Assignment 10 - Grading Clarity

Question 1

What factors influence a clarity characteristic’s impact on a clarity grade?

Answer 1

• Size
• Number
• Location
• Relief
• Nature

Question 2

What characteristics determine where a diamond falls in the GIA clarity grading system?

Answer 2

Flawless: No visible inclusions or blemishes

Internally Flawless: No visible inclusions (but some blemishes)

VVS: Minute inclusions (10x)
- VSS1: extremely difficult to see.
- VVS2: very difficult to see

VS: Minor inclusions (10x)
- VS1: difficult to see.
- VS2: somewhat difficult to see.

SI: Noticeable inclusions (10x)
- SI1: easy to see
- SI2: very easy to see.

I: Obvious inclusions (unaided eye)
- I1: Quite visible
- I2: Easily visible
- I3: Extremely easily visible

Question 3

Contrast between an inclusion and its host gem

Answer 3

Relief

Question 4

Inclusions or blemishes that establish the clarity grade of a diamond

Answer 4

Grade-setting characteristics

Question 5

What are some of the variables that affect a clarity grade?

Answer 5

Accurate clarity grading includes the consideration of the size and shape of the diamond in relation to its clarity characteristics.

Question 6

How do you match a diamond’s plot to its clarity characteristics?

Answer 6

By using the “wedge technique” (numbering system and step-by-step-procedure)

Question 7

Visible to the unaided eye, without magnification

Answer 7

Eye-visible

Question 8

A map o a diamond’s inclusions, blemishes, facet arrangements.

Answer 8

Plot

Question 9

How does the importance of clarity factors vary?

Answer 9

Sometimes one factor makes more difference than the others, but not always the same

Question 10

What are the basic stows for examining a stone ?

Answer 10

• clean diamond
• hold diamond girdle-to-girdle and examine face-up under 10x magnification
• hold diamond table-to-culet
• divide round brilliant in 8 wedges
• select marker characteristic to designate first section
• examine first section
• rotate stone and complete for each section
• hold diamond face-up and examine table
• examine clarity characteristics and assign clarity grade

Question 11

What is a clarity grade based on?

Answer 11

The largest or most visible characteristic.

Question 12

In which order do you list characteristics on the key to symbols?

Answer 12

In order of imporance, but treatments always first