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A diamond’s clarity indicates how many and what kinds of internal and external characteristics are visible when viewed under 10x magnification. The fewer such characteristics there are and the harder they are to see, the higher the clarity grade. However, a higher grade does not always mean a visibly more beautiful diamond to the naked eye—so you may end up overpaying for clarity.
If you’re buying a diamond for jewelry rather than a collection, the most important practical question is: are the inclusions visible to the naked eye, and do they detract from the diamond’s appearance? The GIA clarity scale:
| Clarity | What does it mean? | Practical impression |
|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | Neither inclusions nor surface characteristics are visible under 10× magnification |
| IF | Internally Flawless | No inclusions are visible; only surface characteristics may be present |
| VVS1–VVS2 | Very, Very Slightly Included | Inclusions are difficult even for an expert to detect under 10× magnification |
| VS1–VS2 | Very Slightly Included | Minor inclusions, visible only under magnification |
| SI1–SI2 | Slightly Included | Inclusions are clearly visible to an expert under 10× magnification |
| I1–I3 | Included (Su trūkumais) | Inclusions are obvious under 10× magnification and may affect clarity, brilliance, or, in some cases, durability |
For most buyers, it is not necessary to aim for FL or VVS. A well-chosen VS—and sometimes even an SI-grade diamond—can appear very clean to the naked eye.
Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth under immense pressure and temperature. During its growth, various internal structures or crystals of other minerals may form within the crystal. Later, surface characteristics may also develop as the diamond is cut or worn. In gemology, these are divided into two main groups.
These are features found inside the diamond or extending from the surface into its interior. Examples:
These are characteristics on the surface of a diamond. For example:
An inclusion is not simply dirt inside a diamond—it is part of its structure or formation history.
The GIA clarity grade is determined by examining the diamond under 10x magnification, but it’s not enough for an expert to simply count the inclusions. Five key factors are evaluated:
A larger feature generally has a greater impact on the clarity grade than a very small pinpoint.
A few distinct inclusions can affect the grade more than a single one, but simply counting them is not enough.
An inclusion beneath the center of the diamond may be more noticeable than a similar inclusion near the edge; therefore, the same inclusion in a different location can have a different impact on the clarity grade.
The nature of the characteristic is important—a small crystal and a feather that reaches the surface are not the same.
The degree to which a characteristic stands out from the surrounding diamond is also evaluated. A dark crystal may be more easily noticeable than a clear characteristic of similar size; this is precisely why two diamonds of the same VS2 clarity grade do not necessarily look the same.
The GIA system has 11 specific clarity grades.
The highest clarity category. A qualified grader, using 10x magnification, does not see:
FL does not mean that the diamond is “absolutely perfect” at the atomic level—it is a gemological grading category based on established criteria.
No internal inclusions are visible at 10× magnification, but there may be very minor surface characteristics. In practice, the average buyer without gemological magnification will generally not be able to tell the difference between FL and IF.
Inclusions are so small that they are difficult or very difficult to find even for an experienced specialist under 10× magnification. VVS diamonds may have:
Inclusions are still considered minor. Under 10× magnification, they may be:
However, this does not mean they will automatically be visible to the naked eye. For this reason, the VS grade is often very appealing to buyers seeking a balance between a visually clean diamond and price.
Inclusions are clearly visible to an expert under 10× magnification, but in the SI category, it is very important to evaluate each specific stone. In one SI1 diamond, an inclusion may be:
In another stone of the same grade, the characteristic may be:
In these grades, inclusions are evident under 10× magnification and may be visible to the naked eye. In some cases, they may affect:
The lower the category, the more important it is to evaluate a specific stone on a case-by-case basis.
The term “eye-clean” is often used in the jewelry trade. It generally refers to a diamond in which inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. Whether a diamond is “eye-clean” depends on:
This is a useful practical concept, but not a standardized laboratory assessment.
All other things being equal, a natural diamond with higher clarity is generally more expensive. The reason is simple—natural diamonds with high clarity are rarer. At the same time, the price is influenced by:
Therefore, it makes sense to evaluate the price of clarity only by comparing similar diamonds.
There are situations where a higher clarity grade makes more practical sense.
As the stone gets larger, the area where characteristics can be observed also increases; therefore, what is almost invisible in a small stone may be more clearly visible in a larger one.
Emerald- or Asscher-cut diamonds have large, open facets and a softer play of light, which means that some inclusions may be more easily visible than in an intensely sparkling brilliant-cut stone. Read more about the different shapes in the diamond shape guide.
A dark feature directly beneath the center of the diamond can be much more noticeable than a similar one near the edge, so the clarity grade alone is not enough—you also need to consider the placement of the inclusions.
Another mineral crystal or a diamond crystal within the diamond itself. It can be:
A darker crystal may be more noticeable due to greater contrast.
A very small crystal that appears as a dot under 10× magnification. A single pinpoint often has very little impact.
A cluster of very small pinpoints located close to one another. It may be impossible to distinguish the individual points, so they appear as a cloud.
A very dense cloud may, in certain cases, affect the diamond’s clarity.
An internal characteristic resembling a fracture or crack. The name comes from the fact that, when viewed at a certain angle, it can look like a white feather.
Not every feather is a structural issue. Important factors include:
A thin, elongated crystal that resembles a needle under magnification.
The shape, location, and arrangement of inclusions can be highly individual. For larger diamonds, a gemological report may include a clarity plot diagram highlighting these characteristics—it acts as a map of the specific stone’s internal features.
This does not mean that every diamond has a “fingerprint” in the literal sense—rather, the combination of its internal characteristics can be unique and useful for identification.
Lab-grown diamonds also have internal growth characteristics. It’s important to note which lab’s report you’re reading—as of October 1, 2025, the GIA uses a unified Premium/ Standard quality rating for colorless and near-colorless lab-grown diamonds, based on a combination of color, clarity, cut, and polish criteria. Therefore, in a new GIA lab-grown diamond report, you may no longer see the same separate clarity grade presented to the consumer as you would for a natural diamond.
This is yet another reason to check—whether the diamond is natural or lab-grown and which grading system was used—before comparing prices.
Diamond clarity indicates the relative absence of internal inclusions and external surface characteristics. The GIA evaluates it under 10× magnification based on the size, number, location, nature, and contrast of these characteristics.
The highest GIA grade is FL, but it isn’t necessarily the best practical choice. For jewelry, it’s often more important that inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye and don’t detract from the diamond’s appearance.
It can be a very good choice. Many VS2 diamonds appear clean to the naked eye, but you need to evaluate the specific size, location, and nature of the inclusions.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. SI1 is a laboratory grade, and visibility depends on the specific diamond’s size, shape, the location of the inclusions, and the observer’s eyesight.
Not necessarily. A diamond’s brilliance is greatly influenced by its cut. Small inclusions may have no noticeable effect on light return, while characteristics of higher inclusion grades can reduce clarity or brilliance.
The clarity scale is important because it allows for a standardized comparison of diamonds, but it should not become a race for the highest letter grade. For the buyer, the most important factors are usually:
Therefore, sometimes the smarter choice isn’t VVS1, but a VS2 that looks excellent. You can allocate the money you save toward what you actually see—a better cut, your preferred shape, or the overall design of the piece.
If you want to compare all four main criteria, read the diamond buying guide or browse premium diamond jewelry.
