How Clarity Affects the Value of Natural Color Diamonds
The number, size, nature, and location of internal imperfections known as inclusions, and external imperfections, known as blemishes, determine a diamond's clarity. Clarity is one of the most important factors for valuing a colorless diamond, whereas, it is the rarity of color, presence of color and variations of color that are the most important factors in determining the value of natural color diamond. Many natural color diamonds can be highly valuable with a clarity of SI1 or SI2 because they are often eye-clean meaning the inclusions are invisible to the naked eye.
Color: F
Clarity:VVS |
Color: D
Clarity:SI1 |
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In a white diamond clarity can make or break the stone, and VS clarity is usually ideal. The image above shows a VS quality, more highly valued stone on the left compared to a visibly included, lesser valued stone on the right.
Color: Fancy Dark Yellow
Clarity : VVS |
Color: Fancy Vivid Yellow
Clarity : SI1 |
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While clarity is also a consideration in the valuation of natural color diamonds, it is not the critical factor that it is in colorless stones. The stone on the left has fewer inclusions and has clarity of VVS which is a rare high level of quality. Now notice the stone on the right, graded as SI1 for clarity, showing it does have inclusions but just see what a rich, deep color it displays. Such intensity of color makes this lower clarity stone more desirable for a fine piece of jewelry and far out weighs the fact that the stone has more inclusions.
In colored diamonds, any inclusions that do exist are often crystals that exhibit much the same color as the diamonds. To the untrained eye, these crystals blend right in with a diamond's color and can even create the appearance of more brilliance.
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