A diamond’s clarity is determined by the degree to which it is free from naturally occurring inclusions, often called ‘nature’s fingerprints’ or the ‘diamonds birthmarks’.
These inclusions were formed billions of years ago under the intense heat and pressure, from minerals or gasses, or other gemstones that may have been trapped inside the diamond as it cooled.
These inclusions are usually invisible to the naked eye, but their size, location and number can dramatically affect the stream of light through a diamond, causing the fire and sparkle to be lost.
These inclusions show as tiny specks or crystals that may look like feathers or clouds inside each diamond. However, many are invisible to the naked eye requiring magnification under a standard 10x magnification loupe before they become apparent. The fewer inclusions, the greater the clarity, the rarer the stone and the more valuable the diamond.
