Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone. While no diamond is perfectly pure, the closer it comes, the higher its value.

Many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, a Vs1 and an Si2 diamond may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality. This is why expert and accurate assessment of clarity is extremely important.

Clarity Diagram Examples

The value of a precious stone is determined by its gemological makeup, natural rarity and finished quality. Diamonds and gemstones of similar appearance can have important differences in value. Even experts need powerful analytic tools to detect synthetics, treatments and enhancement processes. A Certificate clearly discloses the details of any item it accompanies, providing confidence for both buyer and seller.

Gemstones should only change hands when accompanied by a certificate attesting to quality. Regardless of location or marketplace, an authentic Laboratory Report is the common language of trust and confidence in the gemological world, and should be considered an essential part of any transaction. We take this responsibility very seriously.

The quality of cut is crucial to the diamond’s final beauty and value. Of all the 4Cs, it is the most complex and technically difficult to assess.

The GIA Cut Grading System for the standard round brilliant diamond evaluates seven components. The first three, brightness, fire and scintillation, consider the diamond’s overall face-up appearance. The remaining four, weight ratio, durability, polish and symmetry, assess a diamond’s design and craftsmanship.

Brightness : Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond
Fire : The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow
Scintillation : The sparkle a diamond produces, and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond

The design and craftsmanship of the diamond considers weight ratio (weight of the diamond relative to its diameter), the diamond’s girdle thickness (which affects its durability), the symmetry of its facet arrangement, and the quality of polish on those facets.

Cut is oftentimes confused with the shape of the diamond. The most common diamond shape used in jewelry is the standard round brilliant. All other diamond shapes are known as fancy shapes. Traditional fancy shapes include the marquise, pear, oval and emerald cuts. Princess cut, cushions, triangles and a variety of other are also gaining popularity in diamond jewelry.

Polish refers to the degree of smoothness of each facet of a diamond as measured by a gemologist. When a diamond is cut and polished, microscopic surface defects may be created by the polishing wheel as it drags tiny dislodged crystals across the diamond's surface. Depending on the severity, these defects may disrupt light patterns as the light rays enter and exit the diamond.

Each Kapriss World Diamond displays the polish grade as determined by the GIA, using the following scale:

For diamonds with a polish grade of Excellent to Good, any polishing defects are not visible to the naked eye, and should have no impact on the diamond's overall appearance.

For diamonds with clarity grades of I1 or lower, even a polish grade of Fair is acceptable, since these diamonds already possess internal inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, making any polish markings less relevant.

For diamonds less than .75 carats, any polish grade of Fair or better will not affect the appearance of the diamond to an untrained observer.

Poor is the only polish grade that should be avoided regardless of the size or clarity of the diamond. For this reason, Kapriss World does not carry diamonds with a polish grade of Poor.

Symmetry refers to how precisely the various facets of a diamond align and intersect. This can include extra or misshapen facets, off center culets and tables.

A diamond with poor symmetry may misdirect light that travels into the diamond, sending it off at slightly wrong angles, and thereby reducing the diamond's brilliance. Often, a diamond cutter will purposefully allow a minor reduction in symmetry as a way of preventing a defect present in the rough stone from being retained as part of the finished diamond.

Each Kapriss World Diamond displays the symmetry grade as determined by the GIA, using the following scale:

For diamonds with a symmetry grade of Excellent to Good, symmetry should not be used as a primary factor in choosing a diamond, since each of these grades is possible in diamonds of exceptional appearance.

Symmetry is more important in diamonds of VVS2 Clarity and higher, since the very subtle defects produced by Fair or Poor symmetry (which can resemble pinpoint inclusions) would compromise the diamond's otherwise flawless appearance.

Despite its modest impact on appearance, symmetry has a significant impact on price; a diamond with Excellent Symmetry and Polish may be priced 10%-15% higher than a diamond with Good Symmetry and Polish. This premium has more to do with consumer's perceived value of "excellent" grades, than the actual effect on a diamond's appearance.

Because diamonds with Poor symmetry have defects visible to the naked eye, these diamonds should be avoided in all cases. For this reason, Kapriss World does not carry diamonds with a symmetry grade of Poor.

A diamond should not be chosen or rejected based solely on symmetry. Because the overall Cut grade already incorporates symmetry, it should be used as the primary determinant when choosing a diamond. When comparing two diamonds of equal Cut grade, symmetry (and polish) can then be used as a further refinement or tie breaker.

Fluorescence is the visible light some diamonds emit when they are exposed to invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. On a GIA Diamond Grading Report, fluorescence refers to the strength, or intensity, of the diamond’s reaction to long-wave UV, which is an essential component of daylight. The light emitted lasts as long as the diamond is exposed to the ultraviolet source.

Of the diamonds submitted to GIA over the past decade, approximately 25% to 35% exhibit some degree of fluorescence. However, only 10% of those show strengths of fluorescence that may affect appearance (i.e., strengths noted on laboratory reports as medium, strong, or very strong). In more than 95% of the diamonds that exhibit fluorescence, the color seen is blue. In rare instances, the reaction is yellow, white or another color.

In recent years, diamond treatments, simulated diamonds, and laboratory-grown or synthetic diamonds have become more common, more advanced, and harder to detect.

While treatments can change a stone’s color or apparent clarity, the presence of such treatments may affect the diamond’s value - particularly if the price reflects its appearance after treatment. A Diamonds Grading Report provides buyers with the ultimate assurance that they’re getting exactly what they pay for.

Diamond Treatments

Color Enhancements

Coating enhances a diamond’s color by masking an undesirable body color with an ultra-thin layer of chemicals or plastics.

HPHT (High-pressure, high-temperature) process is an effective tool for changing the color of certain diamonds, making them colorless, pink, blue, green, yellowish green or yellow. Outside of a well-equipped grading laboratory, this form of treatment is virtually undetectable.

Clarity Enhancements

Laser drilling is commonly used to remove small dark inclusions. The laser bores a small hole into the diamond’s interior and burns away the inclusion, or creates a channel through which a bleaching agent can be introduced to improve the inclusion’s appearance.

Fracture filling hides white fractures in a diamond called “feather”. A glass-like substance is injected into the fracture to make it less visible and to improve the stone’s apparent clarity. Good fracture filling is very subtle, and so examination by a skilled diamond grader is necessary to detect its presence in a stone.

Synthetic Diamond

A synthetic diamond is man-made, the result of a technological process, as opposed to the geological process that creates natural diamonds. Synthetic diamonds have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, optical and physical properties of diamonds found in nature. Most synthetic diamonds are categorized as either HPHT (high-pressure, high-temperature) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) diamonds, depending on the method of their production. Since HPHT and CVD diamonds are virtually identical to natural diamonds, differences only become clear when they are viewed by a trained grader in a gem laboratory.

Diamond Simulants

The appearance of diamond simulants are similar to that of natural diamonds, but simulants are not diamonds. Common diamond simulants include glass and cubic zironia (CZ), both of which are completely unrelated to a diamond at the simulant’s atomic level.

Tests and examines every diamond it grades for the presence of color and clarity treatments and to identify synthetics and simulants.