Checking Diamond Clarity with an Inspection Microscope
Diamonds are known for their brilliance and beauty and while they are very valuable, a diamond can be graded differently against another based on a set standard of quality. The quality of the diamond is determined using the 4 Cs – cut, carat weight, color and clarity. Of these, it is diamond clarity that puts value on the purity of the stone’s appearance.
What is diamond clarity?
Diamond clarity refers to the lack of flaws and internal blemishes in a diamond. Although it is known as the hardest naturally formed substance, a diamond can also exhibit certain imperfections that affect its value. These imperfections generally occur as a result of the things that happen during a diamond’s formation. Trace minerals, for example, can embed themselves in the carbon that undergoes the ideal temperature and pressure that creates the diamond. These trace minerals appear as inclusions. Inclusions diminish a diamond’s clarity because they affect how light is refracted by the stone. The diamond’s brilliance, after all, depends on how well it handles and reflects light.
Diamond crystals are made of pure carbon. They are in the same family as graphite, except that diamonds are formed in extremely high pressure and temperatures – about 50,000 bars of pressure and about 1,000 to 1,200 degrees Centigrade of heat. This explains why diamonds may be formed by meteorites on impact. Opaque stones have been found in areas near meteorite craters and even embedded in meteorites.
How diamond clarity is graded
The most sought after diamonds are those that exhibit the purest and clearest characteristics. The clearer a stone is, the more valuable – and expensive – it is. To ensure that every diamond’s characteristic is judged within set qualifications, the Gemological Institute of America or GIA, has determined the standards with which gemologists and jewelers rate a diamond’s clarity. The scale for diamond clarity is shown below, with ratings in the order of most valuable to least valuable:
Flawless (F or FL)
A flawless diamond is one that shows neither external nor internal flaws. In terms of perfection, this is the stone that gets rated the highest. Flawless diamonds are considered very rare.
Internally flawless (IF)
An IF clarity rate is a diamond that shows no internal flaws or imperfections. This is also a diamond that is highly valued.
VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)
A diamond with either rate is one where inclusions and flaws are difficult to see even under a microscope using a 10x magnification. If a diamond expert can view the inclusion from the bottom part of the stone, it is rated as VVS1. If it is viewed from the top of the stone, it is rated as VVS2. This is a stone with excellent quality and will be a very good investment.
VS1 and VS2 (Very Slightly)
Diamonds with these rates are less expensive compared to the VVS rated diamonds, although inclusions are still difficult to see without any aid. However, even experts will take several seconds before spotting inclusions in these diamonds.
SI1 and SI2 (Slightly Included)
A diamond with these rates will show flaws and inclusions using an inspection microscope with a 10x magnification. Still, diamonds with these ratings are considered good value.
I1, I2 and I3 (Included)
Flaws in these diamonds are easily seen, even without the help of a magnifying lens or inspection microscope. When diamonds are given these ratings, experts recommend buyers to avoid these gems.
Checking for diamond quality
Because flaws are generally seen only with a magnifying device, an inspection microscope is often used to check for the diamond’s clarity. Gemologists and diamond experts look for these flaws:
Clouds – these are actually groups of minute crystalline structures. The hazy area resembles a cloud within the stone.
Feathers – these are tiny cracks inside the diamond, resembling those that appear in broken glass. Larger feathers or cracks are considered a problem because they can grow larger over time. Smaller ones, on the other hand, are not considered a danger to the stone.
Crystal growth – these are tiny crystalline growth seen inside the stone, which appears like smaller diamonds.
Pinpoint – this is the flaw that commonly appears on the diamond’s surface, appearing as a tiny white dot.
Carbons – these appear as tiny black dots on the diamond’s surface and are not as common as pinpoints.
Diamond clarity is best examined and determined by gemologists and experts, primarily because they are trained to spot inclusions and other imperfections. These inspections are often conducted using either a loupe or an inspection microscope at low magnification power. Since diamonds are highly valued as gems, their quality is determined and standardized to ensure that consumers buy their money’s worth.
For more information, please visit inspection-microscope.com.
