Understanding the Lab-Created Diamond Clarity

For those passionate about diamonds, BrighterGuide will lead you to the world of lab-created diamond clarity. This article will shed light on the key factors that determine the clarity grade of these advanced gems.

From the surface quirks to what lies beneath, we’ll explore the detailed assessment methods favored by diamond experts.

Gear up, as we unravel the diamond clarity scale and offer insights to help you make the best purchase.

Related Article: IGI Certification for Lab-Created Diamonds Guide

What Is Lab-Created Diamond Clarity

Clarity in diamonds is all about understanding its flaws, be it a lab-grown diamond or its natural twin. It’s a measure of the internal and external imperfections that can influence the diamond’s beauty and worth. Trained eyes scrutinize the diamond using 10X magnification, identifying visible inclusions and surface irregularities.

Both lab-created and natural diamonds might bear these imperfections. As lab-grown diamonds undergo their unique growth process, they might develop both internal and surface anomalies. Grading labs assess these, and the diamond gets a clarity grade, factoring in the inclusions’ size, nature, number, placement, and relief.

The grading system for lab-created diamonds mirrors that for natural ones, including categories like Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Small Inclusions (VVS1 & VVS2), and Very Small Inclusions (VS1 & VS2).

Making sense of diamond clarity is crucial when buying one. Often, buyers opt for higher clarity grades than required, leading to needless expenses. Online platforms, like James Allen, offer zoomed-in images of diamonds, letting you judge any flaws for yourself.

Highlighting this, let’s peek at some lab-grown diamonds from James Allen.

Here are some lab-created diamonds from James Allen

Lab-grown diamonds, similar to their natural counterparts, can have a mix of inclusions and surface imperfections, influencing their clarity grade. These diamonds experience an intricate growth process, which might lead to certain inclusions, affecting their clarity. These diamonds are graded under 10x magnification by established gemological labs.

These lab-grown diamonds, just like natural ones, follow the traditional clarity grading scale, and when you’re in the market for one, James Allen’s detailed images can help in your selection.

How Are Lab-Created Diamond Clarity Grades Determined

In the realm of lab-created diamonds, several aspects influence clarity grades, such as:

Size

The dimension of the inclusion is pivotal in grading. Experts, using 10x magnification, assess minor blemishes or inclusions. A diamond’s clarity grade is swayed by the size of these inclusions, with larger ones leading to lower grades. Thus, for a high clarity grade, minimal inclusions are desired.

Nature

Our seasoned experts evaluate the nature of flaws when grading. They consider aspects like the presence of imperfections, their size and type, and the creation process, including anomalies that arise during the diamond’s growth process.

Number

The count of inclusions plays a vital role in the clarity grade. Diamonds with fewer inclusions tend to score higher on the clarity scale.

Location

The positioning of inclusions can dramatically affect clarity. Inclusions at the center or near the diamond’s edges can influence its appearance more than those tucked deeper within.

Relief

The contrast between an inclusion and the diamond’s fabric, known as relief, significantly impacts visibility and the resultant clarity grade.

The Lab-Created Diamond Clarity Scale

This scale categorizes diamonds based on their flaws. It’s an industry-wide yardstick for both lab-created and natural diamonds, with grades like IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, and VS2. Recognizing this scale aids in making an informed choice, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.

The Most Common Mistake

A prevalent oversight is splurging on a diamond with an unnecessarily high clarity grade. Many lab-created diamonds can be “eye-clean,” meaning their flaws are imperceptible without magnification. By accessing high-quality images, as provided by vendors like James Allen, buyers can spot any visible imperfections, ensuring they’re making a sound choice.

When navigating the diamond buying process, many are dazzled by flawless diamonds or lured by the allure of a larger diamond. The diamond industry often emphasizes the rarity of a flawless (FL) grade, but in reality, minor inclusions in diamonds can often be overlooked.

Yet, many get swayed by the promise of a ‘perfect diamond’. A prevalent misconception is that a diamond’s carat weight or the type of diamond dictates its beauty. However, even diamonds with inclusions, when positioned correctly, might not affect its brilliance. For instance, internal inclusions might be masked by a diamond’s facets, while the placement of inclusions near the girdle may make them less visible.

An SI1 diamond or even a VS2 diamond can still be a beautiful diamond. Hence, understanding the grading report, considering the presence of inclusions, and assessing the type of inclusions can save consumers from overpaying. Using a trustworthy jeweler or gemological laboratory for clarity-enhanced diamonds can also offer clarity in the selection process.

Different Types Of Inclusions

Various imperfections, like feathers, crystals, or clouds, can influence a diamond’s clarity grade. Recognizing these can help in gauging a diamond’s visual charm and its overall desirability.

1. Feather Inclusion: These are cracks within the diamond, resembling the soft appearance of feathers. Although generally internal, they can sometimes reach the surface of the diamond.
   
2. Cloud Inclusions: As the name suggests, clouds are clusters of tiny crystal inclusions that can give the diamond a hazy appearance, affecting its optical properties.
   
3. Needle Inclusion: These are long, thin, and needle-like inclusions, which can sometimes be seen under x10 magnification.
   
4. Prong Inclusion: These are the minuscule crystal inclusions, which, if positioned near a prong of a setting, can be easily hidden.
   

When one considers lab-made diamonds, it’s crucial to understand the difference between them and their earth-extracted counterparts. Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds have distinct inclusion patterns. While a real diamond might have inclusions formed by extreme heat and pressure over centuries, a lab diamond could have inclusions due to the specific conditions of its diamond growth.

Understanding the inclusions in your chosen diamond, whether it’s a natural or lab-grown diamond, is crucial. With lab-grown diamond clarity, remember that they’re as real as the earth-mined diamonds. They share the same physical properties and chemical properties, just with a different origin.

Bottom Line Recommendation

When contemplating lab-grown diamonds, thoroughly assess the clarity grade, keeping in mind the visibility of flaws. Factor in your budget and aesthetic preferences when picking the clarity grade. Online platforms like James Allen, which provide detailed images and certifications, can be immensely beneficial. Finally, to get an up-close and personal view of its clarity, give the diamond a once-over using a magnification loupe.