The GIA diamond clarity grading scale
The diamond clarity grade scale as determined by GIA is a way for diamond graders to communicate to consumers how many imperfections or blemishes there are in a particular diamond. It looks like this:
Qualified gemologists carefully examine each little gem in turn, locating every single tiny spot and mark and then decide where the diamond might fit within the 11 possible clarity grades on the scale. This ‘grade’ will depend on how many of these flaws they find, how big they are, and also where they are.
No imperfections at all? Well that’s ‘flawless’ (or ‘FL’ if you want to be really nerdy/awesome and use the diamond lingo). A few little blemishes? That’s ‘very slightly included’. Massive black mark in the middle of the stone like an uninvited guest at a wedding? That’ll be ‘included’.
It also goes without saying that the higher the grade, the bigger the price tag.
Don’t worry about these imperfections though, almost all diamonds are born this way, and most are invisible to the naked eye. In fact, instead of seeing them as a negative, see them as beauty marks that will save you some cash if you are savvy!
To find out how to do this though, you have to learn more. Thankfully we have you covered:
