Assignment 9 - Finding and Identifying Clarity Characteristics Flashcards
Internal or external feature of a gemstone that helps determine its quality and establish its identity
Clarity characteristic
What makes clarity characteristics important?
Clarity characteristics determine a stone’s clarity grate, help set its value, and help identify it.
What part of the examination most influences a clarity grade?
Your first impression of a diamond’s face-up appearance should strongly influence its clarity grade.
Clarity characteristic totally enclosed in a polished gemstone or extending into it from the surface
Inclusion
Clarity characteristic that’s confined to the surface of a polished gemstone
Blemish
A position that orients a gemstone’s crown facets and table toward the viewer
face-up
Lighting a diamond from the side against a black, non-reflective background.
Darkfield illumination
Lighting a diamond from below to create a bright background
Brightfield illumination
What tools are used for clarity grading?
Loupe or Microscope
The distance that’s clear and sharp above and below a point you focus on with a magnifier
Depth of field
What are the 4 most common internal inclusions?
- Crystal (Xtl)
- Needle (Ndl)
- Pinpoint (Pp)
- Cloud (Cld)
What are the 9 most common surface reaching inclusions?
- Feather (Ftr)
- Etch Channel (EC)
- Bearded Girdle (BG)
- Bruise (br)
- Knot (K)
- Patch of Color (Patch)
- Chip (Ch)
- Cavity (Cav)
- Indented Natural (IN)
What are some rare clarity characteristics?
Inclusions that look like animals etc.
What are the 3 most common blemishes caused by wear?
- Nick (Nck)
- Abrasion (Abr)
- Scratch (Scr)
What are the 8 most common blemishes from cutting?
- Extra Facet (EF)
- Polish Mark
- Lizard Skin (LS)
- Polish Lines (PL)
- Burn (Brn)
- Dop Burn (Dop)
- Rough girdle (RG)
- Pit (Pit)
