#6. Understand Clarity
No two diamonds are alike. Each diamond has its own individual flaws, either internal (called inclusions), or external (called blemishes). These impact its clarity, and thus, they’re rated by the GIA. The GIA clarity scale has 11 grades from flawless (FL) to diamonds with inclusions obvious to the naked eye (I3). According to the GIA, a flawless diamond is incredibly rare and most jewelers have never seen one. (The fact that they are perfectly clear might have something to do with that…) Most diamonds fall slightly above the middle — at VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included). The closer your diamond is to flawless, the higher the quality.
