The Four C's - Diamond Clarity

A diamond's value is graded by the four C's. The four C's include: clarity, carat, cut, and color. Diamond clarity refers to internal characteristics of a diamond. These characteristics are inclusions and blemishes. While internal features of a diamond are called inclusions, external features are called blemishes. A perfect diamond without any blemishes or inclusions is rare. However, sometimes, these flaws and blemishes can affect the brillance since light is not able to pass through the diamond as easily.

There are several kinds of inclusions. These include: crystals, needles, pinpoints, clouds, twinning wisps, internal graining, grain centers, feathers, bearded girdles, bruises, knots, chips, cavities, indented naturals, laser drill-holes, and fracture-filled. Whereas some of these inclusions occur during the cutting or polishing process, others can occur while you are wearing it.

• Crystals - A crystal is a mineral within a stone. If it is totally enclosed in the diamond, it is called an included crystal. They can occur colored or colorless and alone or in groups.
• Needles - These are long, thin crystals.
• Pinpoints - A very small crystal that looks like a dot.
• Clouds - A cloud includes a cluster of many tightly grouped pinpoints. Under magnification, you can distinguish the pinpoints but otherwise, they resemble a cloud or a haze.
• Twinning Wisps -Caused by a crystal deformation during growth.
• Internal graining - This is a discoloration, either milky or faint lines due to irregular crystal growth.
• Grain centers - This is a small are of concentrated crystal structure distortion.
• Feathers - These are small cracks in the diamond's wall that look like feathers. They usually don't affect diamonds unless they reach the surface.
• Bearded girdles - These are hairline cracks that occur around the girdle during cutting. The girdle is where the top and bottom of the stone meet.
• Bruises - A bruise is a minor chip that creates a root-like appearance within the stone.
• Knots - A knot is a crystal which reaches the surface of the diamond.
• Chips - This is where part of a small part of the diamond chips. Sometimes, they can be removed by cutting the diamond or polishing it.
• Cavities - A cavity is a tiny opening in the diamond when a crystal comes out during polishing.
• Indented naturals - A natural is part of the original skin that was left on the diamond whereas an indented natural when the natural doesn't get polished because it dips below the surface of the diamond.