11 Feb 2026 — by Flawless Fine Jewellery — Reading time 12 minutes
The 4c’s – Diamond Clarity
A guide to diamond clarity, exploring grades, inclusions, eye-clean beauty, and smart value.
The 4c's - Diamond Clarity
What You'll Learn
➤ Diamond clarity is basically whether there's stuff trapped inside the stone. Tiny marks, inclusions, blemishes, whatever you want to call them. Graded on a scale that goes from Flawless all the way down to Included.
➤ The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) set the standard everyone uses. Eleven grades total. Each grade sits in a different spot on the rarity spectrum, which affects how they're valued.
➤ Most diamonds have minor inclusions. They formed billions of years ago under insane pressure. It's completely normal. Even stones graded higher up the scale usually have something inside them.
➤ Grades like VS1, SI1, SI2? When you're wearing them, they look flawless to your eye. Genuinely. The differences are there on a grading chart, but you won't see them on your hand.
➤ The real thing that matters: how you feel about the stone when you look at it. What the ring means to you.
What Is Diamond Clarity?
Most people think clarity is everything. They've heard "flawless" and assume that's the goal. Then they see the prices and start wondering if they're settling.
Here's the thing: clarity is just one part. A diamond graded SI1 might look absolutely perfect when you're wearing it. Meanwhile, a higher grade doesn't automatically mean better or more special.
This guide walks you through what clarity actually is, what the grades mean, and how to think about it when choosing. Because the right grade isn't about hitting some number. It's about finding a stone that makes sense for you.
Understanding Diamond Clarity
Hold a diamond to the light. You're holding something that took millions of years to get to your hand.
Clarity is just one part of the story. It tells you what got trapped inside while the stone was forming. Internal stuff (inclusions) and surface marks (blemishes). That's it.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the grading system everyone uses. Consistent. Transparent. This matters when you're investing in something this important.
Here's what people don't always realise: your diamond clarity grade doesn't equal beauty. Not even close. A stone rated SI1 might look absolutely pristine when you're wearing it. Your eye won't catch what a jeweller with a loupe sees under 10x magnification. Your eye catches something else instead, whether the stone makes you feel something when you look at it.
The Clarity Scale Explained
Okay, so there's 11 grades. Not 5, not 7. Eleven. The GIA diamond grading system doesn't do things simple.
Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF). You've got no inclusions under magnification. These diamonds are rare enough that most jewellers will never hold one. Flawless diamonds are rare, seriously. They cost a fortune. If someone hands you a loose Flawless diamond, that's a moment.
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2). Minor inclusions. So minor that even with a 10x loupe, you're squinting. VS1 is the sweet spot for many. You get that confidence of knowing you've got a clean stone. Most people picking an engagement ring find themselves drawn here. VVS1 and VVS2 sit even higher on the diamond clarity scale, offering different considerations for those seeking that assurance.
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2). This is where things get interesting. SI1 stones often look eye-clean. Seriously. You look at it on your hand, it sparkles, you see nothing visible to the naked eye. A gemologist looks at it with magnification and finds something. But you won't. SI2 is trickier because some look great and some don't. It really depends on what's in there and where.
Included (I1, I2, I3). You may see something with the naked eye. Could be a dark mark, could be cloudiness. This grade requires careful consideration and viewing the actual stone in person to assess what feels right for you.
The grades matter, sure. But they're just a starting point. When you look at your diamond on your hand, you're not thinking about the grading scale. You're thinking about whether it makes you happy. The 4Cs framework, cut, colour, carat, and clarity,all work together, but they're not equally important. Cut controls sparkle. Clarity gets out of the way. Colour and carat are personal preferences. You can't understand clarity in isolation, it's one voice in a bigger conversation about what makes your diamond feel right.
Inclusions: What They Are and Why They Matter
Inclusions are just... well, stuff. Trapped inside the stone while it was forming. These are known as inclusions. They're also why clarity factors differ from stone to stone.
Carbon. Little bits of other minerals. Sometimes another tiny diamond got stuck in there. Sometimes the crystal lattice just fractured slightly and that's visible. None of it is because of bad luck or some cosmic mistake. It's geology. The mantle during diamond formation creates these tiny markers.
Clouds. Feathers. Needles. Pinpoints. These are types of diamond inclusions, the names for different types. But honestly? The name matters less than the location. An inclusion stuck deep in the middle of the stone? You'll never see it. One near the top facet where light enters? That's different. And a dark inclusion looks worse than a white one. A white one kind of just disappears into the stone.
This is why looking at the actual stone matters more than the grade. A gemologist can see beyond the number. When you find a diamond, seeing it in person reveals whether those inclusions and blemishes actually matter to you. The people at Flawless Fine Jewellery do this because they know that your specific diamond is singular. Not a grade. A specific object with its own quirks.
How Clarity Affects Your Diamond's Value
The pricing structure across clarity grades reflects rarity. Each step up the clarity grading scale represents increasingly rare stones. Flawless to Internally Flawless represents the rarest. IF to VS1 also carries significance. VS1 represents a point where you get genuine peace of mind. The visual and experiential difference between these grades shifts at certain thresholds, with some stones offering characteristics different from others.
But here's the thing about clarity itself. Cut is what makes a diamond sparkle. That's the big one. The huge one. Clarity just makes sure nothing's in the way. A perfectly cut stone with a few inclusions will outshine a average cut with no inclusions. It's not close. Diamond clarity is measured by assessing how these factors work together.
That said. If you're buying an engagement ring that you're going to look at constantly, knowing that your stone is clean feels important. It's not practical. It's emotional. And emotions matter in jewellery. You want to feel like your diamond is as pure as the moment it represents. Higher clarity gives you that peace of mind.
But plenty of people go with VS2 or SI1 and never regret it. Never even think about it once they're wearing the ring. The inclusion just... isn't relevant anymore because you're too busy being happy. Even diamonds with minute inclusions perform beautifully in daily life.
Choosing the Right Clarity Grade for You
So you're actually buying now. What do you pick?
If you want absolute confidence, VS1 is the move. Appears flawless; you know your stone is genuinely clean. Good for engagement rings and diamond jewellery, where you're going to love this thing forever. A higher clarity grade in this range gives you both visual and psychological comfort.
SI1. People often overlook SI1. Most of them are eye-clean. You look at it on your hand and see nothing wrong. Then a gemologist pulls out a loupe and finds something invisible to you. The distinction is whether you can see it matters, not what a gemologist finds. This works beautifully if you want to focus on other qualities. Many specific diamonds at this level have no visible inclusions.
SI2 requires attention. Some are gorgeous. Some have something that bothers you. You need to see the actual stone before deciding. This is where you really need to know about diamond clarity and assess it yourself in person.
I2 and I3. These grades require thoughtful consideration. You may see something that affects your perception. Worth looking at in person if you're considering these grades.
Here's the real thing, though: context matters. If you're doing a solitaire engagement ring that's going to be the star of the show, you probably want VS1 or VS2 minimum. But if you're doing diamond earrings or a three-stone setting where the center is surrounded by smaller diamonds? You've got more flexibility. The other diamonds catch light and pull attention away. When you find a diamond with lower clarity in this context, it often works beautifully.
The only rule is this: if you can see the actual diamond before you commit, do that. A diamond clarity grade is just a number. Certification tells you what a gemologist found. Seeing it tells you what you feel. Understanding diamond clarity is essential because it's personal.
Key Takeaways
• Clarity grades exist. They matter. But not in the way you might think.
• You're grading the inclusions and blemishes under magnification. But you're buying a diamond to wear. To look at. To feel like it's yours. The clarity grade is the baseline. It tells you if there's something obvious you'll regret. Beyond that, it's about the stone itself and what it does to you when you hold it. Diamond clarity refers to this intersection of technical fact and personal feeling.
• VS1 is solid. SI1 works beautifully if you examine it first. Eye-clean SI1 performs much like VS2 in daily wear. Even diamonds with lower clarity grades can be stunning.
• Flawless and Internally Flawless are for people who need to know they've got something objectively perfect. That's valid. It carries significance for those who value that absolute assurance. The best clarity grade is the one that lets you choose with confidence and feel good about your decision.
• Your diamond doesn't have to have perfect clarity to be beautiful. Every diamond carries its own story inside. Most of the diamonds people fall in love with have inclusions they'll never see. They're too busy loving the way it sparkles. When you select the perfect diamond, clarity is just one part of what makes it yours.
FAQ's
What is the best diamond clarity grade?
VS1 or VS2. Most people land somewhere here. Your eye won't catch anything. The stone looks flawless when you're wearing it, which matters because that's when you're looking at it. SI1? If you actually examine it first and it's eye-clean, you might love it. The real answer though, is whatever makes you feel confident. Some people need to know their stone is technically flawless. Others just want it to look flawless. Both are completely valid.
Can you see inclusions in a diamond with the naked eye?
Depends. FL and IF? Nothing visible at all. VVS and VS? Same thing, nothing catches your eye. SI1 is the tricky one. Usually eye-clean, but sometimes there's a tiny something. This is genuinely why you need to look at the actual stone. Every diamond is different. SI2 and below, you might notice something. Might not. But the real test is what you see without a loupe. Not what a gemologist finds. What you actually see.
Does diamond clarity affect sparkle?
Not really. That's cutting down on the work. Cut is massive, honestly, the thing that matters most for sparkle. Clarity just gets out of the way. Heavy inclusions, though, can block light and kill the shine. But minor stuff that doesn't mess with transparency? You won't notice. A perfectly cut stone with some inclusions will destroy a flawless diamond with a mediocre cut. It's not even close.
Is flawless (FL) diamond clarity worth it?
Depends entirely on you. Flawless diamonds are genuinely rare. They mean something to certain people, there's something profound about knowing your stone contains absolutely nothing. If that matters to your heart, if you need to know it's objectively perfect, then it's worth it. No debate. For others, VS1 or VS2 delivers everything they want and that's enough. Neither choice is wrong.
What are common diamond inclusions?
Feathers, pinpoints, clouds, needles. But here's the thing, what they're called doesn't matter nearly as much as where they are and what they look like. An inclusion hiding deep in the middle? You'll never see it. One near the edge? Still probably invisible. A white one near the surface? Barely noticeable. A dark one front and centre? That's a different story. Location changes everything. Type matters less than you'd think.
Should I choose SI1 or VS1 clarity?
Look at them. Seriously, that's the answer. If an SI1 makes you feel good when you look at it, if it's eye-clean and you genuinely can't spot anything, then it's right. If you'd rather have the certainty of VS1, if you want that assurance, go for it. There's no clever answer here. It's about what makes you feel secure. Some people sleep better knowing the grade is higher. Others see the stone and that's all the reassurance they need.
How is diamond clarity graded?
A gemologist sits down with your diamond, grabs a loupe, and looks at it under 10x magnification. They're noting what they see, how big the inclusions are, how many there are, where they're positioned, what type they are. Then they assign a grade. The certificate comes with a little plot showing exactly where everything is. That's the transparency part. You get to see what they found.
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