Clarity is one of the key factors that determines a diamond’s value and beauty. It refers to the internal and external characteristics in a diamond, commonly known as inclusions and blemishes. These occur during the natural process when a diamond is formed in the Earth. Most diamonds contain inclusions, and a vast majority of these are not visible to the naked eye.
Diamonds with fewer inclusions are rarer, and thus often command a higher price. Lower clarity diamonds on the other hand can provide exceptional value while still appearing beautiful to the naked eye.
Most gemological laboratories such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) use the following scale when grading diamond clarity.
Just like fingerprints, no two diamonds are exactly alike. Each diamond forms under intense heat and pressure over billions of years, creating a natural pattern of inclusions and characteristics that make every stone one of a kind.
Inclusions—whether white, black, or transparent—are nature’s signature inside the diamond. They can take many forms: tiny crystals, clouds, feathers, or internal lines. These features are not just imperfections—they are part of the diamond’s unique story and natural identity.
Even diamonds with the same clarity grade can appear very different to the eye. This is because clarity grading is based on several factors: the number, size, color, location, and visibility of the inclusions.
This brings to mind the adage ‘location, location, location.’ The location of a diamond’s inclusions significantly impacts the stone’s clarity rating. External or internal clarity characteristics hidden near the side facets of a diamond are often less visible (and can sometimes be hidden in the setting) compared to clarity characteristics that are located in the center of a diamond.
