Why the Clarity of a Diamond is Very Important
By the very process of how it is created-high pressure and heat, the diamond becomes a stone with some imperfections. Sometimes, it’s not in a size you want. Other times, it doesn’t have the smooth, blemish-free appearance you might desire. All this is par for the course when you’re dealing with a natural occurrence. You cannot expect it to look exactly like you want.
It’s not easy choosing a diamond, when you’re a novice in the field. Luckily, diamonds come with their own guide to shopping- the 4Cs. That stands for cut, clarity, color and carat. Each C is another value gauge for the stone. While each of them is important, the clarity of a diamond is vital.
The word ‘clarity’ refers to the appearance of the stone. When it has high clarity, it is blemish free and has no inclusions. The former is external, the latter is internal. Inclusions look lovely- all points and crystals but their presence means the stone is of lower quality and doesn’t have an impressive appearance. Blemishes refer to scratches and chips in the stone and when visible, reduce the attractiveness of the diamond. If you’re lucky- and patient- you’ll find a diamond that have no blemishes or inclusions. These stones are the highest grade and are called FL or flawless. These are the ones who want to go for, if you have the money and the time to wait.
The highest grade isn’t always available and one must also consider budget. In such a case, a grade below FL is fine too. The grades for the clarity of a diamond go from Flawless to Included Inclusions. You need to look at either Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) or a Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) level.
Do keep in mind that most blemishes and inclusions aren’t even visible to the naked eye. Only a skilled, trained jeweler with a powerful magnifying apparatus can spot them. A diamond looks like any other diamond to the average person. The only way to differentiate is through color or size.
Clarity is important not just because of the appearance of the stone. It’s also because it goes to speak of the toughness of the stone. Too many cracks or chips and your diamond gets weaker and weaker, finally breaking. A diamond should last forever or at least for a long time. For that, a sturdy diamond is important. Make sure to get the jeweler to sign off and certify the stone you’re buying.
Clarity affects the other Cs too. A large carat size is all very well, but is of no use if the appearance in marred. Color is great as well, but not when there’s no clarity to show off the hue. What you’ll end up with is a cloudy stone and that is really not what you need. Cut is what you need to make the diamond shine and sparkle, but with inherent chips, cuts may not work to their best advantage and can cause the stone to break, while it’s being finished. Thus, we see that clarity affects everything.
