OK, now listen up folks, for "Clarity is so dependant on the geometry and cut that they cannot and should not be considered separately"... What I mean by this is simple, let's take a very good example... Let's take a diamond that is graded by GIA or AGS as "SI1" for example... Take that level of clarity to a raging ideal cut round brilliant and you have a 99% sure bet, if you want to hedge yer bet further head fer the VS2 range but past that does not really make much sense in practical terms, since at a "VS2" appearant perfection is easily attained, and one would be well served by spending more perhaps on color but in the round brilliant ideal cut the "VS2-SI1" range is a sweet place to call home... Now to chat a bit about grades, gem labs and local grading later... Be sure and read the "Local grading VS GemLabs" for it will save you headaches later, and real money right now.

Flawless and Internally Flawless
This is where the diamond is perfection, under high magnification the diamond is supremely perfect and exhibits absolutely no hint of imperfections, which is as good as it gets in the world of diamonds. Now, where "appearant perfection" starts is not here, this is sheer perfection and that is only really appreciated under ultra-high magnification for lower clarity gives "appearant perfection" in ample measure, and remember that the real beauty of a diamond lays in the cut and the geometry, but clarity is the key for how clean the diamond is, and in this range you pay a premium for this perfection, but again this is as good as it gets, and that is a fact...

VVS Range (1-2)
Very very slightly included to the first or second power. In this range the diamond will seem to the eye and under magnification as totally perfection, and in this range is where you get perfection in huge measure, and even under the microscope there is absolutely nothing to see to hate. This range is still considered a high premium range, for the fact is that this grade of clarity will produce 100% of the appearant perfection even the most discriminating diamond lover might desire, and saves the price of the Internally Flawless hit... When you want sheer perfection and you want it all this range is worth considering, and while there are safe places to be in lower ranges this is a super fine place to be with emeral cuts and fancy cuts that are not as optomized as is the round brilliant... In an emerald cut this is a prime time place to be for perfect, for in this grade of clarity you see nothing but perfection, and in the step cuts and fancies this is a prime time perfect look.

VS Range (1-2)
Very Slightly Included to the first or second power. Now this is a range that I truly love and spend most of my time in when I can, for this area gives the appearant perfection that is all a person could want to the eye, and still gives size as it is more affordable than the above mentioned grades are... In the "VS1" you will see nothing at all in this grade, and in the "VS2" for rounds this is a great place to be, nothing will upset that mission for appearant perfection here... For the emerald cut lovers the "VS1" grade is fine, and most of the time is the "VS2" range but the placement of imperfections is critical in the step cuts so we will inspect this grade carefully in fancy cuts and make sure that they are fine...

SI Range (1-2)
Slightly Included to the first and second power. The SI range can be the salvation of the diamond shopper, if you pay attention to cut. The cut of the diamond is so important that to consider clarity without fully appreciating the geometry and the cut's impact on what you will "see" is to error seriously... In for example the AGS graded idealcuts the SI1 is a perfect place to go, but you emerald cut lovers will do well to avoid this grade in a step cut diamond for the reason that the slight imprefections that are associated with this grade are just a bit over most folks pain thresshold for clarity, since the brilliant cut diamond does such a finer job of light return and breaking up the light it "hides" clarity more than does fancy shapes by far... This is a wonderful place to be for the larger size diamond, and for that perfectly fine look to the eye...

SI Range (3)
Slightly Included to the third power. Ahem, this is a creative revision of the standard that allows a diamond which I feel would clearly be an "Imperfect grade" to creep into the "Slightly Included" sandpile, but you will do well with just pushing that back into the Imperfect range and smiling, because you can call a rose by any other name but it will still have the "thorns" associated with the Imperfect grades. I refrain from advocating this grade much, feeling that it does more to confuse than to help in the accurate grading and common sense understanding of diamond clarity.

Imperfect Range
In this range the inclussions are visible to the eye, and while this is a grade that has visual activity the fact is that you can find that larger finer cut diamond in this grade and have a wonderful effect and delightful result. The fact is that clarity is so dependant on the cut that this range gives one the rather unique chance to get that larger diamond that is everything they ever wanted, a massively beautiful diamond that is well cut in this grade is not a problem, it is rather a delight and while a compromise that goes into the visually active range this can be the place where the savy shopper and diamond lover can find that perfect diamond that is the center of attention...