4 C’s: The Clarity

Diamonds are formed over time under immense pressure and heat in the Earth’s crust. During this formation, certain impurities may become trapped within the crystals. The clarity of a diamond measures both the presence and absence of these impurities (known as inclusions or blemishes).

Inclusions are the marks that appear within the diamond, whereas blemishes refer to the marks on the surface.

The number, size, nature, position and colour of these characteristics are taken into consideration when evaluating the clarity of a diamond. How these inclusions and blemishes affect the overall appearance of the stone by way of its brilliance and transparency is also a major factor in determining the clarity grade.

The scale used to identify clarity grades ranges from FL (flawless) to I-3 (inclusions level 3).
FL – Flawless: no inclusions and no blemishes.
IF – Internally Flawless: no inclusions.
VVS–1 & VVS–2 – Very, very slight inclusions level 1 and 2: inclusions so slight they are even hard for an expert to see.
VS-1 & VS-2 – Very slight inclusions level 1 and 2: inclusions that are observed with effort.
SI-1 & SI-2 – Slight inclusions level 1 and 2: inclusions that are more noticeable.
I-1 & I-2 & I-3 – Inclusions level 1, 2, and 3: inclusions are obvious even without magnification. Brilliance and transparency may be affected.

All of the above gradings are conducted under 10 X magnification.

The expert assessment of a diamond’s clarity is vital. Although two diamonds may look the same to the untrained eye, they can be quite different in quality and therefore price.

At Kalfin Jewellery, we believe the clarity of a diamond is a significant factor. We believe inclusions may become visible to the naked eye at SI-1 level. We therefore only use SI-1 clarity diamonds with the minimum provision that they are 100% eye clean.

We welcome you to arrange an obligation-free consultation at our Collins Street boutique in the Melbourne CBD to explore your choices. Our tutorial with real loose diamonds will ensure you make an informed decision on the clarity of the diamond that is right for you.

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Testimonials

"Anthony and Yasemin were amazing and helped me find a ring that suited my style.
They both have an incredible way of making you feel like their most important customer. They were great at educating me on the various aspects of diamonds which made my decision easier.
This is the only jeweler you should be going to!"

FARRAH K.

"Simply outstanding customer service from start to finish!
Thank you so much Anthony for crafting such a stunningly beautiful and unique ring.  Anthony and Yasmin were an absolute pleasure to work with during the consultative process and worked within my budget.
I highly recommend Kalfin Jewellery."

JACINTA O.

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