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The clarity of a diamond refers to the amount of visible flaws in the diamond. The fewer the visible flaws, the more expensive the diamond.
Flaws that are visible on the surface of the diamond are called blemishes. Flaws that are visible inside the diamond are called inclusions.  There are many terms used to describe the types of flaws that can occur in diamonds. Some of common ones are: Crystal (internal)
A crystal is any mineral crystal that is enclosed by the diamond. They can also occur on the surface of a diamond. They can be any size, shape or colour but the most common ones appear like a small clear bubble to the naked eye. They are sometimes referred to as “carbons”, “carbon spots” or “bubbles”.
Feathers (internal)
A feather is any type of break or fracture in a diamond. They often have a feather-like appearance, hence the name. A heavy knock to the diamond can make them larger.
Pinpoints (internal)
A pinpoint is a type of crystal that is very small and cannot be seen by the naked eye, only with a 10x or greater magnification.
Clouds (internal)
A cloud is a very tightly packed group of pinpoints that looks like a cloud under 10x magnification.
Abrasion (external)
An abrasion is a series of very small nicks or chips on the surface of a diamond, usually along a facet line. These are caused by wear and tear when diamonds are not stored carefully with other diamonds (as only diamond can scratch diamond). For a more detailed coverage of the various types of flaws, including photos, an excellent resource is at this link: Diamond Jewelry Virginia Less Flaws = More Expensive |
