After selecting your ideal diamond by color and quality of the cut, you must next consider clarity. Clarity, like color, is coded according to an established chart. Most diamonds have blemishes and inclusions; many of these, however, are not visible to the naked eye. This is because diamonds are graded under a 10x magnification jewelers' loupe. So the question is: why should I care about inclusions that cannot be seen by the naked eye?
The fewer inclusions present, the more light the diamond will absorb and the
more it will sparkle. It should also come as no surprise that the fewer inclusions,
the higher the cost. Flawless diamonds are quite rare, and it is unlikely
that the average buyer will ever purchase such a stone, as their cost is in
the tens of thousands of dollars. The vast majority of diamonds available
on the market today fall into the SI (Slightly Included) and VS (Very Slightly
Included) grades of clarity. At this level, it is still often difficult to
see the imperfections of the stone. For this reason we suggest that before
buying a diamond, ask about the clarity and ask to examine the stone through
a loupe. At Lakeville Jewelers, we encourage you to compare several stones
before making a purchase, and to examine all of them through a loupe prior
to purchase.
As a general rule, when buying a diamond, you want the best clarity, cut and color. If you purchase a diamond in the lower clarity grade, the diamonds' inability to fully absorb light will, to some extent, detract from the color and the cut. If an inclusion is apparent to the naked eye without the viewer first being informed of its existence, then the diamond is defined as imperfect. As a general rule, avoid any stone that has a clarity of I.
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