The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and other organisations have developed systems to grade clarity, which are based on those inclusions that are visible to a trained professional when a diamond is viewed under 10x magnification. Wholesale diamonds are graded by the independent laboratories on a scale ranging from flawless to imperfect.
Please Note: Grading is performed under 10x Magnification and the related terms below are applied on this basis.
- Flawless: is applied to stones that are free of any external blemish or internal inclusion.
- Internally Flawless / Loupe Clean: Loupe refers to a 10x magnification eye-loupe and is applied to stones that are free of internal inclusions when viewed by a trained professional.
- VVS1 – VVS2: Very, Very Small Inclusions – difficult for a practiced expert to locate under 10x magnification. View Examples>
- VS1 – VS2: Very Small Inclusions – is applied when an expert can discern very small inclusions that are difficult to see. View Examples>
- SI1 – SI2: Small Inclusions – should not be visible to the naked eye, but when viewed by an experienced grader, are easy to locate under 10x magnification. View Examples>
- P1 / I1: Pique (included) / Imperfect – very easy to find under magnification, but with the naked eye, when viewed through the crown are only discernible with difficulty. View Examples>
- P2-P3 / I2-I3: Pique (included) / Imperfect – inclusions are easily found with the naked eye and these imperfections greatly effect brilliance & light performance. View Examples>