Diamond Grading Recap

What effect is this?

Fish-eye

What effect is this?

Dark center

What effect is this?

Dark radiating mains

What cut is this on the cut scale?

Excellent

What cut is this on the cut scale?

Very Good

What cut is this on the cut scale?

Good

What cut is this on the cut scale?

Fair

What cut is this on the cut scale?

Poor

What are the five levels of the GIA cut scale?

Excellent, very good, good, fair, poor

What cut is this?

Table cut

What cut is this?

Rose cut

What cut is this?

Single cut

What cut is this?

Double cut

What cut is this?

Single cut

What cut is this?

Old mine cut

What cut is this?

Old European cut

What cut is this?

Mazarin cut

What cut is this?

Point cut

What cut is this center stone?

Old mine cut

What cut is this center stone?

Rose cut

Define Crystal (Xtl)

A mineral crystal contained in a diamond.

Define Needle (Ndl)

A long, thin crystal that looks like a tiny rod at 10x.

Define Pinpoint (Pp)

A very small included crystal that looks like a tiny dot at 10x.

Define Cloud (Cld)

Many tightly grouped pinpoints that might be too small to see individually at 10x but have a hazy appearance.

Define Twinning Wisp (TW)

A series of pinpoints, clouds, or crystals that forms in a diamond’s growth plane.

Define Internal Graining (IG)

Lines, angles, or curves that might appear whitish, colored, or reflective or affect transparency at 10x.

Define Grain Center (GC)

A type of internal graining that consists of a small concentrated area of crystal distortion.

Define Feather (Ftr)

General trade term for a break in a gemstone.

Define Etch Channel (EC)

An angular opening that starts at the surface and extends into the stone, often with striations perpendicular to its length.

Define Bearded Girdle (BG)

Minute or minor feathers that run perpendicular to a bruted girdle.

Define Bruise (Br)

A tiny area of impact accompanied by very small root-like feathers visible at 10x.

Knot (K)

An included diamond crystal that extends to the surface after fashioning.

Patch of Color (Patch)

Naturally occurring radiation stain left on a polished diamond.

Define Chip (Ch)

A shallow opening caused by damage to the stone’s surface.

Define Cavity (Cav)

An opening on the surface that occurs when part of a feather breaks away, or when a crystal drops out or is forced out, typically during polishing.

Define Indented Natural (IN)

A portion of the rough’s original surface that dips below the polished diamond’s surface at 10x.

Define Nick (Nck)

A small notch on a facet junction with no readily apparent depth at 10x.

Define Abrasion (Abr)

A series of minute scratches or pits along the facet junctions of a fashioned diamond.

Define Scratch (Scr)

A thin, dull white line across the diamond’s surface; shows no apparent depth at 10x.

Define Extra Facet (EF)

A small facet that’s not required by the cutting style, placed without regard for symmetry.

Define Polish Mark

A feature that resembles an extra facet but lacks a distinct or straight facet junction.

Define Lizard Skin (LS)

Wavy or bumpy area on the surface of a polished diamond.

Define Polish Lines (PL)

Fine, parallel grooves and ridges left by polishing.

Define Burn (Brn)

Hazy surface area that results from excessive heat during polishing or occasionally from a jeweler’s torch.

Define Dop Burn (Dop)

A surface burn caused by excessive heat at the location where the dop touches the diamond.

Define Rough Girdle (RG)

Irregular, pitted, or granular surface of a bruted girdle.

Define Pit (Pit)

A small opening that looks like a tiny white dot at 10x.

Define Natural (N)

A portion of the original of a rough diamond left on a fashioned stone.

Define Surface Graining (SG)

Similar to internal graining, except it appears on the surface.

What are the eleven grades in the GIA clarity scale?

Flawless, Internally Flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3

What are the five clarity factors?

Size, number, location, relief, and nature

Flawless (FL)

Shows no inclusions and no blemishes when examined under 10x.

Internally Flawless (IF)

Only insignificant blemishes - no inclusions - when examined under 10x.

Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1)

Inclusions are extremely difficult to see face up or are only visible through the pavilion.

Very Very Slightly Included (VVS2)

Inclusions are very difficult to see

Very Slightly Included (VS1)

Inclusions are difficult to see at 10x and all types are possible.

Very Slightly Included (VS2)

Inclusions are somewhat easy to see at 10x and all types are possible.

Slightly Included (SI1)

Noticeable inclusions that are easy to see under 10x.

Slightly Included (SI2)

Noticeable inclusions that are very easy to see under 10x.

Included (I1)

Inclusions are obvious under 10x and are quite visible to the unaided eye.

Included (I2)

Inclusions are obvious under 10x and are easily visible.

Included (I3)

Inclusions are obvious under 10x and are extremely easy to see - may affect the stone’s durability.

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

IF

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

VVS1

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

VVS2

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

VS1

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

VS2

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

SI1

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

SI1

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

SI2

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

I1

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

I2

What is the clarity grade for this diamond?

I3

What color grade is this?

E, Colorless

What color grade is this?

G, Near colorless

What color grade is this?

I, Near colorless

What color grade is this?

K, Faint

What color grade is this?

M, Faint

What color grade is this?

O-P, Very light

What color grade is this?

S-T, Light

What color grade is this?

W-X, Light