Gemstone Clarity ChartGem clarity is an important factor used to evaluate the quality and value of a gemstone. A perfect stone with perfect clarity or clearness is rare. Gemstone clarity grading has become increasingly important for the sales of gemstones and gemstone jewelry via the internet where customers cannot see the gemstones in person.
Gemstones Clarity Chart| AGL | AIGS | GIA
Type II | GIA Type II Description | Asia-Gems | Asia-Gems Description | | F1 | FL | VVS1 | | 10 | Flawless or Internally Flawless | | NFL | | LI1 | LI1 | VVS | Very Very Slightly Included - Minor inclusions | 9 | Minute, not under table, no affect on appearance | | LI2 | LI2 | 8 | Minute, under table, little to no effect on appearance | | MI1 | MI1 | VS | Very Slightly Included -NOTICEABLE to Obvious | 7 | Minor, not under table, little to no effect on appearance | | MI2 | MI2 | SI1 | Slightly Included - Noticeable to OBVIOUS | 6 | Minor, under table, slight effect on appearance, little to no effect on brilliance | | HI1 | MI3 | SI2 | Slightly Included 2 - Obvious to Prominent | 5 | Obvious, not under table, slight effect on appearance and brilliance | | HI2 | VI1 | I1 | Included 1 - Prominent - moderate effect on appearance or durability | 4 | Obvious, under table, significant effect on appearance and brilliance, slight effect on transparency. | | EI1 | VI2 | I2 | Included 2 - Prominent - severe effect on appearance & durability | 3 | Prominent (draws the eye), under table, significant effect on appearance and brilliance and transparency | | EI2 | H1 | I3 | Included 3 - Prominent - severe effect on beauty, transparency & durability | 2 | Numerous and Prominent throughout gem, severe effect on appearance, brilliance, transparency, and durability. | | EI3 | H2 | Declasse | Not transparent | 1 | Numerous and Prominent throughout, gem not transparent, shows no brilliance. |
GIA Clarity Grades Chart| Grades | Type I | Type II | Type III | | VVS | Very Very Slightly Included- Minute to not detectable
Minute inclusions, difficult to see under 10X. Eye clean. | Very Very Slightly Included - Minor inclusions
Minor inclusions, somewhat easy to see with 10X. Usually eye clean. | Very Very Slightly Included - Noticeable to obvious
Noticeable inclusions under 10X. Usually eye clean. | | VS | Very Slightly Included - minor
Minor inclusions, somewhat easy to see with 10X. Usually eye clean. | Very Slightly Included - Noticeable to Obvious
Noticeable inclusions under 10X. May be eye visible. | Very Slightly Included - Noticeable to obvious
Obvious inclusions with 10X. May be eye visible. | | SI1 | Slightly Included - Noticeable to obvious
Easily noticeable with 10X. Slightly visible to the unaided eye. Usually low relief. | Slightly Included - Noticeable to obvious
Obvious inclusions, large or numerous under 10X. Apparent to unaided eye. | Slightly Included - Obvious to prominent
Prominent to unaided eye. | | SI2 | Slightly Included 2 - Obvious to noticeable
Easily visible to the unaided eye. Usually low relief. | Slightly Included 2 - Obvious to prominent
Obvious inclusions, large or numerous under 10X. Very apparent to unaided eye. | Slightly Included 2 - Obvious to prominent
Very prominent to unaided eye. | | I1 | Included 1 - Prominent - moderate effect on appearance or durability
Moderate effect on appearance or durability. | Included 1 - Prominent
Moderate effect on appearance or durability. | Included 1 - Prominent
Moderate effect on appearance or durability. | | I2 | Included 2 - Prominent
Severe effect on appearance or durability. | Included 2 - Prominent
Severe effect on appearance or durability. | Included 2 - Prominent
Severe effect on appearance or durability. | | I3 | Included 3 - Prominent
Severe effect on both appearance and durability. | Included 3 - Prominent
Severe effect on both appearance and durability. | Included 3 - Prominent
Severe effect on both appearance and durability. | | Dcl | --------- | --------- | Not transparent
Stones not transparent because of inclusions | | | Type 1 Gemstones are gemstones that are normally found to be clean. | Type 2 Colored Gemstones by their nature have natural inclusions. | Type 3 Colored Gemstones by their nature have many natural inclusions. (Heavily Included is the norm) |
GIA Gemstone Clarity Types Type I
Usually eye clean | Type II
Usually included | Type III
Almost always included | Aquamarine
Chrysoberyl, yellow and green
Heliodore
Morganite
Quartz, smoky
Spodumene, all
Tanzanite
Tourmaline, green
Zircon, blue
Diamond | Andalusite
Alexandrite
Corundum, all
Garnet, all
Iolite
Peridot
Quartz, amethyst, citrine, ametrine
Spinel, all
Tourmaline, all but green, red and watermelon
Zircon, all but blue | Emerald, Red Beryl,
Tourmaline: red and wa |
|
|
