Clarity In Coloured Diamonds – Pastor Geneve
admin on Feb 15th 2009
Diamonds contain minute imperfections called inclusions. The clarity grading scale is the following:
IF – Internally Flawless
VVS – Very Very Slightly Included
VS – Very Slightly Included
SI – Slightly Included
I – Included
All of these clarity scales are analysed under a microscope using 10 X magnification. Only an I graded stone has inclusions large enough for the human eye to detect, all other grades require magnification to detect the inclusions. This means that the microscopic cuts and scrapes in an SI stone will not detract from the beauty and colour of a slightly included stone.
The majority of coloured diamonds contain inclusions because of the chemical structure and pressure required to create one. Coloured diamond connoisseurs will acquire a stone based on the colour saturation and consider clarity as a secondary issue. In certain colours, such as orange diamonds and purplish pink diamonds, the microscopic imperfections within the stone will actually help transmit the light through the diamond prism to create a more saturated and vibrant colour appearance. For example, at the recent Argyle Pink diamond tender in 2006, there were six VS rated stones, 35 SI rated stones and 24 I rated stones.
Over the years thousands of coloured diamonds have sold at the worlds auction houses, dealers and retail outlets without a grade for clarity. In fact, the GIA has a colour-only report they produce from the coloured diamond grading facilities that doesn’t even grade the stone for clarity, just the cut, colour and carat weight. Coloured diamond connoisseurs will not use a loop to examine a stone until the end of their analysis, they will use different light sources as their guide. They will ask questions such as: How does the stone look in natural sunlight as opposed to artificial light?
The most expensive red diamond ever sold was a 0.95 carat fancy red diamond for $926,000 per carat in 1987. This stone was heavily included but because of its rich strawberry colour, it sold for a world record price. A comparable D-flawless diamond would sell for under $17,000 per carat.
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