Understanding Diamond Clarity Is The Key To Smart Shopping

If you’re in the market for diamond jewelry, you need to understand diamond clarity. It’s a factor that strongly influences the price you’ll pay and is one of the measurements used to determine quality.

Diamond clarity is expressed in grades and having some knowledge about the various levels makes it more likely you’ll get better diamond rings and other jewelry than if you rely only on salespeople. At the top of the list is the flawless diamond. This includes perfect diamonds that are extremely expensive. If you’re just shopping for some nice diamond earrings or even an engagement ring, you’ll probably find this class out of your price range. These are truly precious and rare gems.

Very, very slightly included is the next grade level. The diamonds belonging to this group are of excellent quality, with virtually no flaws. Often any flaws are undetectable with 10x magnification.

The very slightly included grade comes next in diamond clarity, and diamonds falling in this grade have only very slight flaws that can be seen under 10x magnification, and only sometimes by the naked eye. Even with such flaws, these diamonds are exquisite and offer significant value.

Next in line is the slightly included grade which includes diamonds with declining clarity. Flaws can be seen by the unaided eye. However, these diamonds can be a great find, especially for the budget conscious consumer.

Lastly, all other diamonds are lumped together in the final category. These diamonds have visible defects and are not used in fine jewelry. But, be aware that there are diamond shops that will sell them so keep your eyes open and avoid purchasing them. They are not recommended as a good value for your money.