Diamond Information

Clarity

Clarity describes the imperfections or inclusions in a diamond, or in other words, its purity.  The fewer the imperfections, the more brilliant the diamond.  As with color, the GIA has developed a grading scale to rate the clarity of diamonds.  It measures clarity in basically four categories, from flawless (F) to imperfect (I).  Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare.  Almost all diamonds have at least some inclusions.  A diamond can be rated flawless if no external or internal imperfections are visible under ten-power (10x) magnification.  At James Avery, we offer diamonds that are SI₁ clarity or better.

Carat

The carat is a unit of measurement used to weigh gemstones.  It should not be confused with the word “karat” used to indicate the purity of gold.  If all other measures of value are equal (color, clarity, and cut), then it is the carat weight that will determine the value of your diamond.  Bear in mind, though, that size isn’t everything.  A larger stone will not hold as much value if it lacks brilliance (cut), purity (clarity), or a high- grade color.  One carat equals 200 milligrams, or 100 “points,” so a 10-point diamond will equal 1/10 th of a carat.