How are diamonds graded or defined?
Jeweler: There are 5 basic categories of diamond purity. This is based on a fairly standard grading system. Categories are: Flawless, VVS category, VS category, SI category and the “I” category. Assistant Curator: Fine, perhaps it would be best if we discuss each category one at a time. Let’s start with the “I” category. What does the “I” stand for? Jeweler: The “I” stands for included. Stones of this category are noticeably included. Simply put, with some squinting but not too much, a man off the street could see the carbon spots in the stone or some other inclusion. Let me just add: the “I” category is divided into three. I3, I2 and I1. “I 3” is, as we said, noticeably spotted but the I2 and I1 stones are looking better. I1 is actual a popular diamond category in America. Assistant Curator: How so? Jeweler: Remember, it’s a trade off between size, clarity, color, and cut. A customer may want a larger stone. To fit that size stone into their budget they may have to purchase a more inc
