What is the best clarity of a diamond? Clarity of a diamond, color of a diamond

Determining the color of a diamond is the most controversial issue that always gives rise to fierce disputes. Why is that? Let's find out! There are several gemological systems, each of which describes the color of a diamond in its own way:

Photo of GIA diamond color standards (from D to M)

The international GIA system describes the highest color with the Latin letter D, and then the colors E, F, G, H, I, J, K, etc. go in descending order. Everything is simple here: D-E-F - top group colors, they are called "colorless". Between themselves, they differ only in a small tone, which can be seen by a specialist by turning the diamond upside down. This group belongs to very rare and investment diamonds. Such diamonds are supplied only for individual jewelry to order.

diamonds groups G-H are called “almost colorless” because they have a slight yellowish tint that can be seen when comparing diamonds of D and H colors. If there is nothing to compare with, then a non-specialist will not notice any shade. For this reason, G and H color diamonds are the most sought after for jewelry making. colors D look no less impressive, but are several times cheaper.

The Russian system inherited the Soviet GOST R-52913, where the highest color of a diamond is indicated by the number 1, followed by colors 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in descending order. After color 6, complex color ranges begin 6.1, 7, 8.1-8.5, 9.1-9.4 , which can accommodate up to 16 GIA shades. To understand them, you need special education. In addition, a 1-carat diamond and a 0.29-carat diamond have different color grading rules, which complicates an already difficult situation even more.

How to compare the international GIA and the Russian diamond color description system?

By itself, comparing the Russian and international systems for determining color is an incorrect matter. From the point of view of logic, numbers and letters are different categories that cannot be compared. We can only say that the Russian system for describing the color of a diamond is more scientific and complex; using it, you need to have special knowledge that only rare specialists have. The GIA system is international, unambiguous, simple. It has strict logic and does not allow ambiguous interpretations. That is why it is trusted all over the world and used both in conservative Europe and in high-tech Japan.

It's important to know:

Fancy shaped diamonds will show more hue than round diamonds. The larger the diamond, the more noticeable its shade will be. To accurately evaluate a diamond be sure to recognize its color according to the international GIA scale.

The indicator "clarity of a diamond", along with color, weight and cut, is used in the international 4C scale to determine the quality of a stone. The examination is carried out in several stages in impartial laboratories that issue certificates of authenticity for diamonds. An ignorant person in this matter will not be able to independently distinguish a fake from the original. The quality of some "tricks" is so high that even a jeweler can make a mistake. After reading the article, you can better study the topic and not get into a mess.

4C methodology and purpose

The need for the 4C method arose because diamonds are unique. It was unclear how to compare one with the other and assign a price. After a series of studies, scientists from the Gemological Institute of America found that the stones differ in color, shape, size, level of cracks and inclusions. This was the starting point in the evaluation of diamonds. Specialists figured out how to determine the quality of a diamond by creating the 4C method, which is also called the Rapoport grade.

The grading system is so named because it is based on four characteristics of the diamond:

clarity - clarity or purity;
carat - carat;
color - color;
cut - cut.

Rapoport's assessment includes the size of the stone, the complexity of the cut, the shade, and the presence or absence of defects. This is the world's best diamond grading system. 4C is used in Russia, Europe, USA, China, Japan and other countries. Thanks to the technique, the quality of diamonds is determined, they are compared with each other and an objective price is set.

Clarity as an evaluation characteristic

Learn how to choose a diamond by examining one of the main indicators of its quality - clarity. The rating scale includes the number of internal and external defects and their location. The less damage a diamond has, the higher the market value.

Internal defects are called inclusions. They take the form of dots, stripes or opacities. External imperfections are chips and cracks, to a greater extent affecting the cost of the stone. Flawless, unclouded diamonds are extremely rare.

The clarity of a diamond is a combination of internal and external defects studied in special laboratories. Most stones are certified by the Gemological Institute of America. To determine the degree of clarity, five factors are taken as a basis: the number, position, nature, size, color and relief of spots.

Natural defects and their impact on value

The clarity of a diamond affects the final cost, because the beauty and durability of the product depends on it. But, determining the clarity of a diamond with the naked eye is not easy. To do this, use a magnifying glass that magnifies the object tenfold.

The clarity scale is 12, where 1 is perfect and 12 is poor clarity. Diamond prices are more dependent on this valuation. It is important to understand that defects on stones of different sizes will be visible in different ways.

For example, on a cut diamond up to 0.3 carats, cracks are visible at a purity of more than three units. If the stones are larger, only large defects are visible. When choosing a diamond, consider the size of the inclusions and their location.

There are diamonds with cracks in the middle - this reduces the cost. But the defect at the edge of the stone is invisible in the decoration, as it is hidden by the setting. Such shortcomings are more loyal and they affect the cost slightly.

International designations according to the technology of the Gemological Institute of America

The international GIA technology is used to grade diamonds. It establishes the degree of purity, color class, cut quality. The Gemological Institute of America is trusted by jewelers for its impartial appraisal and high standards of work.

The GIA uses conventions. According to the level of cut, diamonds are divided into:

ideal - ideal;
premium - first-class;
very good - excellent;
good - good;
poor - unsatisfactory.

According to the characteristics, the stones in the GIA method are classified into the following groups:

flawless (F) - without a flaw;
very very small (VVS1, VVS2) - very, very small defects;
very small (VS1, VS2) - very small inclusions;
small inclusions (SI1, SI2, SI3)
imperfect (I1, I2, I3) - imperfect.

If you understand the designations used, you will understand the logic of determining the quality and setting the value of diamonds.

Price-quality combination

To determine what a good clarity diamond should be, refer to the GIA Clarity Chart below. We want to draw your attention to the fact that it is difficult to notice small defects with the naked eye. Therefore, when buying jewelry, ask for a certificate of quality.

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the category indicated on the certificate: VVS1, VS1 or VS2. The first includes stones with a clarity of 3 units - the most optimal indicator on the market. At 10x magnification, you can see a few dark dots or light feathers. They do not affect the quality of the decoration and are not noticeable to the naked eye.

A diamond with a frequency of 5 means that it may have small cracks. If the certificate says 5 5, then it is a stone of medium clarity. When magnified, a slight haze can be seen in the center. Up to six light spots or stripes are allowed. But do not take this negatively, because natural defects are proof of authenticity.

Visual Aid for Clarity and Terms Used

Several designations have been adopted for working with diamonds. Points without volume are considered the most insignificant flaws. Inclusions - this is the name of volumetric defects, the size, shape and color of which may be different. Also inside the diamond can be stripes - thin lines.

One of the most significant defects is a crack - a gap located inside or outside the stone. If defects in a diamond accumulate in one place, the phenomenon is called a "cloud". All these nuances are taken into account in the diamond clarity scale:

This table of diamond clarity will help you figure out which stone you are going to buy. If you see a clarity of 4 on the certificate, with a product weighing less than 0.29 carats, then it has only minor flaws. Diamond scientists use broader summaries of information to determine the value of a specimen. We will tell you about this later.

Color scale and system of working with it

By color, a diamond is divided into colorless and fancy (pink, blue, yellow). But in nature, stones rarely have any color. More often, they contain small shades due to the presence of certain impurities in the diamond.

To evaluate stones, the GIA uses a diamond color scale, where they are divided by the degree of saturation of the hue.

The given gradation correlates the color of a diamond with its value. Ignorance leads to the fact that colorless stones are considered the most expensive. But if you look at the price of jewelry, it becomes clear that colored diamonds are priced higher. The reason is rare.

Naturally, we are talking about truly fancy diamonds that have a bright natural color obtained due to impurities. For example, graphite is present in black stones. Boron contributes to the blue tint, uranium contributes to the greenish tint. Pink diamonds appear under the influence high temperatures.

Processing classes

What is the best cut of a diamond, you can find out from the GIA diamond processing system. It is based on a step-by-step assessment of a number of the stone's own factors: brightness, fire, shimmer. The skill of the cutter is also important: weight ratio, durability, polishing, symmetry.

Factors are studied in a certain order and have their own weight. The classification of diamonds, according to the type of cut, is divided into 5 categories. Excellent (excellent) - means the maximum reflection of light. He has the highest indicators of fire, brilliance and sparks. Highly good job(very good) reflects most of the light entering the diamond. But, in the center or on the edge there are small blackouts.

Good diamond cuts (good), are characterized by a lack of shimmer. The score may be lowered due to an incomplete drawing or weight loss. Tolerable work (fair) - when the light comes out from the sides of the stone or from below. A large dark ring is noticeable inside. The very last category (poor) is dull stones, which is noticeable even to non-specialists.

The language of jewelers

Understanding the language of jewelers is very difficult. It is not enough to know the properties and parameters by which they evaluate stones. It is important to understand what this or that criterion means. Sparkle refers to the pattern of light reflecting off the facets of a diamond. The better the master worked, the brighter the diamond will be.

In jewelry, the term "scintillation" is found, meaning flashes of light that occur in products when they move. In dark places, they are lost, which violates the beauty of the stone. Sparkle is called the "play" of a diamond, resulting from the reflection of light from its faces. If the diamond is processed with high quality, you can see a wide color palette in it.

The evaluation of the work of a jeweler depends on how proportional the product turned out to be. The most popular cut option is the circle: using this method, the craftsmen manage to get 57 regular facets, revealing the beauty of the diamond. There are also other polishing techniques: wedge, stepped, square, marquis, heart. But, they are less popular.

Russian methodology for obtaining an expert opinion

Classifying diamonds according to the Russian system is the most difficult. The fact is that descriptive techniques are used in determining some parameters, which are not reduced to a single algorithm. This leads to the fact that researchers rarely get several of the same stones.

For example, when describing a color, terms such as “hue”, “hardly perceptible”, “subtle” are used. In the GIA system, the indicator is indicated by letters, which simplifies the work. Domestic technology is ineffective, since it is impossible to identify typical types of diamonds using it.

According to the Russian method, it is problematic to determine the purity of a diamond, since scientists have to describe the number, size, location and nature of all inclusions. Also, the selected sample is affixed with the transparency of the faces, when viewed through the bottom.

But the main difference between the American and Russian systems is the dependence of the latter on how many facets the stone has. At our institute, they work with round cut diamonds, and they divide diamonds into large ones - 57 facets, and small ones - 17 sides.

Certificate: receipt and content

Diamond jewelry in jewelry stores always has a certificate of authenticity. Only two American companies have the right to issue it: the Homological Institute and the Association of Jewelers. All studies are conducted anonymously, observing GOST - global standards.

the presence of defects;
their location;
the number of shortcomings;
color;
cut;
purity of diamonds.

But, the document never indicates the cost of the product. But be sure to put down information about the person who issued the certificate. Opening the rapport, you will see an alphanumeric combination. For example, 2 КР57 0.26 3/5А, where: 2 is the number of diamonds, КР57 is the type of cut, 0.26 is the total weight of the stones. Three shows the color class, 5 - purity, A - the quality of the cut.

If you are trying to provide a certificate issued by other companies, you should question their authenticity. The Association of Jewelers and the GIA are non-profit structures, so their assessment is objective.

Purchase Authentication Technology

The pawnshop uses the 4C system when buying diamond jewelry. First, determine the size of the stone in carats by weighing. One carat equals 0.2 grams. Further, using the correspondence table - standards, correlate the diamond with the color scale.

The most expensive are truly transparent and fancy diamonds. Choosing a color category is not an easy task. First, the jeweler examines the stone visually, then at tenfold magnification. It is important that the tools used in the pawnshop do not glare inside the product: white light lamps, the color of the tools is black or gray.

Next, the purity category is established in accordance with GOST. At the last stage, the specialist studies the quality of the cut, its accuracy and craftsmanship. Poorly processed stones are visible to the naked eye. Other flaws are only visible under a magnifying glass.

Ways to Calm Yourself - Self Test

For authenticity, diamonds are determined in the laboratory or at the jeweler. The master knows how the original differs from the fake. Firstly, diamonds weigh half as much as zircons and cubic zirconias. Secondly, natural stones have defects. A flawlessly clean sample is a sign of deception.

At the most obvious visual sign - cut, the advantage will be on the side of the original. They do not spend a lot of time and effort on processing fakes. But, all these tests are available only for professionals. You can determine the authenticity of a diamond at home using simple techniques.

The easiest way is to take a book and look at the letters through the diamond. If the stone is real, you will not be able to read what is written. If the text is clearly distinguishable, then you have an imitation in your hands.

Enlighten yourself, and enlighten your friends - repost articles.

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- this is one of the characteristics that everyone has heard of, but few can give a clear definition of what it is. However, buying jewelry as an investment or as a gift close person, we want to make sure they are of excellent quality. And then we begin to wonder what are the characteristics of diamonds, how to distinguish them from each other and how to choose a diamond so as not to be mistaken.

Classification of diamonds by clarity (clarity)

The purity of a diamond and its clarity are one and the same evaluation criterion, which on English language called Clarity. Depending on the origin and place of purchase, the purity of a diamond on the tag can be indicated either English letters and numbers, or just numbers.

The first classification is the value according to American systems e GIA (Gemological Institute of America). According to it, 11 classes are distinguished, indicating the degree of purity of a diamond. The class depends on the number of defects on the outer surface of the stone and inside it, their volume and degree of visibility. External defects are less significant than internal ones, since they can be eliminated by grinding. The most commonly used is the GIA system.

The Russian system is more complex. It takes into account not only the number and size of defects, but also the weight of the stone. The clarity of a diamond according to the Russian scale is indicated by a number from 1 to 6 for small pebbles with 17 facets, from 1 to 9 for minerals with 57 facets, and from 1 to 12 for medium and large stones. Usually this characteristic has the form 4 / 6B, where clarity is indicated under the number 6. 4 in this case is an indicator of color, and B stands for class B cut quality.

If you are thinking about how to determine the quality of a diamond, first of all pay attention to this designation. The certificate issued by the GIA laboratory is the best guarantee of the specified clarity of the stone. Specialists working with this scale use standards for determination, while in the Russian system diamonds are graded based on verbal descriptions.

The Russian scale, which determines the clarity of diamonds, and the more common global GIA system are easily comparable with each other. Experienced jewelers by eye, without using reference literature, can determine the purity of a diamond. Of course, in most cases this requires a 10x loupe, but some mineral groups have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Find out what is considered a good diamond clarity: here is an approximate correspondence table, which presents the scale of the Russian and American systems for determining the clarity of diamonds.

Russian system		GIA	Decryption
Small (up to 0.29 carats)	Large (more than 0.29 carats)	GIA	Decryption
1	1	IF	Absolutely pure stone, which does not have inclusions even under a 10x magnifying glass. It practically does not occur in nature.
2	2	VVS1	Three or fewer inclusions of very, very small sizes, light color difficult to see with a magnifying glass.
3	3	VVS1
3	4	VVS2
4	5	VS1	Three dark inclusions or less, or no more than six very small light inclusions, visible in a magnifying glass.
5	6	VS2
	7	SI1	Eight or fewer inclusions of any color that can be seen under a magnifying glass or with the trained naked eye. They are considered the most profitable acquisitions among ordinary consumers.
	7a	SI2
6	8	SI3
6	9	I1	Lots of dark and light inclusions large sizes that are visible to the naked eye, as well as cracks. Usually not used in quality jewelry.
7	10	I2
8	11	I3
9	12	I3

So, if you decide to buy a diamond, then its clarity must be at least SI3 according to the GIA. This criterion is one of the main ones that indicate the qualities inherent in. Choose carefully and be sure to ask for certificates if you doubt the clarity indicated by the seller.

Other properties of the stone

In a jewelry store, carefully examine the tag that comes with your chosen diamond jewelry. It should indicate not only clarity, but also the very appearance of the stone. The one that interests us in Russia is denoted by the letters Br. The number of stones in the product is placed in front of the view, that is, 3Br means that there are three diamonds in the jewelry. Next comes the weight of the inserts in carats (of course, 2 diamonds are better than 5, with a total weight of, for example, 0.3 carats). After that, in the line you can see the letters "Kr". This means that the cut of the mineral is of a standard round shape. There may be other letters instead of them, for example, “G” (pear), “Pr” (princess), “M” (marquis), etc.

Another number that is usually paired with clarity (for example, 4/7, where 7 is clarity) is the color of the diamond. In Russia, the colors of diamonds are divided into groups, and their number also depends on the mass and number of facets, just like clarity. Thus, the color characteristic can consist of 4 to 9 groups.

In other countries, the color of diamonds in documents must be deciphered based on the laws of a particular state. But abroad there is no longer a division into groups by color and weight. The ratio of the Russian and any of the international systems is quite feasible for an experienced person.

What color are diamonds?

A real diamond can be white, green, or blue. Fancy colored diamonds (Fancy, bright colors other than white) are highly valued in the jewelry lovers market. The most expensive colored diamonds, each of which is a unique work of nature and art, are bright red.

However, if you, say, inherited a diamond ring from your grandfather, and its color is not white (not transparent), do not rush to rejoice. It may just be hazy white. Usually these stones are yellowish or brownish in color. These are not colored diamonds and are generally considered less valuable than fully transparent ones.

The most famous types of diamonds

To simplify our story a little, let's dilute it with a description of the most popular stones.

Diamond 1/1

This is a mineral of excellent quality, which is very rare. Collectors hunt for him, and a certain public, consisting of fabulously wealthy individuals, seeks to acquire him as financial investment or an indication of their high status.

Diamond 2/2

It occurs a little more often than the previous one, and is slightly less valuable. Recall that it has small rare spots, but they cannot be seen without a magnifying glass.

Diamond 3/3, 4/4 and others

They are already more popular among ordinary buyers. A diamond clarity of 4/4 or 3/3 is an indication that there are flaws, but they are still not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, in the eyes of any person, except for an experienced jeweler, such a copy will be flawless - but its cost is already much lower.

It is far from certain that in any jewelry store you will come across a diamond of a high level of clarity and good color. You need to choose places to buy wisely, consult with experienced people, and most importantly, decide in advance which stone you need. Then you can get a valuable acquisition, the quality of which no one will ever doubt.

Eleonora Brik

The gem is valued for its brilliance, iridescence in the sun and transparency. The color of the stone, the number of inclusions and traces left by nature affect the clarity of the diamond. Masters rate each mineral, looking for defects in the stone. The cost of a crystal is determined by the transparency of the gem. The assessment is confirmed by a certificate and an expert assessment of the master. It is not always possible to trust the opinion of a jeweler. In order not to be deceived, learn how to determine the clarity of a diamond.

Criteria for evaluation

You don't have to be a gemologist to determine the clarity of a diamond. The main thing is to understand what characteristics are taken into account when studying a stone. When examining a gem, the following criteria are important:

the number of foreign inclusions;
location;
the presence of cracks on the surface of the stone;
the presence of other defects.

Defects are divided into two categories: internal and external. The first group is flaws that do not go away even after careful polishing or disappear, but the stone loses weight. External defects are eliminated during the processing of the mineral and affect the quality of the crystal.

The characteristics of a diamond include the color of the stone. Shades of green, yellow, gray, brown reduce the value of the mineral.

A colorless diamond is valued or evenly colored in one color - emerald, blue, pink

Crystal purity in numbers

After examining the pebble, the master gives an assessment. It is determined in numbers 1-12. The lower the value, the purer the gem. The indicator is affected by and . On a 0.3 carat mineral with a grade of 5, flaws are visible to the naked eye. A stone weighing more than 0.3 carats will reveal defects at a clarity of 7. There is a second number on the diamond tag, which means the color of the stone.

A perfect clarity diamond with an index of 1/1 and 2/2. Such a stone is a rare guest in a jewelry store. The diamond is for sale on order. The average characteristics of a mineral with a purity of 3/3 and 3/4. A diamond is bought for the purpose of investment, for cutting into precious stones. Gems from one are always valuable.

How to determine purity diamond 3/4? Permissible defects when examining a gem through a magnifying glass:

bright dots in the form of clouds or feathers, no more than three;
dark stripes - 2 pcs.

A stone with a value from 4 to 6 has a small number of points, natural inclusions. Scratches on the side of the mineral are acceptable. It is impossible to notice defects without a magnifying glass. A diamond with a clarity of 7 closes the line of stones that surprise with the play of color. There are noticeable cracks and graphic spots on the gem. Choose a crystal with defects located near the edge of the diamond.

Buy a stone with a purity of at least 8. It is better to concede in the color of the mineral than in transparency.

Stones with a score of 10 or more are used in industry. When they fall, they will break into fragments!

Finding flaws in a mineral

How to determine the purity of diamonds at home? First, arm yourself with a magnifying glass that magnifies the object 10 times. Now we take the crystal in our hands and carefully study it. Not only the number of defects is important, but also where they are located. The sides of a diamond have their name:

Area. The upper part of the crystal is the widest and most visible. Scratches and chips on the surface will reduce the brilliance of the stone, it will lose its beauty. Internal inclusions are not so detrimental to assessing the clarity of a diamond. Defects on the stone platform reduce its value. It is better not to buy such a diamond.
Pavilion. The bottom surface of the stone. Flaws on the edges of the stone are acceptable. When cutting and creating jewelry, the jeweler will close the defect with a frame. As a result, the flaw will be eliminated, the diamond will not lose its transparency and brilliance. A stone with such a defect is valued at the price of a pure mineral.
Crown. Covers the entire area of the diamond on the top. When examining the crown, the number of inclusions and its size are important. The higher it is, the less the mineral shines.

How to determine the clarity of a diamond in a store?

Full cost transparent stone starts at $35,000. It is impossible to notice the difference between 1/1 or 3/4 crystals with the naked eye. Therefore, do not chase high performance.

When purchasing a diamond in a store, ask the jeweler for a magnifying glass with 10x magnification. After examining the stone yourself, request a gemological quality assessment. Then study the price tag of the diamond. It includes many letters and numbers. For example, 1 KR 57 - 0.59 - 3 / 4A. How to determine the purity of a diamond on a tag? For transparency, the number in front of the letter is responsible. The color of the stone is -3, the clarity is 4, 0.59 is the weight (carat), 57 is the number of facets. This number is characteristic of round diamonds.

The quality of diamonds is determined by their clarity, color and shape. A beautiful shine will give a round stone. The transparency of the stone depends on the weight. Do not buy a diamond weighing less than 0.29 carats. The stone should be with a clarity of 4-6 and a color of up to 3.

December 2, 2014, 16:45

Delightful beauty, incredible play of light and bewitching brilliance of diamonds leave no one indifferent. They are made into fine jewelry, used to inlay rare designer creations, purchased for investment purposes, and even used for industrial purposes. Today, like many years ago, they are beautiful, unique and in great demand.

Diamond Appraisal Options

The assessment of cut diamonds in world practice is carried out according to the 4C system proposed by the GIA. This name is not accidental, and was formed from the capital letters of such English words as clarity, color, cut, carat. It symbolizes the "rule of four Cs" that must be followed when purchasing diamonds.

Pricing is influenced by four main characteristics of diamonds: color, clarity, weight, cut. Their weight is indicated by carats. The equivalent of 1 carat is 200 milligrams.

The color of diamonds ranges from completely colorless to a definite yellow. The shade of color and its intensity are the basis for the classification of stones and their assignment to different groups.

White diamonds are the most popular. The more transparent they are according to the generally accepted classification, the higher their cost. With an ideal color tone, a diamond stone immersed in water becomes completely invisible.

In addition to white, there are diamonds with a pronounced fantasy color - pink, red, yellow, green, blue. Such diamonds come across rather infrequently, and their price is much higher. Over time, the color of a diamond remains unchanged.

The clarity of a diamond is a characteristic that shows how easily and freely light can penetrate into it and, reflected from its faces, shimmer with iridescent colors. It implies the absence or presence, as well as the degree of internal or external defects, which cannot be eliminated without significant loss of its weight or size.

The cut is used to emphasize the brilliance and brilliance of the gemstone. The level of quality characteristics of a cut is determined based on its proportionality, symmetry and smoothness of polishing. There are a great many forms of cutting: circle, oval, heart, emerald, pear, princess, radiant, marquise, usher. The most common and popular is round.

International GIA system

Gemological Institute of America - The American Gemological Institute sees its mission in ensuring public trust in all precious stones in general, and in particular to diamonds, as well as to jewelry with them.

Thanks to the professionalism of scientists and the high standards of the laboratories, GIA has earned international prestige in the field of evaluation, quality assurance and certification of diamonds.

The GIA system is a unique system for classifying diamonds according to four main characteristics. The weight, quality parameters of the cut are assessed - from "Ideal" to "Poor", the clarity of diamonds - on a scale from "Fl" to "I3" and color by groups - from "D" to "Z".

The characteristic of the cut made is classified into groups:

ideal;
premium;
very god;
good;
poor.

It is possible to qualitatively determine the purity of a diamond only by using a loupe with a 10x magnification. This is a generally accepted international standard for detecting various kinds of defects that reduce quality and purity. Diamonds ranging from "cleanest" to stones with imperfections visible to the naked eye are classified in the GIA into the following clarity groups, in descending order:

Determination of color shades is carried out using a specially prepared set of diamond standards. Comparing the evaluated diamond with the standards, it is assigned to a certain color category.

Colorless diamonds are classified as group "D". Diamonds are assigned to subsequent groups as their yellowish tint increases. The “Z” group includes conditionally yellow stones. The characteristic of a special category of diamonds with a fancy bright color is carried out with the help of other color groups. To describe diamonds in this category, use English word- "Fancy", in translation meaning "fantasy", indicate the color and characterize its intensity.

Russian system

The Russian system of classification and evaluation of cut diamonds is considered the most complex in the world. The standard cut in Russia is considered to be round with 57 or 17 facets. The latter is used for cutting small diamonds.

Depending on the quality parameters of the cut, 57-sided diamonds belong to one of four groups A, B, C, D, systematized in descending order, and 17-sided diamonds belong to two: A, B. Diamonds with known fancy cuts are classified into two groups: A and B.

In the Russian system, depending on the weight, cut diamonds are divided into three groups: large, medium and small. Large stones are characterized by a mass of 1 carat and more, medium ones - from 0.3 to 0.99 carats, small ones - from 0 to 0.29 carats.

The dependence of the diameter of diamonds on weight

Weight, in carats	Diameter, in mm
0,03	2,0
0,07	2,7
0,33	4,4
0,40	4,8
0,85	6,2
1	6,5
3	9,3
7	12,4
8	13,0

Depending on the color and clarity, diamonds are classified into groups indicated by numbers. In this case, their mass and the number of faces are taken into account. Colorless stones belong to the 1st color groups in this classification. Having 17 facets, small diamonds correspond to 4 color groups, having 57 faces, to 7. Medium and large stones - according to 9 main color groups with several subgroups.

The clarity of a diamond also has a complex classification in the Russian system. Small stones with 17 facets belong to one of the 6 purity groups, those with 57 facets - to one of the 9 groups. Medium and large - to one of the 12 groups. The 1st group in all classifications by purity includes clean stones, that is, they do not have defects.

The final characteristics of diamonds can be seen on the tag in jewelry stores. It is displayed in this way: Kr-57 1.25 4/7B.

It is deciphered as follows: the diamond has a round cut with 57 facets, its weight is 1.25 carats, it belongs to the color group 4 and the clarity group 7, the cut quality is group B.

Compliance with the clarity characteristics of diamonds of the Russian system and GIA

In order to be able to profitably purchase diamonds both in the domestic and international markets, one needs to understand the existing systems for their evaluation. In addition, it is necessary to develop the ability to correlate similar categories of differing classifications.

Clarity of a diamond according to the Russian system and the GIA system, correspondence table.

Russian system			GIA	Description
More	Less	Less	GIA	Description
1	1	1	F	Absence of any defects.
2	2	2	IF	No more than 2 points of light shades are found in the center or on the periphery; a visible band is possible.
3	3	—	VVS1; VVS2	No more than 3 points of light shades are found; no more than 2 subtle dots of dark shades or stripes.
4	—	—	—	No more than 2 almost imperceptible dots of dark shades are found in the center; in any part no more than 4 small dots of light tones.
5	4	3	VS1	A small cloud of a light shade is found in the center; the crack is quite small, no more than 3 dark dots; no more than 6 dots or stripes of light colors.
6	5	—	VS2	No more than 8 small stripes, dots, cracks and bubbles of light shades are found; no more than 5 dark dots; graphite inclusions no more than 1.
7; 7a	—	—	SI1; SI2	A maximum of 2 inclusions of graphite are found; no more than 8 small defects; small cloud with graphite inclusions.
8	6	4	SI3	Numerous small defects are visible, some of which may be barely visible under magnification.
9	—	—	I1	You can see a lot of cracks, or a combination of them with inclusions that can be seen without magnification.
10	7	—	I2	Multiple defects are visible, the transparency of 60% of the faces and more.
11	8	5	I3	Multiple defects are visible, transparency is 30% - 60% of the faces.
12	9	6	—	Multiple defects are visible, transparency is 30% or less.

Clarity of a diamond is an important factor in the selection and purchase of these cut diamonds and is often the determining factor.

Top Selling Diamonds

The quality of diamonds with color and clarity groups of 1 1 and 2 2, respectively, is very high, but they are very rare and cost fabulous money.

The best-selling and popular stones have such characteristics of color and clarity as 3 3, 4 4, 6 6. The clarity of a diamond from the 3rd to the 6th group makes it attractive in terms of investment. The cost of such stones from the size of 1 carat never decreases, even its stable growth occurs. Therefore, they are considered an excellent way to invest and save money.

The clarity of a diamond with color 3 and clarity 3 will satisfy and even please the most demanding customer. When magnified, only three light, inconspicuous dots can be found in them. These imperfections cannot be seen with the naked eye. The color of such a cut diamond will also please the buyer. Without being an expert in the field of gemology, it is very difficult to capture all the color nuances of diamonds. Therefore, the differences between diamonds 3 4 and 3 5 will not be obvious.

The color and clarity 4 4 diamond is practically the most popular, especially with a flawless round cut.

With an increase in it, two insignificant small inclusions can be found right in the center, or in other zones there are 2 stripes or from 2 to 4 dots of a light shade. For stones of this category, the presence of a small crack on the side is acceptable. On the other hand, the presence of natural defects allows you to determine the origin of the diamond and establish its authenticity. Clarity group 4 stones do not have conflicting quality characteristics, which is common with clean stones.

A diamond with characteristics 6 6 is great option for those who want to buy a large diamond of good presentation but with limited budget. A diamond with a clarity of 6 and a color of 6 belongs to the most common group - the average one. At the same time, it is visually identical to purer stones.

Differences are visible only when using a loupe with 10x magnification. So you can detect up to 8 small inclusions of light shades located in different zones, or about 5 dots of dark shades or a small graphite inclusion. Such diamonds are especially popular in European countries.

The clarity of diamond 7 already suggests the presence in its structure of many inclusions of natural origin. Inclusions can be of a different nature.

In stones belonging to the purity group 7, one can find a couple of graphite specks, or a couple of cracks, or a graphite island with a small feather. It can also be a combination of cracks and a graphite speck.

How to determine which diamond to choose? Depending on the purpose of the purchase, you need to decide which criterion should be decisive: weight, color, clarity, cut. Then select the desired specifications according to the selected criterion. And after that, you can go directly to the search for your diamond.