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Engagement Ring Guru > Additional Articles - Series 1

Clarity in Diamonds

When you are looking into the clarity of a diamond or engagement ring, you are checking the presence of inclusions in a diamond.

Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is.

Virtually all natural diamonds contain identifying characteristics, yet many are invisible to the naked eye. To view inclusions, you will need to peer through a jeweler’s magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond.

There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable. Diamonds categorized as internally flawless reveal no such inclusions. Flawless stones are treasured for their rarity and beauty and they make great engagement rings!

Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant. Therefore select your Engagement Ring Setting wisely!

The number, color, type, size and position of surface and internal inclusions affect a diamond's value. Major inclusions can interfere with the path of light that travels through a diamond, diminishing its brilliance and sparkle and therefore its value.