The plotting diagram on a GIA Diamond Grading Report identifies the location of blemishes by using either green or black symbols (internal characteristics are denoted in red or a combination of red and green). A Key to Symbols lists the characteristics present.

Please remember that these images are magnified to provide you with closer detail, so don’t expect all clarity characteristics to look exactly like the pictures!

	Abrasion A series of minute nicks along the facet junctions of a fashioned diamond; gives the edges a white or fuzzy appearance.
	Extra Facet A facet that’s not required by the cutting style, placed without regard for the diamond’s symmetry; most often found near the girdle. Courtesy K.R. Gems & Diamonds International.
	Lizard Skin Wavy or bumpy area on the surface of a polished diamond.
	Natural A portion of the original surface of a rough diamond left on a fashioned stone; usually on or near the girdle. Courtesy of Gary Roskin, G.G., F.G.A.
	Nick A small notch on a facet junction with no readily apparent depth at 10X, usually along the girdle edge or at the culet. Courtesy of Gary Roskin, G.G., F.G.A.
	Pit A small opening that looks like a tiny white dot. Courtesy of Gary Roskin, G.G., F.G.A.
	Polish Lines Fine parallel grooves and ridges left by polishing; can occur on any facet but do not cross facet junctions; transparent or white.
	Burn Mark Hazy surface area that results from excessive heat during polishing; also called a burned facet.
	Rough Girdle Irregular or granular girdle surface.
	Scratch A thin, dull, white line across the diamond’s surface; shows no apparent depth at 10X.
	Surface Graining Similar to internal graining, except it appears on the surface; results from irregularities in crystal structure.

The post Diamond Blemishes Defined appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

It has been said that few things in nature are absolutely perfect. The same holds true of diamonds. Part of what makes a diamond unique is what is commonly referred to as a diamond’s clarity characteristic.

A diamond’s clarity characteristic is made up of both inclusions (internal features) and blemishes (surface irregularities). The number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics affect the overall appearance of the stone, and go a long way toward determining which of the 6 GIA Clarity categories the diamond falls under.

A flawless diamond is rare, so when looking to purchase a diamond, it’s important to understand how clarity, one of the 4Cs of diamond quality, plays into the diamond purchase decision.

Learn more about diamond clarity with this great educational video from GIA.

Remember, the value of a diamond is determined only after considering all of the 4Cs of diamond quality, so learn about the next C, Diamond Cut.

The post Are Diamonds Really Perfect? appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Diamond clarity is one of the 4Cs of diamond quality that influence a diamond’s value. When GIA examines a diamond to determine its diamond clarity grade, it takes five factors into account:

• The size of the clarity characteristics and the number present.
• The position of the characteristics is also important–are they located on the table or in an inconspicuous place?
• The nature of the blemish or inclusion is examined, to see if it will affect the structure of the diamond.
• And finally, the clarity characteristics are checked for relief—whether they result in any color being present.

GIA’s clarity grading system is made up of eleven diamond clarity grades – terms used worldwide by jewelers and consumers alike:

• Flawless
• Internally flawless
• Two categories of Very Very Slightly Included (VVS₁ and VVS₂)
• Two categories of Very Slightly Included (VS₁ and VS₂)
• Two categories of Slightly Included (SI₁ and SI₂)
• Three categories of Included (I₁, I₂, and I₃)

Blemishes usually only affect the clarity grade in the top two categories (Flawless and Internally Flawless), whereas inclusions affect all grades. Flawless diamonds are very rare – so rare, that it’s possible for a jeweler to spend a lifetime in the industry without ever seeing one.

Learn more about diamond clarity with the first article of this series: Introduction to Diamond Clarity: What are Inclusions and Blemishes.

The post Introduction to Diamond Clarity: Understanding a Diamond Clarity Grade appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Both inclusions and blemishes appear in a diamond at different stages of a diamond’s formation. Inclusions may be present from a diamond’s creation, whereas blemishes may appear during cutting, setting, or even the wearing of a diamond.

There are many different types of inclusions, also known as internal clarity characteristics. As diamonds form in extreme heat and under great pressure, small crystals can become trapped inside. This is a common inclusion. Many of these crystals can only be seen if the diamond is studied at 10x magnification. If the diamond has an irregular atomic structure, it can also have a clarity characteristic called graining. Graining looks like faint lines or streaks. Diamonds can also have internal breaks, formed during or after formation. These breaks are called ‘feathers,’ because of their feathery appearance.

Blemishes occur after a diamond’s formation, during the cutting, mounting, and wearing of a polished diamond. Extra facets, polish lines (thin parallel grooves and ridges) or burns (from excessive heat on the polishing wheel during cutting) are examples of blemishes introduced during the manufacturing process. Nicks, scratches, chips and abrasions are examples of blemishes introduced during the handling, mounting or wearing of a diamond. Chips are shallow openings where part of the diamond was broken off, most often at the girdle edge.

Many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. In some cases, a diamond can have a flawless clarity, or a total absence of any blemish or inclusion. Since rarity and value are related, a diamonds with a flawless clarity are incredibly rare and thus, the most valuable of all diamonds.

Learn more about diamond clarity with Diamond Clarity: Understanding Diamond Clarity Grades.

The post Introduction to Diamond Clarity: What are Inclusions and Blemishes appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.