The 4C’s – Clarity

Diamond crystals have been present in and on the earth’s surface for millions of years. As they were being formed through the heat and pressure being exerted on the continental plates, most developed unique characteristics inside each of these crystals. Today, we call these fissures, cracks and other assorted characteristics, marks or material inside or on the surface of a diamond crystal, inclusions or blemishes.

These inclusions or blemishes have been categorized in a variety of ways to reflect the not only the size and number of them, but also their color, position and the extent of their visibility with or without magnification. While these inclusions and blemishes usually have little bearing on the strength or integrity of the diamond, in some cases depending on size and position, they can cause the diamond to fracture more easily. These inclusions and blemishes are considered imperfections in a diamond and while some larger imperfections may be seen by the naked eye, many can only be seen with the use of and under 10X power magnification. Each diamonds imperfections are unique to that particular stone and can be used to identify the diamond and authenticate the natural and not synthetic origin of the stone.

Beginning in the early 1950’s, the Gemological Institute of America began grading diamonds using a new standard to define the clarity of a diamond. Using 10X power magnification as its method of observation it defined the different types of inclusions and blemishes found inside and on the surface of the diamond, and assigned words and numbers to equate with the size, amount, type, place and color of the imperfections found in or on the diamond. Diamonds not possessing any of these imperfections or “flaws” under 10X power magnification were considered “flawless”. The next level of imperfection was considered very, very, slight and was thus labeled VVS1 or VVS2, based on the very slightest of difference as to where and type of imperfection found in the stone. The next level of imperfections were considered slightly stronger that those found in the VVS category and were labeled very slight or VS1 or VS2. Following this category were the next levels of imperfection, slightly imperfect or SI1 and SI2. These imperfections were yet again considered stronger than those found in the VS category.

Its important to recognize at this point, that unlike color, which can be seen and judged immediately, clarity in any of these categories which have just been explained, absolutely cannot. In most cases, to the naked eye, there is no difference in the appearance of a stone categorized as Flawless or as one characterized as SI2 assuming color, cut, and carat are the same.

This can have a significant impact on the price of a diamond. We can use a .75ct, three quarter carat round diamond which is H in color, as an example. An H colored diamond is a nice white stone. A .75ct HSI1 diamond would cost approximately $1550.00 dollars. The exact same stone as an HVS1 would cost approximately $2150.00dollars, about $500.00 dollar more. While technically there is a difference in the level of imperfection in the diamond, there would be no visual difference to the naked eye. At its most extreme, in a stone like this, the difference between a VVS1 rating and a SI2 rating could be as much as $1200.00 dollars.

Following the slightly imperfect or SI level, those diamonds with stronger imperfections, those that perhaps can be seen by the naked eye without the help of 10X power magnification are categorized as imperfect or I1 and I2. In recent years the word “imperfect” in the definition of each category has been changed to the word “included” and an additional category of I3 has been added. In almost all cases those diamonds categorized as I2 or I3 have strong enough imperfections or inclusions to be seen by the naked eye.

While the level of imperfection in or on the surface of a diamond can have as significant an impact as differences in color on the cost a diamond, only the strongest of imperfections or inclusions will change the look luster or sparkle of that diamond. In all cases however, a real understanding of the 4C’s, color, cut, clarity and carat will provide timely and important information for anyone thinking about the purchase of a diamond.

The Nature of Diamonds

As the hardest natural material on the planet, diamonds have always held a unique position amongst the minerals of the earth. Some diamonds found in South America and Africa were actually created in outer space and deposited on Earth as a result of the asteroid showers that took place about 3 billion years ago. However, the vast majority of the diamonds on the planet were created over the course of millions of years just below the continental plates of the Earth’s crust.

While most of the world considers the word diamond almost synonymous with their use in jewelry, more than 80% of the world’s diamonds have industrial not commercial gemstone applications. Due to a diamond’s hardness and its ability to with stand high temperatures, most industrial diamond is embedded in the grinding, drilling cutting and polishing tools that power industry. With the creation of synthetic, man made diamonds more applications in the electronics and computer industries have become possible.

The history of diamonds as gemstones begins in India at least 3000 years ago, where they were used as adornments for religious statutes. Until the 18th century, India was the primary source for the world’s diamonds, being replaced at that time by Brazil. In the late 19th century South Africa became the primary source of diamonds, and up until today South Africa still accounts for almost half of the world’s diamonds. Many other countries contribute to the balance of diamonds in the world, including Russia, Australia, Canada, the Congo and Brazil. While the diamonds used as gemstones are primarily white, diamonds come in a variety of colors ranging from black and varying shades of brown, yellow, and pink. There are also very rare instances where green, blue, and red diamonds have been found. This last group of diamonds, those with a color other than white are sometimes called “fancies” or “fancy colored diamonds” and depending on the exact shade or color of the diamond command a premium price way in excess of what a similar white diamond might command.

Diamond in its raw form is called “rough diamond” and in many instances looks nothing like its brilliant and sparkling cousin. After being taken from the mines this “rough diamond” is sorted and graded by its size and potential shape and quality. It is then sold or traded through a series of dealers before ending up in a diamond-cutting factory where it is polished into the form that most people are familiar with. This done mostly in Europe, specifically Antwerp, Belguim where about 80% of all rough diamond is traded. The vast majority of diamonds are then sent to cutting factories, smaller stones going to India and the larger staying in Antwerp, or going to other major cutting centers in Israel or New York. Today, with modern methods of shaping and faceting the stones, diamonds are polished to near mathematical perfection guaranteeing brilliance, proportion and luster. These polished diamonds are then resorted and graded by their shape, size, color and clarity to be sold to dealers all over the world where they are ultimately used to create all the many different styles and types of jewelry that are available to the public.

The business of Diamonds is truly a global business with sales of all grades of diamond totaling more almost $9 billion US dollars a year. The growth of this business has been clearly fueled by the increased affluence of societies all over the world and their desire to own and wear gem quality diamonds as well as the many industrial uses this unique mineral provides.