2) | Minor inclusions, difficult to somewhat easy for a grader to see under 10x |
| Slightly Included (SI1, SI2) | Inclusions noticeable to a grader under 10x |
| Included (I1, I2, I3) | Obvious inclusions that may affect transparency and brilliance |
Most inclusions cannot be seen without magnification. What matters in daily life is whether the diamond looks clean to the naked eye.
How Does Clarity Affect Price?
Diamonds with very few inclusions are rare, so they cost more. The good news is that most inclusions are microscopic, so you rarely need the top grades for a diamond that looks clean.
If you want a high clarity grade for less, consider a lab-grown diamond. Lab-grown diamonds have inclusions too, but high clarity grades usually cost less than they do in natural diamonds.
Does Clarity Affect Sparkle?
Not much, as long as the inclusions are small. Cut is what drives sparkle. Large or numerous inclusions can block light, though, and make a stone look less lively.
Eye-Clean: The Clarity That Matters Most
A diamond is eye-clean when you cannot see any inclusions without magnification. For most people, that is the goal. Paying more for differences you can only see under a loupe rarely adds to how the ring looks on your hand. Cut and size are usually a better use of the budget.
Choosing Clarity for Each Shape
- Brilliant cuts (round, oval, cushion, pear, marquise, radiant) have many facets that break up light, which helps hide small inclusions.
- Step cuts (emerald, Asscher) have long, open facets that act like windows, so inclusions are easier to see. A higher clarity grade pays off here.
At Tang&Co., lab-grown center stones start at VS1 clarity, with VVS2 and VVS1 also available. SI clarity grades are offered only for natural diamonds, by quotation through our Diamond Curation Service.
Cut First, Clarity Second
Even a flawless diamond looks dull if it is poorly cut. A well-cut diamond returns more light, so it looks brighter and livelier. That is why we suggest putting cut and size ahead of very high clarity grades.
Every center stone is hand-selected by our team. Browse our engagement rings, or find more answers in our FAQ.