What Is Diamond Clarity?
Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone, graded by the visibility of these characteristics under 10-power magnification. A stone is graded as flawless if, under 10-power magnification, no inclusions (internal flaws) and no blemishes (external imperfections) are visible. At Tiffany, we only accept 0.04% of the world’s gem-grade diamonds.
Diamond Clarity Chart
Diamond inclusions are internal flaws. Tiffany rejects any diamond with noticeable imperfections to the unaided eye.
FL
FL diamonds are Flawless
IF
IF diamonds are Internally Flawless
VVS1 VVS2
VVS diamonds (1 and 2) are Very, Very Slightly Included
VS1 VS2
VS diamonds (1 and 2) are Very Slightly Included
SI1 SI2
SI diamonds (1 and 2) are Slightly Included
I1 I2 I3
I diamonds (1, 2 and 3) are Imperfect
The gemological standards in this section refer only to individually registered engagement diamonds set in certain ring styles.
Tiffany Standard of Clarity
Tiffany’s strict diamond grading standards are executed with expertise, integrity and accuracy. When Tiffany believes that a diamond’s clarity is on the borderline between two grades, Tiffany will always assign the stone a lower grade—never falsely inflating a diamond clarity grade.
Does Diamond Clarity Really Matter?
A diamond with a poor clarity grade has multiple inclusions, which directly affects sparkle. Because inclusions hinder the refraction and return of light, the lower the clarity grade, the cloudier the diamond will appear.
“If anything takes away from the beauty of the stone, we won’t accept it.”
—Hannah Jee, diamond grader
