The majority diamonds have imperfections called inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). A diamond is said to be flawless if, under 10X magnification, no external and internal flaws are visible. A truly flawless diamond is extremely rare and is priced accordingly. All gem-grade diamonds receive a clarity rating based on an industry standard scale: FL (flawless) to I3 (heavily included).

• FL – (Flawless) No inclusions or blemishes visible when magnified at 10x
• IF – (Internally Flawless) No inclusions visible when magnified at 10x only surface blemishes
• VVS1 – VVS2 – (Very, Very Slightly Included) Minor inclusions difficult for grader to see when magnified at 10x
• VS1- VS2 – (Very Slightly Included) Minor inclusions somewhat difficult to see when magnified at 10x
• SI1-SI2 – (Slightly Included) Inclusions are noticeable when magnified at 10x
• I1 -I2 – I3 – (Included) Inclusions are obvious when magnified at 10x and possibly to the naked eye

At D. Diamante, I take great pride in my diamonds. When buying diamonds, I prefer to reject visible black inclusions, chips, surface inclusions and laser-drilled holes. I also stay away from diamonds that have been heat-treated, color-adjusted, or augmented with foreign materials. I adhere to strict clarity standards most others may choose to ignore. Of the eleven clarity grades, I only sell the top eight. Sometimes even diamonds within those clarity grades can vary greatly, which is why I make sure to only pick the best in your desired clarity.