When it comes to picking out an engagement ring deciding which diamond clarity is best is likely low on your list of priorities.
What is the best diamond cut clarity and color.
With a high quality cut you can get away with a diamond lower in color and clarity.
A diamond s color grade does not pertain to the face up look of a particular diamond but rather to the body color of the material.
Radiant cut diamonds have lots of facets and angles which means imperfections are generally not visible.
The best clarity grade depends on the shape of your diamond.
For round cut diamonds 1 carat or over a vs1 or vs2 will.
The lower a stone s clarity grade the more likely you are to see imperfections such as black spots or lines within the diamond.
Here s which diamond clarity is best overall and if you re on a budget.
For color d or completely colorless diamond is the highest grade.
Fl or flawless is the highest grade for clarity.
An fl diamond has no imperfections even when magnified 10x by a professional.
It s usually a safe bet that the diamond will be eye clean.
If you are trying to determine what is the best clarity for a diamond remember that no diamond is perfectly pure.
The color grade is more important than the clarity grade because cushion cut diamonds tend to retain a lot of color.
Does color or clarity affect diamond brilliance more.
A perfectly cut diamond will exhibit a lot of brilliance to the point that it masks inclusions.
Vs2 diamonds are the sweet spot for getting a good quality diamond and saving money.
S1 slightly included is a good clarity rating with vs2 very slightly included being very good and vs1 considered excellent.
Follow these recommendations to get the most value.
Never skimp on cut.
Clarity ranges from f for flawless an exceptionally rare diamond to i1 and i2 for diamonds that have visible flaws.
Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number size relief nature and position of these characteristics as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone.
The clarity of a diamond is a measure of the diamond s faults known as inclusions.
Interestingly the diamond color evaluation of most gem quality diamonds is based on the absence of color.
It s completely understandable because most of us only pay attention to the carat size of the diamond and the cut.
For round cut diamonds under 1 carat a vs2 or si1 clarity grade will give you an eye clean diamond sometimes even si2 doesn t have visible inclsuions.
The best way to assess diamond color is to view it from the side un mounted against.
A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue like a drop of pure water and consequently a higher value.
If you don t want any hints of color look for a cushion cut diamond with a color grade of h or above.
Brilliance is perhaps the most important characteristic of a diamond and its intensity depends mainly on the stone s cut.
While flawless and colorless diamonds are extremely rare cut determines a diamond s true value.
