Diamond Clarity Is a Map, Not a Moral
The clarity scale records observable features under defined conditions; it is not a hierarchy of geological virtue.
Diamond Clarity Is a Map, Not a Moral
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- Standard magnification: 10×
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- Scale: Flawless to Included
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- Assessment factors: Size, number, position, nature, relief
From Flawless to Included, clarity grades summarise the effect of internal and surface-reaching features at 10× magnification. Understanding the judgement behind the grade is more useful than memorising the letters.
Graders consider size, number, position, nature, and relief. A dark crystal beneath the table and a pale feather near the girdle may have different visual and durability implications even when their apparent dimensions are similar.
Clarity characteristics also record formation and manufacture. Mineral inclusions, growth graining, cleavage-related feathers, polishing marks, and extra facets belong to different processes and should be named accurately.
The report is a compressed conclusion reached under standard conditions. Buyers, appraisers, and historians still benefit from looking at the stone itself, locating the grade-setting feature, and understanding what is or is not visible without magnification.
GIA: Diamond clarity · https://www.gia.edu/diamond-quality-factor
GIA 4Cs: Clarity · https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-clarity/