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Internally flawless round diamond at 30x magnification - This diamond exhibits no inclusions,
i.e. it is absolutely transparent. The small red area encircles a surface blemish - bearding,
which shows tiny cleavages along the girdle that are discernable on the surface, but can be
cut away with negligible weight loss. Bearding does not downgrade the clarity of the diamond.
VVS1, VVS2
Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a
single inclusion. The small red area encircles a pinpoint inclusion under the table. It is very
difficult to see this inclusion at even 10x magnification.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a
light cloud under the table. The small red area encircles this inclusion. It is difficult to see
the cloud at even 10x magnification.
VS1, VS2
Very Slightly Included: Minor inclusions are not visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the
VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
Very Slightly Included (VS1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a single
inclusion. The red area encircles a fissure in a crown main facet which can be seen under the table.
This inclusion will not be visible to the naked eye.
Very Slightly Included (VS2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits three
light crystals - highlighted in the smaller red circles, and a fissure - the diagonal white line
at the 9 o'clock position under the table.
SI1, SI2
Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification but not easily visible to
the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a light cleavage
in several pavilion facets. The red area encircles the cleavage, which can be seen under the table.
This inclusion will not be easily visible to the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a small light
cloud and a cleavage under the table. These inclusions will not be easily visible to the naked eye.
SI3
Slightly Included: SI3 is an EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) grade and is not reported by GIA
(Gemological Institute of America) or (American Gemological Society). Inclusions are visible under
10x magnification and barely visible to the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI3) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a light compact
cloud under the table. The red area encircles the cloud. This inclusion may be barely visible to
the naked eye.
I1
Included: Inclusions are obvious at 10x magnification, but in small brilliant-cut diamonds they are
barely visible through the crown to the unaided eye. Good choice for people on a limited budget.
Included (I1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond shows a fissure under the crown
facets starting at the girdle. The red area encircles the fissure. This inclusion will be visible
under 10x magnification and barely visible to the naked eye.
I2, I3
Included: Inclusions are easily visible to the naked eye. Often used in discount jewelry.
Included (I2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond shows a dark crystal inclusion
under the table. The red area encircles the inclusion. This inclusion will be visible under 10x
magnification and easily visible to the naked eye.
Included (I3) round diamond at 30x magnification with a large cleavage extending throughout the
whole stone. The red area encircles the cleavage. This inclusion will be easily visible under
10x magnification and noticeable to the naked eye.
Common Diamond Blemishes and Inclusions
Cleavage Fissures
Cleavages always occur in straight lines along the cleavage planes (the four natural octahedral faces
of the diamond). The photograph at left shows fissures (a type of cleavage fracture) originating from
the girdle.
Bearding
Bearding shown here along the diamond's girdle. Bearding is caused when another diamond is worked against
the girdle in a process known as bruting. If performed too vigorously, small cracks may result along the
girdle. These cracks are collectively referred to as bearding. As with any fracture, bearding fissures
must be judged as to how they will affect the stone's integrity.
Fractures
Fractures occur in all directions and are often jagged. The fracture shown at left runs underneath the table.
Feather-like cleavage
Feathers are cracks that run perpendicular to the natural planes of the diamond (the cleavage planes).
Feathers appear white and feathery.
Diamond Octahedron
This is a type of crystal inclusion, shown here under the crown facet of the diamond. The inclusion is
itself a tiny diamond.
Clouds
These inclusions, which look like clouds, consist of microscopically small dust-like voids or impurities.
If the clouds are light and diffused (spread-out), they will diminish the clarity of the stone only slightly.
If, however, they are large, compact and dark, like the cloud in the stone at left, they will cause the diamond's
clarity to be downgraded.
Clouds
This diamond has several clouds that are small, light and diffused as opposed to the cloud (above and right).
These clouds will have only minor impact on the diamond's clarity grade.
Nick
Nicks are wedge-shaped cuts that occur most often near the girdle. Nicks result from stress on the diamond, and
may be caused during diamond setting.
Fracture
The diamond's surface may be damaged during the cutting or polishing stage resulting in a fracture. Fractures
are usually small, but may be medium-sized or large. The fracture shown at left along the girdle of the stone
is medium-sized.
Garnet crystal
Diamond crystals often grow around Garnet crystals.
Natural
A natural is an unpolished area of the original diamond crystal that is left on a finished stone. Naturals are
left on the girdle during the bruting, or rounding process. A diamond can be graded flawless with a small natural
on the girdle. However, if the natural extends into the crown or pavilion facets, or if it flattens the girdle,
it will downgrade the diamond.
Twinning Planes
Sometimes during the growth of a diamond crystal, or if the crystal is subjected to stress or temperature/pressure
conditions different from those under which it originally formed, two or more intergrown symmetrical crystals
are formed.
Internally flawless round diamond at 30x magnification - This diamond exhibits no inclusions,
i.e. it is absolutely transparent. The small red area encircles a surface blemish - bearding,
which shows tiny cleavages along the girdle that are discernable on the surface, but can be
cut away with negligible weight loss. Bearding does not downgrade the clarity of the diamond.
VVS1, VVS2
Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a
single inclusion. The small red area encircles a pinpoint inclusion under the table. It is very
difficult to see this inclusion at even 10x magnification.
Very Very Slightly Included (VVS2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a
light cloud under the table. The small red area encircles this inclusion. It is difficult to see
the cloud at even 10x magnification.
VS1, VS2
Very Slightly Included: Minor inclusions are not visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the
VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
Very Slightly Included (VS1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a single
inclusion. The red area encircles a fissure in a crown main facet which can be seen under the table.
This inclusion will not be visible to the naked eye.
Very Slightly Included (VS2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits three
light crystals - highlighted in the smaller red circles, and a fissure - the diagonal white line
at the 9 o'clock position under the table.
SI1, SI2
Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification but not easily visible to
the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a light cleavage
in several pavilion facets. The red area encircles the cleavage, which can be seen under the table.
This inclusion will not be easily visible to the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a small light
cloud and a cleavage under the table. These inclusions will not be easily visible to the naked eye.
SI3
Slightly Included: SI3 is an EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) grade and is not reported by GIA
(Gemological Institute of America) or (American Gemological Society). Inclusions are visible under
10x magnification and barely visible to the naked eye.
Slightly Included (SI3) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond exhibits a light compact
cloud under the table. The red area encircles the cloud. This inclusion may be barely visible to
the naked eye.
I1
Included: Inclusions are obvious at 10x magnification, but in small brilliant-cut diamonds they are
barely visible through the crown to the unaided eye. Good choice for people on a limited budget.
Included (I1) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond shows a fissure under the crown
facets starting at the girdle. The red area encircles the fissure. This inclusion will be visible
under 10x magnification and barely visible to the naked eye.
I2, I3
Included: Inclusions are easily visible to the naked eye. Often used in discount jewelry.
Included (I2) round diamond at 30x magnification - this diamond shows a dark crystal inclusion
under the table. The red area encircles the inclusion. This inclusion will be visible under 10x
magnification and easily visible to the naked eye.
Included (I3) round diamond at 30x magnification with a large cleavage extending throughout the
whole stone. The red area encircles the cleavage. This inclusion will be easily visible under
10x magnification and noticeable to the naked eye.
Common Diamond Blemishes and Inclusions
Cleavage Fissures
Cleavages always occur in straight lines along the cleavage planes (the four natural octahedral faces
of the diamond). The photograph at left shows fissures (a type of cleavage fracture) originating from
the girdle.
Bearding
Bearding shown here along the diamond's girdle. Bearding is caused when another diamond is worked against
the girdle in a process known as bruting. If performed too vigorously, small cracks may result along the
girdle. These cracks are collectively referred to as bearding. As with any fracture, bearding fissures
must be judged as to how they will affect the stone's integrity.
Fractures
Fractures occur in all directions and are often jagged. The fracture shown at left runs underneath the table.
Feather-like cleavage
Feathers are cracks that run perpendicular to the natural planes of the diamond (the cleavage planes).
Feathers appear white and feathery.
Diamond Octahedron
This is a type of crystal inclusion, shown here under the crown facet of the diamond. The inclusion is
itself a tiny diamond.
Clouds
These inclusions, which look like clouds, consist of microscopically small dust-like voids or impurities.
If the clouds are light and diffused (spread-out), they will diminish the clarity of the stone only slightly.
If, however, they are large, compact and dark, like the cloud in the stone at left, they will cause the diamond's
clarity to be downgraded.
Clouds
This diamond has several clouds that are small, light and diffused as opposed to the cloud (above and right).
These clouds will have only minor impact on the diamond's clarity grade.
Nick
Nicks are wedge-shaped cuts that occur most often near the girdle. Nicks result from stress on the diamond, and
may be caused during diamond setting.
Fracture
The diamond's surface may be damaged during the cutting or polishing stage resulting in a fracture. Fractures
are usually small, but may be medium-sized or large. The fracture shown at left along the girdle of the stone
is medium-sized.
Garnet crystal
Diamond crystals often grow around Garnet crystals.
Natural
A natural is an unpolished area of the original diamond crystal that is left on a finished stone. Naturals are
left on the girdle during the bruting, or rounding process. A diamond can be graded flawless with a small natural
on the girdle. However, if the natural extends into the crown or pavilion facets, or if it flattens the girdle,
it will downgrade the diamond.
Twinning Planes
Sometimes during the growth of a diamond crystal, or if the crystal is subjected to stress or temperature/pressure
conditions different from those under which it originally formed, two or more intergrown symmetrical crystals
are formed.
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