How are diamonds clarity graded?
Grading diamonds for clarity is a process of hunting down microscopic imperfections and rating them for difficulty of discovery. The more difficult it is to find inclusions under 10x magnification— using a binocular microscope— the higher the clarity grade. Once these specks are found, their number, size and location all play a role in deciding the clarity grade. Gemologists use an 11-grade scale— from FL (flawless) to I3 (very noticeable to the naked eye) – to grade for clarity. Each grade down represents increased ease of detection. In short, grades stand for degrees of visibility. Diamonds with no discoverable imperfections under 10x magnification earn a FL (flawless rating). If there is an oh-so-slight surface imperfection, it gets an IF (internally flawless) grade. Next comes the VVS (very, very slightly included) grades, in which there are two, and the difference between them has to do with whether an inclusion is extremely, or merely very difficult, to see. Once the difficulty f
