Diamond Clarity: What Are Inclusions and Blemishes?
Clarity, being one of the four C’s, is one of the most emphasized components of evaluating the value of a diamond. Being overwhelmed when first starting out shopping for diamonds is not uncommon, especially when analyzing diamond clarity grade presented by a jeweler. However, after doing some research on the factors that determine the value of a diamond, you will soon realize that understanding how diamonds are grade is not so complicated.
Blemishes and inclusions essentially make up the two facets of diamond clarity grading. Diamond enhancement procedures sometimes causes laser lines, which is one example of an inclusion. A blemish is a scratch or abrasion on the surface of a diamond.
Diamond Inclusions
An evaluation of a diamond’s clarity consists of factoring in eight different types of inclusions. An inclusion generally is located within the diamond and is thought of as a flaw. As a result, the diamond will receive a lower grade and will not be as valuable.
Sometimes an inclusion results from the abnormal growth of a diamond’s crystals. Inclusions will sometimes take the appearance of slight lines and streaks on diamonds. Structural flaws, for instance small cracks, can cause inclusions in a diamond.
Inclusions negatively affect the beauty and brilliance of a diamond because they don’t allow light to freely pass through. Also, inclusions affect the diamond’s ability to scatter and transmit light. Inclusions are natural imperfections commonly thought of as “nature’s fingerprints”. However, they are almost invisible to the naked eye.
Crystals or minerals imbedded in a diamond are examples of inclusions. These could be little diamonds that got trapped within the larger diamond when the crystal was forming.
A few other kinds of inclusions include:
• Feathers
• Knots
• Cavities
• Internal graining
Diamond Blemishes
The amount of blemishes a diamond has is another key factor used in figuring out a clarity grade. While inclusions happen within the diamond, blemishes are flaws that occurr on the exterior of the diamond. Frequently, a blemish is caused by natural occurrences. Though, polishing and cutting the diamond can also cause blemishes.
Blemishes though are not easy to detect with the naked eye, meaning that they don’t impact the beauty of the diamond very much. Therefore, if you are more of a casual buyer and don’t care about owning a perfect diamond, this plays to your advantage. Diamonds with blemishes will get a lower clarity grade, which will make them more affordable for you while still getting a beautiful diamond.
Some examples of blemishes include:
• Grain boundries
• Scratches
• Pits
• Nicks
An important point to remember when searching for diamond jewelry or a diamond is to buy from a jeweler or company that you can trust. A qualified jeweler will assist you in understanding a diamond clarity chart even more and selecting the diamond you want.
See Also: Diamond Clarity and Color
