Clarity Grade Guide

The clarity scale runs from FL (flawless, no visible inclusions at 10 times magnification) through to I3 (heavily included and visible to the naked eye). Real-world buying decisions hinge on the concept of eye-clean, which is whether you can see inclusions without a jeweler's loupe. Eye-clean usually starts at VS2 for most shapes and sizes and sometimes SI1 for brilliant cuts, which means the market charges large premiums for FL, IF and VVS grades that add nothing to how the stone actually looks.

The steepest premium in the clarity scale sits at the very top. FL and IF can cost 30 to 50 percent more than VS1 for otherwise identical stones, even though a VS1 is eye-clean to all buyers and most jewelers. The VS2 to SI1 step is where the real market value kicks in: SI1 stones are often eye-clean in shapes like round, oval and cushion, and can be had at 15 to 25 percent below VS2 pricing. SI2 is a gamble unless you can see the stone in person.

Use the grade-detail pages below to filter by shape. Step-cut diamonds (emerald, asscher) show inclusions more than brilliant cuts, so the safe clarity floor for them is higher. For brilliant cuts, VS2 is almost always a safe eye-clean buy, and SI1 is worth investigating if you can inspect the plot or a high-resolution photo. Anything above VS1 is mostly about paper value for resale, not what you see in the stone.