Imagine a diamond devoid of any imperfections, its facets catching light with pristine brilliance. This is the elusive “flawless” diamond, a highly sought-after and coveted ideal in the world of gemstones, but how rare are these perfect gems, and are they truly worth the chase? While diamonds at this level of perfection are certainly rare, they are not unobtainable by any means. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of diamond clarity and uncover the facts behind flawless beauty.
Demystifying Flawless Diamonds
Diamonds form under immense pressure and heat deep within the Earth, and most develop internal markings like crystals, clouds, or feathers during this process. Many of these inclusions are so tiny, they aren’t visible to the naked eye, while others are more prominent and impact the desired characteristics of a diamond. The journey to flawless is arduous, and only a minuscule percentage, estimated to be between 0.5% and 1% of all mined diamonds, achieve the coveted “flawless” designation.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) established the industry standard for clarity grading, categorizing diamonds from Flawless and Internally Flawless to Included. At the very pinnacle of this scale sits Flawless (FL), signifying a gem completely free of internal inclusions visible under 10x magnification. Would that same diamond still be blemish-free at 100x magnification? Possibly not, but because of the absence of visible blemishes and inclusions (at 10x magnification), it’s considered flawless.
The tricky thing about flawless diamonds is that they must be blemish-free internally and externally. If a diamond is only flawless internally, it’s known as Internally Flawless (IF). This is significant as the transportation, handling and jewelry setting processes can cause blemishes resulting in a loss of value, and once the diamond is purchased, it could be chipped or scratched at some point, meaning a “flawless” diamond may not be so forever.
How Important is a Flawless Diamond?
While flawless diamonds undoubtedly possess exceptional clarity, it’s crucial to understand that clarity is only one factor that influences a diamond’s value and beauty. And remember most of these “flawless” markings are microscopic, invisible to the naked eye, so unless you plan on scrutinizing your diamond with magnified intensity, the “flawless” label might not make a noticeable difference in its visual appeal.
Flawless diamonds command a significant price premium, sometimes exceeding 10 times the price of a similar diamond with a slightly lower clarity grade, and many “flawless” diamonds have microscopic inclusions that have minimal impact on its overall aesthetics and sparkle. It’s important to weigh the added cost against the actual aesthetic benefit, especially considering most inclusions are invisible to the unaided eye.
Undoubtedly diamond clarity is important, but it’s only one of the “Four Cs” that determine a diamond’s value and sparkle.
- Cut: A well-cut diamond with expertly angled facets, maximizes light and brilliance, making it dance with fire. Even a “flawless” diamond won’t sparkle without a masterful cut.
- Color: Dazzling whites and near-colorless grades (D-F) are highly sought-after, but slightly warmer hues (G-J) can offer significant value while still appearing stunningly white to the naked eye.
- Carat Weight: This determines the size of the diamond, but size isn’t everything, a smaller, well-cut diamond with superior color and clarity might be a wiser choice than a larger stone with compromised characteristics.
Instead of fixating solely on “flawless,” prioritize cut and color, which have a more significant impact on a diamond’s visual beauty and brilliance. A slightly lower clarity grade with exceptional cut and color might offer better value and still captivate you with its sparkle.
Contact one of our diamond and fine jewelry experts or call (720) 560-3548 for more information about clarity and grading, and to find the perfect engagement ring or wedding set.
FAQs
To most people, the word "flawless" means perfect. When it comes to diamonds, however, it's a bit more nuanced. Internally Flawless diamonds are incredibly rare-less than 0.5% of diamonds fall into this category.
How rare are flawless diamonds? ›
Flawless diamonds are incredibly scarce. It's estimated only 0.5% or less diamonds are Flawless. This makes FL grade diamonds much more expensive than other high Clarity grades. There is no average price for FL diamonds; this will depend on each stone's Carat weight and Color grade.
What percentage of diamonds are perfect? ›
In general, jewellers and other experts assign a 'quality' based on the percentage, which are as follows: Exceptional or ideal: 58-60% Excellent: 60.1-62% Good: 62-64%
Is it worth buying an Internally Flawless diamond? ›
If you are trying to stay within a budget, consider how important it's for you to get an IF diamond instead of, say, spend it on a higher Carat weight and go for a lower Clarity grade. When rarity is your focus, then an Internally Flawless diamond is an incredible choice.
Do Internally Flawless diamonds sparkle more? ›
Inclusions can affect the transparency and brilliance of a diamond, so the fewer the inclusions, the more sparkle you can expect. An IF diamond will allow for maximum brilliance and fire.
What percentage of diamonds are Internally Flawless? ›
To most people, the word "flawless" means perfect. When it comes to diamonds, however, it's a bit more nuanced. Internally Flawless diamonds are incredibly rare-less than 0.5% of diamonds fall into this category.
Is VVS better than flawless? ›
So, to simplify, VVS1 is the highest quality of VVS diamonds and VS clarity diamonds. In fact, the only diamonds that would even rank superior are the ones without any inclusions at all (aka flawless and internally flawless)… and there are not that many perfect gems just floating around in the world!
Do flawless diamonds increase in value? ›
They have low resale value. Although a diamond's resale value increases over time, it would take a long time for it to reach the original sticker price.
What is the top of the line diamond? ›
What is the best diamond clarity? The highest quality clarity grade of diamonds is Flawless. These diamonds have no inclusions or blemishes at 10x magnification and are very rare.
How rare are D color diamonds? ›
Less than one percent of the diamonds sold for engagement rings each year are colorless enough to be receive a GIA D color grade. Rare and refined, D color grade diamonds are the top of the standard GIA diamond color scale which goes from D, for completely colorless, to Z, for diamonds that are light yellow or brown.
Both cubic zirconia and moissanite are popular choices for fake diamond rings, but they have different properties. Moissanite is known for its remarkable brilliance and fire, making it a closer match to real diamonds. Cubic zirconia is less brilliant but still provides an impressive sparkle at a lower cost.
What's the difference between flawless and internally flawless? ›
Internally Flawless (IF) diamonds are those with visible blemishes--but no inclusions. Essentially, the difference between a Flawless diamond engagement ring and an Internally Flawless diamond ring is the presence of blemishes on the diamond's surface.
Which diamond shines the most? ›
If you're looking for the sparkliest diamond you can find, you'll want to stick to the round brilliant cut. This cut was specifically designed in the early 20th century to sparkle as much as possible, giving a well-cut round brilliant diamond unbeatable brilliance and fire.
What is the rarest of all diamonds? ›
While all diamonds are unique, certain forms of diamonds are especially uncommon. In general, colored diamonds are very sparse, red diamonds being the rarest of them all. In terms of formations, Type IIa is the rarest form of diamond followed by the Type Ib.
Are perfect diamonds rare? ›
Sitting at the top end of the GIA clarity scale, internally flawless diamonds (IF) are as rare as they are beautiful. High prices and scarcity mean that internally flawless diamonds are not the typical choice for jewelry shoppers; even for engagement rings.
How much is 100 carat flawless diamond worth? ›
NEW YORK - A "perfect" 100-carat diamond in a classic emerald cut sold for just over $22 million at auction on Tuesday.
