| Judging
Clarity
The first
diamond grading system was introduced by the GIA in the late
1920's. Since then it has been debated and modified. The present
system allows people throughout the world to compare and visualize
degrees of clarity that are imperceptible to the naked eye.
Diamond
grading is an art. That means it requires practice, and a
good way of getting this practice is to start examining diamonds
with the help of your jeweler. But before you look at diamonds,
try forming a general mental picture of some of the clarity
grades by studying the examples in figures 6.20 to 6.25.
There
are no examples of the grades from Flawless to VSl, because
the differences don't show up well in photographs. Expect
actual diamonds to look different than these photos due to
the two-dimensional nature of printing and the focusing problems
of microscope photography. Further details of all the categories
are given below.
Flawless
(FI) Flawless diamonds are rarely used in jewelry. Ordinary
wear could cause them to lose their flawless status.
Internally Flawless Diamonds with no inclusions and only insignificant
blemishes, such Flawless (IF) as tiny pits and scratches that
are easily removed with repalishing, can be classified internally
flawless. It is unlikely that your jeweler has IF or Fl diamonds
in stock. He might, however, be able to locate one for you.
WS1 &
WS 2 These diamonds have inclusions so small that the average
person would not be able to find them under ten-power magnification.
Even trained diamond graders may have to view the stone from
several positions to find the inclusion. Jewelers seldom keep
these stones in stock, especially if they are one carat or
more.
VS1 A
layperson would have a very hard time finding the very small
crystals, clouds, feathers, or pinpoints that characterize
this grade. Sometimes, he may never find them under ten-power
magnification. Some stores keep large VS, diamonds in stock,
but if they have a wide selection of them, be suspicious of
over grading because they are not readily available in large
quantities.
VS2 Diamonds
with this classification have the same types of inclusions
as VS, stones but the inclusions are either more numerous,
larger, or easier to see
The
specks might
Decrease
the brilliancy
Book
has stores
Are
called pinpoints
Indentations
where chunks
There
are various
Allows
people throughou
Unaided
eye through
Grading
reports can
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