What Is The Best Clarity For The Diamond Necklace?

Nothing attracts as much attention as a diamond necklace when talking about jewelry. Not even a big beautiful engagement ring or a pair of radiant earrings.

Something about the brilliant shine of a diamond necklace makes it so irresistible. Anyone talking to you will be drawn to look at the diamond, even if it’s a tiny one with a simple round cut.

That’s mainly because of the position of the necklace. Diamond rings and bracelets are away from the face, so many may not notice them immediately. Necklaces, on the other hand, sit right under your face crawling for attention.

The diamond necklace’s natural brilliance and light reflection make it an ideal detail guaranteed to catch anyone’s eye.

While diamond earrings are also in plain view when you talk to someone, they may not be as visible as a diamond necklace. The diamond in the necklace directly faces the person you’re talking to, making it almost impossible for them not to take a look and admire its beauty.

Because their attractiveness and striking beauty attract so many looks, it’s only natural to ask yourself what is the best clarity for the diamond necklace.

In this article, we’ll cover everything about diamond clarity and how it affects the beauty of a diamond necklace.

What Is Diamond Clarity?

Diamond clarity is one of the essential characteristics of a diamond, together with cut, color, and carat. In other words, clarity is one of the 4Cs that determine the value of a diamond.

Clarity refers to the presence of inclusion inside the diamond. The less inclusion, the higher the sones value. However, no diamond has perfect clarity. There’ll always be inclusions and blemishes because they result from the diamond formation deep in the earth’s crust.

While examining a diamond to determine its clarity, you must look at the number, size, nature, and relief. The positions of these inclusions also have a massive impact on the overall appearance of the diamond. Some inclusions can be hidden, while others are more emphasized.

Diamond Clarity Chart

You may have watched movies where a couple wants to know how pure their diamond is. They don’t know anything about the 4Cs, so they ask the professional.

The jeweler looks at them condescendingly but decides to examine their diamond with a loupe. Then, proceed to talk about the many imperfections that ultimately result in a low grade of the diamond and a sad couple.

In reality, jewelers examine diamonds with a loupe, but the grading process isn’t as complicated, and the jeweler isn’t mean as you might expect.

A diamond is graded with the help of the diamond clarity chart that classifies diamonds into six categories. So, let’s take a look at these categories and their meaning:

FL	Flawless	Only the best of the best diamonds receive an FL grade. They’re extremely rare and expensive.
IF	Internally Flawless	The IF grade is reserved for almost perfect diamonds. They usually have some tiny blemishes that are enough to put them in the second place of clarity.
VVS1 – VVS2	Very Very Slightly Included	This is the golden middle of clarity. Most people shopping for diamonds are aiming for a VVS grade.
VS1 – VS2	Very Slightly Included	VS clarity is the next popular choice for jewelry. Diamonds with this grade have only a few more imperfections when compared to VVS diamonds.
SI1 – SI2	Slightly Included	SI clarity diamonds have visible inclusions that greatly bring their price down.
I1 – I2 – I3	Included	The I grade is the lowest grade a diamond can have. Such diamonds are heavily included, meaning only a small percentage of people buy them intentionally.

You shouldn’t take the diamond grades too much to the hearth. A diamond with an “I” grade is still brilliant, elegant, and beautiful. Moreover, some may not even notice the inclusions.

What Are The Different Types Of Inclusions In Diamonds?

There are a lot of different inclusions that can affect the clarity grade of a diamond. In this section, we will cover some of the most frequent inclusion types in diamonds.

Pinpoints: Pinpoints are tiny black or white inclusions. They can’t be seen with the naked eye but only with a magnifying loupe.
Needle: A needle inclusion is an oblong inclusion that’s either white or transparent. These inclusions are tiny and are hard to spot.
Cavity: A cavity is an opening on the diamond surface. It resembles a tooth cavity from which it got its name. Cavities can be spotted with the naked eye and can be a major inconvenience. Oil and dirt can easily enter cavities, so the diamond needs to be regularly cleaned. The problem can be solved by polishing the diamond. However, it will lose carat weight.
Chip: A chip inclusion is an opening on the surface of the diamond, just like the cavity. The main difference is that chip inclusion is caused by wear and tear. These inclusions are usually found on the edges of the diamond.
Feather: Feather inclusions are tiny cracks located in the diamond. They resemble a feather and can be dark or transparent. These inclusions can be so bad that they compromise the diamond’s durability. This is usually the case with long feather inclusions reaching up to the diamond’s surface.
Bearding: Bearding inclusions resemble hair and fur. They are created during the process of shaping a diamond and are usually really fine lines.
Graning: Graning inclusions represent contorted crystal growth within the diamond structure. They resemble thin faint lines or creases.
Crystal: A crystal inclusion is formed together with the diamond. It’s a tiny cristal trapped inside the diamond.
Cloudy: Even though cloudiness is not a regular inclusion like the others, it has a huge effect on a diamond’s shine and clarity. A diamond can be VVS grade but lacks brilliance because of the fog inside it.

Related Read: Can You Remove Inclusions From a Diamond?

Is Diamond Clarity Important For Necklace?

Well, not as much as you may think.

While a diamond necklace is something that grabs attention, not everyone will see the inclusions in the diamond, even if it’s an SI grade. With a good cut, you can easily get away with buying a cheap SI-grade diamond, which will shine like an IF-grade diamond.

Most jewelers advertise only the highest quality diamond because of their high prices, and that’s where the misconception about clarity comes from. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a sparkling diamond necklace.

However, if you’re considering reselling the diamond necklace in the future, a higher grade is always better. You’ll also want to have a GIA certificate for the diamond, so you can maintain its value as much as possible.

Are Inclusions Visible To The Naked Eye?

Larger inclusions in I-graded diamonds are usually visible to the naked eye. In higher clarity grades, the inclusion is only slightly visible or can be seen only with a magnifying glass.

It’s best to opt for a diamond that’s eye-clean when buying. This way, you’ll have a beautiful, elegant, and brilliant diamond necklace with inclusion only visible by professionals with a loupe.

Diamond Clarity Enhancement

Diamonds can undergo specific treatments to remove inclusions by disguising or filling them. These treatments include laser drilling, deep boiling, and fracture filling.

The clarity of a diamond can be drastically improved with these treatments, but they usually come at the expense of durability. Moreover, clarity-enhanced diamonds can’t be GIA certified.

Should I Buy Diamond With The Highest Clarity Grade For My Necklace?

Yes, if you want to. Buying the highest-grade diamond for your necklace isn’t necessary. Any colorless diamond will sparkle when the light touches it.

Inclusions in a diamond aren’t as big of a deal as you might think. Usually, only professionals will notice inclusions. While you may know that your diamond is a VS grade, others may assume it’s an IF grade.

So, don’t put clarity as a priority when buying a diamond necklace. Instead, look at the other 3Cs, how long you want the necklace to be, and which metal is best for the chain.

Can Inclusions Be Hidden?

Yes, they can!

Inclusions in diamonds can be successfully hidden by choosing the right setting. Sometimes they are hidden without intention and just slip by the jeweler’s eye.

However, those are rare cases. Usually, people decide on a necklace setting that will cover up the imperfections of their diamond.

Here’s how most inclusions are hidden:

Under a prong
Hidden by the mounting
Under the facet
Located at the bottom of the diamond, making it invisible when looking at its front
Inclusions are tiny and transparent and not identified on the diamond certificate

If you want to save money, aim for a lower clarity grade and a cut and setting that will mask most of the diamond’s imperfections. You’ll be amazed how well inclusions can be hidden with just a prong.

Best Cut For Diamond Necklace

If you want an FL-grade diamond, you won’t be wrong whichever cut you choose. However, if you really want to show off the clarity of your diamond, an Asscher cut may be a perfect choice.

An Asscher cut is known for showing all the flaws of a diamond. So if your diamond doesn’t have any, you should definitely exhibit it in the best possible way. Baguette and Emerald cut is also a fantastic choice for higher clarity grade diamonds.

The story is quite different with lower clarity grades. You want to hide the inclusions as best as possible, so the cut should be carefully selected. Some of the most popular cuts for hiding inclusions are:

If the cut doesn’t hide all the inclusions, don’t stress out about it. Your diamond will still have the brilliant sparkle characteristic of all diamonds.

How To Save Money While Buying Diamond Necklace

If you’re wondering how to save up while still making a fantastic purchase, here’s how to do it.

Get A Lower Clarity Grade

There’s a significant price difference in clarity grades but only a slight difference in inclusions. That’s because higher clarity grades are hugely advertised and most sought after.

The difference between a VVS1 and an SI1 diamond can be so slight that you may not even notice. Only a professional eye with the help of a magnifying glass, can see what’s going on in the diamond.

Don’t rush with your decision. Decide on the setting and cut for your diamond necklace first. Then, see how much you have left for the clarity grade. Regardless of your diamond’s grade, it will still sparkle when the light hits its surface.

Related Read:

Purchase From An Online Retailer

Online retailers have become immensely popular in the last few years. And with good reason. The prices are much lower than in physical stores. You may not get the in-store experience, but you can purchase a diamond for around 50% less than you would in a store.

Most online shops offer customer support, and some even offer different paying methods. Moreover, you can also suggest your own design for the diamond necklace.

Conclusion

Inclusions aren’t as dramatic as you’d expect. Most are really tiny, and the difference in clarity grades is very slight. So, there’s no need to obsess too much about the clarity grade of your diamond necklace.

By choosing the right setting and cutting for your diamond necklace, you’ll be able to hide any significant inclusions visible to the naked eye. You don’t have to spend a fortune on an FL clarity grade diamond. Opt for a SI or VSI clarity grade because it gives you the best value for the money you spent on it.

We hope this article has answered What is the best clarity for the diamond necklace? and that you’re now more confident about your future diamond necklace purchase.