subject: Engagement Rings - Understanding The Importance Of Clarity [print this page] Not to be overlooked in the hunt for a great engagement ring is the purity of the diamond or stone sitting on the ring band. It's important that a diamond not look visibly cloudy or feathered, as nothing lights up her eyes like the flash and sparkle of a clear, brilliant stone. The fewer the impurities, the better, but this will also increase price; still, wiser to pay a little more for a clearer diamond than risk her wrath with an obviously inferior gem. Clarity of stone means something to a woman, such as purity of intentions and feelings, willingness to pamper her when it really counts, and that you bothered to really look at all.
Clarity in stones, and specifically diamonds for engagement rings, is the same for skin; how free of blemishes or impurities it is. Clarity characteristics, called inclusions, are like fingerprints to a diamond, and no two diamonds will ever be identical in their fingerprints. Five clarity grades have been established and are followed by all diamond jewellers and appraisers, assuming a 10x magnification.
FL/IF are flawless, for all practical purposes, and blemish free. These are not the normal grades found in ring stones, but museum quality and very rare. The most beautiful and highly prized of all grades, but not usually found in engagement rings.
VVS1/VVS2 grades are Very Very Slightly included, or have miniscule inclusions, that are quite difficult for even a seasoned grader to find. These are rare, extremely beautiful and extremely expensive.
VS1/VS2 means Very Slightly Included, and denotes an excellent stone. Diamonds at this grade have blemishes easier to see under 10x magnification, like feathering or clouding. The famous Hope Diamond is a VS1 grade.
S1/S2 are great value stones, with Slight Inclusions, quite possibly seen by the naked eye and definitely by a trained gemologist under magnification. Still, they make beautiful and affordable stones and are most commonly found in diamond jewelry like engagement rings. Consider them the Toyota of the gemstone world.
I1, I2, and I3 are all grades meaning inclusions are prominent and moreso the higher in number you go. Due to the number of inclusions, the stone could be in danger of possibly shattering under impact and brilliance or fire can be sorely affected, too.
Clarity is not something that can often be determined at a glance, unless the inclusions are quite obvious, but if one needs the gem appraised for insurance reasons, it will become clear whether the stone is of high clarity or not. When shopping for engagement rings, remember that difference in buying price can also be quite large depending on the diamond's weight or carat size.
