When it comes to purchasing diamonds, there are a few things that you should be familiar with. These are known as the four C’s. They are as follows: cut, color carats and clarity. In this article we will discuss clarity and how to evaluate it as part of making a diamond purchase. It is not necessary to be an expert; however a general knowledge is important to a good buying decision. Your jeweler can even help you along the way. While many people think that diamonds are perfect, this could not be farther from the truth. The majority of diamonds have inclusions in them that can affect their value and even make them look bad. Blemishes are another thing that can affect a clarity score. They are imperfections on the surface of the stone. The amount of imperfections in a stone, along with their visibility are two main factors that affect clarity. Sometimes you may require magnification to see inclusions and blemishes. Diamond graders use a scale to reflect the clarity rating of each diamond. At the top of the scale is FL or flawless. The lower portion of the scale is I1-I3 or included. Most diamonds fall within the lower ratings. The higher rating diamonds rating, the less common and more valuable the diamond. It is usually best to find a stone that is slightly included (SI) or better. Any imperfections above the slightly included grade usually require magnification to be seen. The best thing to do is make sure the diamond you choose has a great sparkle and is clean to the naked eye. If you are able to see dark or milky white areas then you should choose a different stone. If you want to get a closer look, your jeweler should have a loupe handy. Some jewelers will be able to show you specific things with the use of a gemscope – a special microscope made for viewing diamonds and gemstones. There are a number of other things that should be taken into consideration; however Clarity is one of the most important ones. This is especially true for diamonds that have noticeable flaws. In order to avoid these highly visible flaws, you should make sure that you should stick to stones with a rating of SI or higher. The price may be a little more but it will ensure that you are getting a great stone that has a high quality. Learn more – Diamond Bracelets