Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF)
by Admin
Posted on 06-10-2022 03:33 PM
The cibjo scale ranks diamonds from loupe clean through to p (piqué - french for picked): loupe clean diamonds are flawless or internally flawless and very rare and valuable.
Diamonds that have very, very slight inclusions, are graded vvs1-vvs2 and, even with a loupe, the inclusions can be difficult to see. Diamonds that are very slightly included are graded as vs1-vs2. Diamonds that are graded s1-s2 feature only slight inclusions which may or may not be visible to the naked eye. Any diamond that has inclusions that is visible to the naked eye, are p1-p3 although p1 will have fewer inclusions than p3.
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I3 diamond clarity is officially the lowest diamond clarity grade available. But what does i3 mean? firstly the letter ‘i’ stands for inclusions or included. The number ‘3’ refers to the third-worst ‘i’ grade in sequence. (to explain, included diamonds fall under i1, i2 and i3 clarity grades. ) i1 clarity diamonds feature visible inclusions less concentrated than i3 diamonds. One grade lower, i2 clarity diamonds show more inclusions and i3 falls as the lowest of the three grades. Diamond clarity chart showing the different diamond clarity grades as clarity improve through the scale, we move up to slightly included (si) and very slightly included (vvs) grades until we reach the internally flawless (if) and flawless (fl) clarity grades.
Which clarity grade is the best is clearly for you to choose . The craze for flawless or internally included inclusion shouldn’t be followed merely because of how expensive it gets. When you’re choosing a diamond ring, make sure to choose a ring with “very slightly included” (vs1 or vs2), very very slightly included (vvs1 or vvs2), or slightly included diamond (si1) range in the clarity diamond scale. Also, you can check, our guide on the difference between vvs & vs. These are good choices on the clarity range because again, the inclusions are rarely visible to the naked eye, and they have significant shine whatsoever.
In 1953, azar shares, the jewelry industry adopted an 11-factor scale for evaluating a diamond’s clarity. From least included, to most included, the measurements are: flawless (fl), internally flawless (if), very very slightly included 1 (vvs1), very very slightly included 2 (vvs2), very slightly included 1 (vs1), very slightly included 2 (vs2), slightly included 1 (si1), slightly included 2 (si2), included 1 (i1), included 2 (i2), and included 3 (i3). "the diamond clarity chart breaks down how visible inclusions are with 10x magnification and with the unaided eye, starting with no inclusions being visible even under 10x magnification for the fl and if clarities, and ending with inclusions being visible to the unaided in the i1, i2, and i3 categories," azar says.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1, VVS2)
A gemstone with no characteristics visible at 10 power magnification, is considered flawless (fl), and a gemstone with surface blemishes but no inclusions can be graded internally flawless (if). A stone with minute characteristics, difficult to find even at 10 power, is very very slighty included (vvs). Vvs1 is closest to flawless, followed by vvs2, which is still quite rare.
A stone with minor characteristics seen at 10 power magnification, is very slightly included (vs), also divided into vs1 and vs2. A stone with characteristics noticeable at 10 power is slightly included (si), divided into si1 and si2. And finally, stones with characteristics large or abundant enough to be obvious at 10 power magnification, and possibly without magnification, are included (i).
A gemologist analyzes clarity by looking down through the top of the stone at 10-power magnification. All inclusions and blemishes seen at 10-power are considered when deciding the clarity grade. A gemstone with no characteristics visible at 10 power magnification, is considered flawless, and a gemstone with surface blemishes but no inclusions can be graded internally flawless. A stone with minute characteristics, difficult to find even at 10 power, is very very slightly included. Vvs1 is closest to flawless, followed by vvs2, which is still quite rare. A stone with minor characteristics seen at 10 power magnification, is very slightly included, also divided into vs1 and vs2.
If diamonds are internally flawless vvs1 vvs2 vvs diamonds (1 and 2) are very, very slightly included vs1 vs2 vs diamonds (1 and 2) are very slightly included si1 si2 si diamonds (1 and 2) are slightly included i1 i2 i3 i diamonds (1, 2 and 3) are imperfect the gemmological standards in this section refer only to individually registered engagement diamonds set in certain ring styles.