JUDGING THE CLARITY OF A DIAMOND

A diamond is formed inside the earth over thousands of years.   During the formation of a diamond, various factors, such as changes in temperature or pressure, can cause inclusions in the diamond.  These inclusions may range from barely noticeable blemishes (which may not even be visible under a 10 x microscope) to major dark spots, deep scratches, and many other types of defects that are visible to the naked eye.  A Gemologist organization called the GIA has created a set of standards to be used for grading the clarity of diamonds.  You should familiarize yourself with these ratings, or carry a copy of a chart like this when you are looking at diamonds.