How to Select Diamond Grade
By Robert UnderhillWhat Grade Diamond Should I Select?
By now you can see that there is simply no way for you to understand all that you need to know to become a diamond expert. Some people become obsessed and make it a full time hobby. There are thousands of people whose careers revolve around understanding diamonds who still have not reached the expert level. Use what you have learned to go out and look at diamonds. Talk to experts and try to buy from a reputable jeweler who will be there after the sale to provide cleanings, trade ups, and service on the jewelry that the diamond is set in.
The only hard and fast rule you should adhere to is this: Choose characteristics that are visible to your eye before selecting characteristics that are not. In short, a flawless diamond does not make sense if it is yellow or brown. A colorless "D" diamond does not make sense if you can see flaws while it is being worn. A perfect diamond does not make sense if it is cut poorly and lacks brilliance. Once your clarity, color, and cut have reached an attractive level to your eye, you can opt for additional size or other characteristics that make you happy.
Diamond Rating System
Below is a diamond rating system that you can use to evaluate stones of specific color and clarity combinations. Each chart represents diamonds of a different color, starting with the most prized color D (colorless). Within a given color chart you can compare diamonds of different clarity by cross referencing the various grades listed to the left of the chart. This guideline and the evaluations represent the opinions of the author and assume that all stone comparisons are of equal cut grade.
Clarity |
D Color Diamonds |
|
D-Flawless |
Investment |
Elite-Investment Grade |
Stones of this grade are very expensive and seldom used in traditional jewelry. |
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D-VVS-1 |
Investment |
Excessive-Investment Grade |
Stones of this grade are very expensive and seldom used in traditional jewelry. |
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D-VVS-2 |
Investment |
Excessive-Investment Grade |
The color is visibly the best, and flaws are only detectable under close scrutiny with a microscope. |
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D-VS-1 |
Eccentric |
Top Color-Excellent Clarity |
The color is visibly the best and flaws are only detectable under close scrutiny with a microscope. |
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D-VS-2 |
Choice |
Top Color-Very Good Clarity |
The best grade the naked eye can see. Absolutely colorless and flawless without the aid of magnification. |
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D-SI-1 |
Very Nice |
Top Color-Good Clarity |
Absolutely colorless and the flaws are seldom detectable in during normal wear. |
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D-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Top Color-Marginal Clarity |
If you love color, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
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D-I-1 |
Avoid |
Top Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have perfect color if flaws are easily detectable. Consider sacrificing some color for clarity. |
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D-I-2 & Below |
No |
Top Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have perfect color and obvious flaws. |
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Clarity |
E Color Diamonds |
|
E-Flawless |
Investment |
Excessive-Investment Grade |
Stones of this grade are very expensive and seldom used in traditional jewelry. |
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E-VVS-1 |
Investment |
Excellent Color-Excessive |
Stones of this grade are very expensive and seldom used in traditional jewelry. |
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E-VVS-2 |
Eccentric |
Excellent Color-Great Clarity |
The color is beautiful flaws are only detectable under close scrutiny with a microscope. |
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E-VS-1 |
Fine |
Excellent Color-Excellent Clarity |
Beautiful color and with minimal flaws detectable under 10X microscope. |
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E-VS-2 |
Choice |
Excellent Color-Very Good Clarity |
Beautiful color and the clarity is flawless to the naked eye. |
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E-SI-1 |
Very Nice |
Excellent Color-Good Clarity |
Beautiful color and flaws are probably not detectable in during normal wear. |
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E-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Excellent Color-Marginal Clarity |
If you love color, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
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E-I-1 |
Avoid |
Excellent Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have eccentric color if flaws are easily detectable. Consider sacrificing some color for clarity. |
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E-I-2 & Below |
No |
Excellent Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have perfect color and obvious flaws |
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Clarity |
F Color Diamonds |
|
F-Flawless |
Investment |
Excellent Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color and no flaws visible under 10X microscope. |
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F-VVS-1 |
Eccentric |
Excellent Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color and flaws are barely detectable under 10X microscope. |
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F-VVS-2 |
Eccentric |
Excellent Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color and flaws are barely detectable under 10X microscope. |
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F-VS-1 |
Fine |
Excellent Color-Excellent Clarity |
Beautiful color and with minimal flaws detectable under 10X microscope. |
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F-VS-2 |
Choice |
Excellent Color-Very Good Clarity |
Beautiful color and the stone will be flawless to the naked eye. |
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F-SI-1 |
Very Nice |
Excellent Color-Good Clarity |
Beautiful color and flaws are probably not detectable during normal wear. |
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F-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Excellent Color-Marginal Clarity |
If you love color, favor size, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
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F-I-1 |
Avoid |
Excellent Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have excellent color if flaws are easily detectable. Consider sacrificing some color for clarity. |
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F-I-2 & Below |
No |
Excellent Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have amazing color and obvious flaws. |
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Clarity |
G Color Diamonds |
|
G-Flawless |
Eccentric |
Very Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color-and no visible flaws under 10X microscope. |
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G-VVS-1 |
Eccentric |
Very Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color and flaws are barely detectable under 10X microscope. |
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G-VVS-2 |
Very Nice |
Very Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Beautiful color and clarity, flaws are barely detectable under 10X microscope. |
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G-VS-1 |
Fine |
Very Good Color-Excellent Clarity |
Beautiful color and clarity with minimal flaws detectable under 10X microscope. |
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G-VS-2 |
Choice |
Very Good Color-Very Good Clarity |
Beautiful color and clarity. The stone will be flawless to the naked eye. |
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G-SI-1 |
Nice |
Very Good Color-Good Clarity |
The color is beautiful and flaws are probably not detectable during normal wear. |
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G-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Very Good Color-Marginal Clarity |
If you want a pretty stone, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
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G-I-1 |
Avoid |
Very Good Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have very good color if flaws are easily detectable. Consider sacrificing some color for clarity. |
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G-I-2 & Below |
No |
Very Good Color-Poor Clarity |
Not logical to have amazing color and obvious flaws. |
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Clarity |
H Color Diamonds |
|
H-Flawless |
Unbalanced |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Pleasing color with no visible flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for size or higher color. |
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H-VVS-1 |
Unbalanced |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Pleasing color with minimal flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for size or higher color. |
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H-VVS-2 |
Unbalanced |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Pleasing color with minimal flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for higher color. |
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H-VS-1 |
Very Good |
Good Color-Excellent Clarity |
Pleasing color with minimal flaws detectable under 10X microscope. |
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H-VS-2 |
Practical |
Good Color-Very Good Clarity |
Pleasing color and clarity. The stone will be flawless to the naked eye. |
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H-SI-1 |
Practical |
Good Color-Good Clarity |
Pleasing color and flaws are probably not detectable during normal wear. |
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H-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Good Color-Marginal Color |
If you favor size, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
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H-I-1 |
Avoid |
Good Color-Poor Clarity |
Inexpensive pleasing color with easily detectable flaws. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity. |
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H-I-2 & Below |
No |
Good Color-Poor Clarity |
Good Color-Poor Clarity: The diamond will have obvious flaws. Consider a smaller stone to improve clarity. |
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Clarity |
I Color Diamonds |
|
I-Flawless |
Unbalanced |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Good color no visible flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for size or higher color. |
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I-VVS-1 |
Clean |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Good color with minimal flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for size or higher color. |
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I-VVS-2 |
Clean |
Good Color-Excessive Clarity |
Good color with minimal flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for size or higher color. |
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I-VS-1 |
Clean |
Good Color-Excellent Clarity |
Good color with minimal flaws under 10x microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity for higher color. |
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I-VS-2 |
Practical |
Good Color-Very Good Clarity |
Good color and clarity. The stone will be flawless to the naked eye. |
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I-SI-1 |
Practical |
Good Color-Good Clarity |
Good color and flaws are probably not detectable during normal wear. |
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I-SI-2 |
Acceptable |
Good Color-Marginal Clarity |
If you favor size, and can live with slightly detectable flaws this can sometimes work. |
||
I-I-1 |
Avoid |
Good Color-Poor Clarity |
Inexpensive pleasing color with easily detectable flaws. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity. |
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I-I-2 & Below |
No |
Good Color-Poor Clarity |
The diamond will have obvious flaws. Consider a smaller stone to improve clarity. |
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Clarity |
J Color Diamonds |
|
J-Flawless |
Unbalanced |
Fair Color-Excessive Clarity |
Slightly yellow with no flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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J-VVS-1 |
Unbalanced |
Fair Color-Excessive Clarity |
Slightly yellow with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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J-V VS-2 |
Unbalanced |
Fair Color-Excessive Clarity |
Slightly yellow with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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J-VS-1 |
Fair |
Fair Color-Excessive Clarity |
Slightly yellow with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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J-VS-2 |
Fair |
Fair Color-Very Good Clarity |
Slightly yellow with no visible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
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J-SI-1 |
Fair |
Fair Color-Good Clarity |
Slightly yellow with negligible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
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J-SI-2 |
Fair |
Fair Color-Marginal Clarity |
Slightly yellow with negligible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
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J-I-1 |
Avoid |
Fair Color-Poor Clarity |
Slightly yellow with visible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity and color. |
||
J-I-2 & Below |
Avoid |
Fair Color-Poor Clarity |
Off color diamond with obvious flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity and color. |
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Clarity |
K Color Diamonds & Below |
|
K-Flawless |
Unbalanced |
Poor Color-Excessive Clarity |
Off color diamond with no flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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K-VVS-1 |
Unbalanced |
Poor Color-Excessive Clarity |
Off color diamond with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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K-VVS-2 |
Unbalanced |
Poor Color-Excessive Clarity |
Off color diamond with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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K-VS-1 |
Unbalanced |
Poor Color-Excessive Clarity |
Off color diamond with minimal flaws under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing clarity to improve color. |
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K-VS-2 |
Avoid |
Poor Color-Very Good Clarity |
Off color diamond flawless to eye under 10X microscope. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
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K-SI-1 |
Avoid |
Poor Color-Good Clarity |
Off color diamond with negligible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
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K-SI-2 |
Avoid |
Poor Color-Marginal Clarity |
Off color diamond with negligible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve color. |
||
K-I-1 |
NO |
Poor Color-Poor Clarity |
Off color diamond with visible flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity and color. |
||
K-I-2 & Below |
NO |
Poor Color-Poor Clarity |
Off color diamond with obvious flaws to the eye. Consider sacrificing size to improve clarity and color. |
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