The Four C's of Diamonds: Clarity
Every natural diamond has flaws. The question is whether you can see them, and whether you should pay to avoid ones you can't. Here's how clarity is graded, why a certificate only tells part of the story, and where we draw the line.
Clarity is a high-jump bar
A diamond forms deep underground and never forms perfectly. The industry calls its natural flaws inclusions (probably because clients don't like hearing the word "flaws").
For us, clarity is a high-jump bar. As long as a diamond has no inclusions that bother your naked eye, you're over the bar, and paying for gemologically perfect clarity is a waste of money.
The clarity scale at a glance
Grades describe what a trained grader sees under 10x magnification, not what you see on the hand.
| Grades | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FL, IF | Flawless, internally flawless |
| VVS1, VVS2 | Very, very slightly included |
| VS1, VS2 | Very slightly included |
| SI1, SI2 | Slightly included |
| I1, I2, I3 | Included |
Buying online? You can't see what you're judging
We inspect every diamond by hand and show you the best few side by side, so you know exactly what you're buying. In person in Downtown LA or by video call.
Why a certificate isn't the whole story
Online stores try to get around not showing you the stone by presenting a grading certificate. But grading is subjective, and a certificate doesn't give you all the information you need.
We've lost count of the times we've sent two virtually identical stones to the gem lab and gotten two different grades. More than once, we've sent the same stone to the same lab twice and gotten different grades from different gemologists. At the end of the day, a grade is one grader's opinion on one day.
That's why we buy the diamond, not the certificate, and why it matters so much to know your jeweler. There's nothing better than a pair of human eyes you trust looking at your diamond for you.
Video: an expert explains the Four C's, including clarity
Explore the other C's
Each C trades off against the others. See how all four fit together, or read the next guide.
Let's find your diamond
Every Concierge Diamonds piece starts with a free, no-pressure consultation. The form takes about a minute, and we'll be in touch within two business days. Questions first? Read Dan Moran's answers on cut and the 4Cs or call (213) 261-4330.