To determine clarity grade, carefully study
a gemstone, observing characteristics that
distract the eye or could affect durability,
transparency, brilliance, scintillation
and color.
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Clarity
Grade Comparison AGL/GIA/AIGS
|
|
AGL
|
AIGS
|
GIA
Type II
|
Brief Definition of
Grade
|
|
F1
|
FL
|
|
Flawless
or Internally Flawless |
|
NFL
|
|
LI1
|
LI1
|
VVS
|
Minute,
not under table, no affect on appearance |
|
LI2
|
LI2
|
Minute,
under table, little to no effect on
appearance |
|
MI1
|
MI1
|
VS
|
Minor,
not under table, little to no effect
on appearance |
|
MI2
|
MI2
|
SI1
|
Minor,
under table, slight effect on appearance,
little to no effect on brilliance |
|
HI1
|
MI3
|
SI2
|
Obvious,
not under table, slight effect on appearance
and brilliance |
|
HI2
|
VI1
|
I1
|
Obvious,
under table, significant effect on appearance
and brilliance, slight effect on transparency. |
|
EI1
|
VI2
|
I2
|
Prominent
(draws the eye), under table, significant
effect on appearance and brilliance
and transparency |
|
EI2
|
H1
|
I3
|
Numerous
and Prominent throughout gem, severe
effect on appearance, brilliance, transparency,
and durability. |
|
EI3
|
H2
|
Declasse
|
Numerous
and Prominent throughout, gem not transparent,
shows no brilliance. |
|
Clarity
types for Color Gemstones
|
|
Type
1
|
Gemstones
that are normally found to be clean.
|
|
Examples:
|
Amethyst,
Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Kunzite,
Tanzanite, Yellow Beryl, Yellow Chrysoberyl
|
|
Type
2
|
Gemstones
that normally may have a few inclusions.
|
|
Examples:
|
Alexandrite,
Andalusite, Iolite, Peridot, Rhodoloite,
Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, Tourmaline,
Tsavorite |
|
Type
3
|
Gemstones
that normally do not come clean.
|
|
Examples:
|
Emerald,
Red Beryl, Rubellite Tourmaline
|
Below
clarity chart shows the relationship between
various colored gemstones and indicated the
limits of clarity that are generally acceptable
to most jewelry manufacturers and stone dealers.
 |
Important Note:
Standardized grading systems exists for
diamonds and they help buyers communicate
what they want anywhere in the world. In
addition, written appraisals and quality
reports are more meaningful. However, one
of the drawbacks of the diamond grading
system is that it has led people to judge
stones by grades rather than with their
eyes. No grade or lab report can give a
full picture of what a stone looks like.
Even though clarity grading systems have
been developed for colored stones, there
is no one standardized system. Even when
a single system is used, there can be a
wide variation in how grades are assigned
by appraisers, mainly because the way in
which transparency is incorporated into
the system may differ. It is noted that
transparency is the degree to which light
passes through a material so that objects
are visible through it. Transparency and
clarity are interlocked because flaws can
block the passage of light.
Cutting in colored stones varies since it
should be done to bring out the color. A
well-cut, well-proportioned, and well-finished
gemstone displays brilliance and color throughout
the stone. Cut plays a major role in determining
the value of colored gems because it affects
their color and clarity as well as their
brilliance. For example a stone that is
cut too shallow can look pale and lifeless,
and it can display flaws that would normally
not be visible to the naked eye.
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