Looking at how diamonds are priced - the real deal about clarity!
Today I’m going to take a look at one of the “4 C’s” of diamonds. In case you don’t know, diamonds are graded in 4 main categories or groupings - cut, color, carat and clarity. Today I want to have a close look at the last one - clarity.
The clarity grading scale ranges from IF (the best) down to I3 (the worst). As a whole, there are ten different categories that a diamond can fall into.
Clarity looks at how many “inclusions” that are present in the diamond. Basically, inclusions are small blemishes or imperfections. These occur naturally when the rock is forming in the earth and inclusions are found in almost all diamonds.
When grading the diamond, a gemologist inspects the diamond under magnification to look at any inclusions that are present. The grading is then decided on how many inclusions, and as well how apparent or large they are. Keep in mind that the grading is given under strong magnification.
As an example, a diamond that has an IF or flawless grading has no inclusions at all. This is incredibly rare, and understandably, this type of diamond carries a huge bump in price.
A diamond graded VS2 will have “very slight” inclusions - these are only noticeable under a microscope and aren’t noticeable with your naked eye. These diamonds sell for significantly less that an IF graded diamond.
It’s important to understand the different ways diamonds are graded. Grab a diamond buying guide - you will be pleased you did in the end as you can save a lot of money on your purchase. It can be the difference between finding an affordable engagement ring instead of shelling out big bucks and putting a huge smile on your jewelers face.
Tags: affordable engagement rings, cheap engagement rings, diamond buying guide, diamond engagement ring, diamond guide, marriage, proposals
