Anybody out there who has ever bought or just looked into buying an engagement ring can probably identify with this hub. What are all those letters and numbers that they assign to diamonds. Clarity? Color? Inclusions? I want to help to you understand what they mean and answer questions about diamonds if I can.

Let's start with just the basics of diamond clarity grades and then I'll keep building on that information. Clarity for diamonds is one of the most important things that professionals in the gemstone and jewelry business use to determine the quality and value of a diamond. Here are the most common clarity grades for diamonds and what the letters stand for.

• F-Flawless
• IF-Internally Flawless
• VVS1 & VVS2- Very very slightly included
• VS1 &VS2- Very slightly included
• SI1 & SI2- Slightly included
• I1, I2 & I3- Included

It might all sound confusing or just plain not like helpful information but once you know just a little more about all of those letters and numbers you can pick the right diamond for you!

It is very common for these two categories to be referred to as "flaws" or "imperfections". While it is true that the presence of inclusions or blemishes affect price and color among other things, it's important to keep in mind that almost every natural diamond will have some slight "imperfections". It's simply the nature of the beast--anything grown in nature is bound to show some variation from piece to piece. While these two terms are most commonly grouped together and referred to only as inclusions, there is a difference between them and how affect the cost and overall appearance of a diamond.

Blemishes

Blemishes refer to imperfections that are confined to the surface of a diamond. They generally have a much smaller impact on cost and are almost always impossible to be seen with the unaided eye. Some common types of blemishes found on diamonds are:

• Pits: very small holes on the surface of a stone
  
• Scratches: fine lines on the surface usually as a result of the cutting process
  
• Polish lines: marks remaining on the stone from polishing
  
• Nicks: tiny chips usually located near the girdle edge of a diamond
  
• Naturals: an unpolished portion of the original surface of the diamond
  

Diamonds containing blemishes only are classified as Internally Flawless (IF).

Inclusions

Inclusions can be separated out into two categories: internal and surface reaching. These inclusions have a wide range of affect on cost and appearance usually determined by size and placement. For example, an inclusion that is located in the center of the stone will usually be much more visible than one that is located off to the side or close to the edge therefore having greater impact.

Internal inclusions are just that: they are completely contained within the diamond and do not touch the surface of the stone. Some common internal inclusions are:

• Crystals: small mineral deposits (diamond or otherwise) contained in the stone
  
• Clouds: a grouping of several tiny crystals that create a hazy appearance
  
• Pinpoints: minute crystals
  
• Needles: small, long crystals
  

Surface reaching inclusions refer to characteristics that break the surface or touch the surface of a stone. These inclusions can affect the durability as well as the appearance of a diamond in some cases. Some common surface reaching inclusions include:

• Feathers: a crack within the stone that breaks the surface
  
• Chips: a small portion of the diamond that has broken off
  
• Cavities: a large or deep opening usually caused by the removal of a crystal by the diamond cutter
  
• Indented Naturals: a portion of the original surface of the diamond that dips slightly into the stone
  
• Knots: a diamond crystal that extends to the surface of the stone

One or more of these internal inclusions (or others not listed here) will be present in diamonds ranging from VVS1 all the way to I3.

The true answer to that question is that there is no right or wrong. All of this information can help you decide what factors are most important to you, but the ultimate decision usually boils down to personal taste and priorities. That being the case here are some things to keep in mind while looking for the perfect diamond for you.

Visibility & Durability

• Flawless and Internally flawless diamonds will not have any visible inclusions and those that are present can sometimes be difficult for even a professional to spot. These inclusions will not affect the durability of the stone.
  
• Diamonds ranging from VVS1-VS2 will almost certainly not contain any inclusions that are visible to the unaided eye. They can sometimes be spotted with a jewelers loupe, but even that can be very difficult at times. These inclusions are extremely unlikely to affect durability.
  
• SI1-SI2 diamonds may contain inclusions that can be spotted without any magnification. The inclusions are likely to be readily visible when viewed with any magnification and may rarely affect the diamond's durability.
  
• I1-I3 diamonds will likely contain inclusions that are readily visible without magnification. Often in I2 & I3 durability can be compromised by the inclusions in the stone.

The most important thing to consider when buying a loose diamond is--what is most important to you? For example, when my husband and I were choosing the diamond for my engagement ring the sales associate kept trying to push higher clarity stones even if it meant a smaller size or lower color grade. We knew that while clarity was important to us, color held just a little bit more weight. We ended up choosing a diamond with a clarity grade of SI1 (perhaps just a notch lower than our ideal) but the color was excellent.

Another thing to keep in mind when looking at loose stones is the difference the jewelery setting can make. On diamonds with slightly visible inclusions (maybe a VS2 or SI1) the setting can minimize the appearance of inclusions. Ask the sales person if they have a piece of jewelery in the store with the same clarity stone so you can see what difference it might make in your piece.

Now that you are armed with some more information about diamonds and their clarity grades go out and choose with confidence. I'm sure you will be able to find exactly what you're looking for!