Diamond Clarity Chart & Colour Scale
See the 4Cs come to life. Drag through the clarity (FL → I3) and colour (D → Z) scales — plus cut — and watch a diamond redraw at every grade, so you can picture exactly what you're buying.
Very Slightly Included
Minor inclusions that are difficult to see under 10×. A popular value-for-money grade.
Eye-clean means no inclusions are visible to the naked eye at normal viewing distance — the goal for most buyers, since magnified-only flaws don’t change how the diamond looks on a finger. Illustrations are representative, not to scale — actual grading is done under 10× magnification against master stones.
Diamond clarity chart (FL to I3)
The full GIA clarity scale, from Flawless down to Included. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the rarer and pricier the stone — but anything in the eye-clean range looks identical on the finger.
| Grade | Name | What it means | Eye-clean? |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10× magnification. Extremely rare — fewer than 1% of diamonds. | Usually |
| IF | Internally Flawless | No inclusions inside the stone at 10×, only minor surface blemishes. Visually indistinguishable from Flawless. | Usually |
| VVS1 | Very, Very Slightly Included 1 | Tiny inclusions that are extremely difficult to see even for a trained grader at 10×. | Usually |
| VVS2 | Very, Very Slightly Included 2 | Minute inclusions that are very difficult to locate under 10× magnification. | Usually |
| VS1 | Very Slightly Included 1 | Minor inclusions that are difficult to see under 10×. A popular value-for-money grade. | Usually |
| VS2 | Very Slightly Included 2 | Minor inclusions somewhat easier to see at 10× but still eye-clean. Often the sweet spot for value. | Usually |
| SI1 | Slightly Included 1 | Noticeable inclusions at 10×. Usually still eye-clean, especially in smaller stones. | Usually |
| SI2 | Slightly Included 2 | Inclusions visible at 10× and sometimes faintly visible to the naked eye, particularly in larger diamonds. | Often not |
| I1 | Included 1 | Inclusions are obvious under 10× and usually visible to the naked eye, but the stone remains durable. | Often not |
| I2 | Included 2 | Prominent inclusions that are clearly visible and can affect brilliance and durability. | Often not |
| I3 | Included 3 | Heavy inclusions that strongly affect transparency, brilliance and the diamond’s durability. | Often not |
Diamond colour scale (D to Z)
Diamond colour is graded from D (icy colourless) to Z (light yellow), split into five bands. The swatch shows the body tint at each grade — the difference is subtle at the top and only becomes obvious lower down.
Colorless
D–FAbsolutely colourless. The highest and rarest colour grade.
Near Colorless
G–JNear colourless. Colour noticeable only when compared to higher grades.
Faint
K–MFaint yellow. Warmth becomes visible to the naked eye, pairs well with yellow gold.
Very Light
N–RVery light yellow. Tint is obvious; price drops considerably.
Light
S–ZLight yellow. Pronounced colour; approaching fancy territory.
Diamond cut grades
Cut grades how well a diamond's facets return light. It's the one C that's entirely down to craftsmanship — and the biggest single factor in how much a diamond sparkles.
Excellent / Ideal
98%Maximises brilliance and fire. Nearly all light entering the stone is reflected back to the eye for intense sparkle.
Very Good
90%Reflects most light that enters; sparkle is excellent and the difference from Ideal is hard to see for most buyers.
Good
78%Reflects a good amount of light and offers solid sparkle at a lower price point.
Fair
62%Allows noticeable light to leak through the bottom or sides, so the stone looks duller.
Poor
45%Much of the light escapes rather than returning to the eye; the diamond appears glassy or lifeless.
Which of the 4Cs matters most?
For value and eye-appeal, the 4Cs are not equal. Here's how to spend a fixed budget to get the best-looking diamond.
1. Cut — for sparkle
Cut has the biggest effect on how much a diamond sparkles. Never compromise here first — a well-cut lower-colour stone outshines a poorly-cut high-colour one.
2. Carat — for presence
Carat weight drives price the most because large stones are exponentially rarer. Buying just under a round weight (e.g. 0.90ct instead of 1.00ct) can save money for a near-identical look.
3. Colour — stay near-colourless
White diamonds in the G–J near-colourless band look white to the naked eye, especially once set, yet cost much less than D–F. Drop a grade or two and spend the savings on cut or carat.
4. Clarity — just stay eye-clean
For most buyers, clarity only needs to be high enough that the diamond is "eye-clean" — no inclusions visible to the naked eye. VS2 and SI1 are popular sweet spots because they look identical to flawless face-up but cost far less.
Prioritise cut for sparkle, then pick the lowest colour and clarity grades that still look white and eye-clean. Spend what’s left on carat. That balance gives the best-looking stone for the money.
Once you know the grades you want, you can estimate a diamond's price from its 4Cs, check the carat-to-mm size it will look on the finger, or read why diamond is April's birthstone.