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What Is Clarity and How Is It Graded?
Clarity characteristics are divided into two main groups: inclusions and
blemishes. Inclusions are inside the stone; blemishes are on the surface.
There are many kinds of inclusions. Some are quite well-known and may be
familiar to you: feathers, clouds, cavities, and the presence of crystals
within the diamond.
Blemishes include characteristics such as abrasions, nicks, pits, scratches,
and others as well. Since blemishes affect the polish, they are often
counted under cut rather than clarity. (If so, they are not counted twice.)
Two tools are used for judging a diamond's clarity: magnification and the
human eye. All American Gem Society grades are determined by a professional
using a special stereoscopic zoom microscope.
It will be interesting and informative for you to ask your jeweler to show
you your diamond under the gem microscope. With some helpful pointers about
what to look for, and perhaps a plot map, you'll see the wonders that are
hidden within your diamond.
If magnification to the tenth power under a gem microscope reveals
nothing - no small feather, no tiny crystal - the diamond earns a Clarity Grade
of 0, the grade for the most exquisitely clear diamonds. |
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