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Clarity
Clarity is a subjective term, varying slightly in interpretation between different
gemologists. Clarity also varies depending on the type of stone being described. Type I
gemstones are typically free of inclusions and include Amethyst, Aquamarine. Citrine, Diamond,
Chrysoberyl, most Garnets except green and orange, Kunzite, Topaz, green varieties of
Tourmaline, Tanzanite and Zircon. Type II gems include Alexandrite, Andalusite, Iolite,
Peridot, Rhodolite, Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, Tourmaline, and Tsavorite. Type III gemstones
include Emerald, Rubellite and red Beryl. The following chart shows the most common
definitions of clarity terms for Type I gemstones. Type II gemstones may use the same
definitions, but the definitions are applied to the next higher clarity term, and the usage
of the terms stops with VVS. Type III gemstones are graded one step further up the scale.
Hence, three stones, a Topaz, an Iolite, and an Emerald with identical inclusions would be
described as being slightly included for the topaz, very slightly included for the Iolite and
an Emerald with identical inclusions would be termed very very slightly included.
The following chart describes the terms most commonly used in grading gemstones.
- Opaque
The stone will not allow light through it.
- Translucent or cloudy
The stone transmits light, but you cannot see through it.
- Heavily Included
The stone is transparent, but full of inclusions, which are very
visible without any magnification.
- Moderately Included
The stone is transparent, but with several inclusions, which are
visible without magnification.
- Slightly Included
The stone has a few very minor inclusions which may be visible
without magnification.
- Very Slightly Included, or eye-clean
The stone has very minor inclusions that are not readily visible
without magnification, but may be visible without magnification
once you see them magnified and know exactly where to look.
- Very Very Slightly Included
The stone has some very very minor inclusions which are difficult
to see under magnification.
- Loupe clean, or clean
The stone has no inclusions that can be seen using a 10x loupe.
- Internally Flawless
The stone was examined under a microscope of at least 40x
magnification, and no inclusions were seen, but the stone has
some external blemishes.
- Flawless
The stone was examined under a microscope of at least 40x
magnification, and no inclusions were seen nor are any external
blemishes present.
Clarity is one of the infamous "Four-C's" in evaluating a stone. How a
stones clarity is percieved may or may not have a major impact on its'
value. The value of a gem such as topaz will be greatly reduced in when
going from Loupe Clean to Slightly Included because
topaz is widely available with virtually flawless clarity. An emerald
on the other hand, is expected to have inclusions due to the nature of
the stone, and therefore is not as dramatically effected in price. An
emerald that is even Very Slightly Included is such a rarity
that it will still command top prices.
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