{"id":12363,"date":"2023-11-04T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T11:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/?p=12363"},"modified":"2023-11-15T12:08:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T12:08:55","slug":"eye-clean-diamonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/eye-clean-diamonds\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Eye-Clean Diamonds? – Affordable Clarity Grades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are Eye-clean diamonds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An “eye-clean” diamond lacks imperfections visible to the naked eye and provides excellent value being more affordable than flawless (FL) internally flawless (IF) diamonds, which, due to their extreme rarity, come with a higher price tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expression, “eye-clean<\/strong>” is used to describe the clarity of a diamond. visibly clear to the naked eye<\/span>. This is an important consideration when it comes to purchasing a diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few buyers appreciate visible inclusions within their diamonds. For this reason, eye-clean sets a benchmark for acceptable clarity\u2014especially for those lacking specific diamond knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most diamonds are graded for clarity <\/a>using a 10x magnification loupe. Natural clarity characteristics or inclusions are easier to view with the lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some buyers feel the necessity to choose very high clarity grades such as VVS clarity diamonds<\/a>. But, unknown to many buyers, a lower clarity diamond will provide a clear diamond free of marks visible to the naked eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"10<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is the best clarity grade for an eye-clean diamond?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Strictly speaking, an eye-clean diamond lacks visible marks to the naked eye. With this in mind, we must take into consideration the size and shape of the diamond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To explain, a large Emerald-cut diamond over 2-carats shows inclusions at SI clarity grades. By comparison, smaller round brilliant-cut diamonds below 1-carat suffice at SI clarity grades as eye-clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for this difference lies in the step-cut of the Emerald cut\u2014with a larger table unable to hide small inclusions. The larger size also increases the visibility of inclusions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step cut diamonds include the Asscher Cut, Baguette-cut Emerald cut<\/a> and Carr\u00e9 cut diamond shapes. As a result, we recommend VS1 clarity to ensure the diamond is visibly clear to the naked eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are SI1 and SI2 clarity diamonds eye-clean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most smaller slightly included SI1 clarity diamonds<\/a> achieve an eye-clean standard, especially when assessed by GIA certification. Depending on your level of certification, SI2 clarity diamonds might or might not appear clear of marks to the naked eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of the diamonds below are SI2 clarity but the image (right) is GIA certified and appears far clearer owing to stringent and consistent diamond grading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GIA<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Does clean-to-the-eye vary by diamond size?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above eye-clean often depends on diamond size. A small 2mm diamond will appear eye-clean at SI2 clarity, sometimes lower. Clarity characteristics are harder to detect within tiny diamonds. In contrast, a large diamond weighing 2 carats, 3 carats<\/a>, or 4 carats with SI1 clarity characteristics will naturally show inclusions more easily owing to the large table size. This is especially true of small inclusions directly below the table facet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to ensure eye-clear really is eye-clean – the importance of GIA certification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This really is an important detail. Many diamond laboratories grade more leniently than the Gemological Institute of America. Buyers can often expect to pay a premium for GIA-certified diamonds, but the resulting clarity grade will be strict. Look at the above images, both certified SI2 clarity. The diamond clarity photograph on the right really is eye-clean compared to the IGI-certified diamond on the left. For this reason, we choose GIA-certified diamonds for clients over any other diamond grading laboratory reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common diamond inclusions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diamonds exhibit a variety of different types of inclusions. Characteristics vary from clouds to pinpoints, feathers, twinning wisps, needles and cavities to name just a few. Some types of inclusion reduce the likelihood of a diamond achieving an eye-clean description. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a cavity breaking the surface of a diamond appears visibly to the naked eye\u2014especially when light catches the surface of the stone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, mineral crystals, darker in colour compared to transparent inclusions often appear with greater visibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical tips for assessment of clarity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A great tip for the assessment of eye-clean clarity involves the initial use of a 10x jeweller’s loupe to look for any inclusions. Once located, try to see the inclusion without the lens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jewellery settings on the impact of diamond clarity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The choice of diamond setting can impact the visibility of inclusions within a diamond. For example, sometimes, an inclusion visible on the edge of a diamond can be covered by a claw or prong. As a result, the set and finished diamond appears eye-clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Destiny – an example of a claw set diamond engagement ring design. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By comparison, the same loose unset diamond would appear visibly included. For this reason, diamond certification provides assurance of a diamond’s quality before being set into a piece of jewellery. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are Eye-clean diamonds? An “eye-clean” diamond lacks imperfections visible to the naked eye and provides excellent value being more affordable than flawless (FL) internally flawless (IF) diamonds, which, due to their extreme rarity, come with a higher price tag. The expression, “eye-clean” is used to describe the clarity of a diamond. visibly clear to Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[133],"tags":[925],"class_list":["post-12363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamonds-2","tag-eye-clean"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12363"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22032,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12363\/revisions\/22032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serendipitydiamonds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}