Color Stone Clarity Grading
The colored stone clarity grades are not internationally standardized. Nowadays we rather find several different clarity grading scales, each developed by their own gemological schools or labs like GIA, AIGS, AGL, etc.
In generally grading should be done with the unaided eye, but a magnifying glass (10x) can be helpful to detect minor inclusions but the final grade should be solely based on the naked-eye judgment.
For the clarity grading Crystal-Treasure is using the GIA clarity grade scale “Type 2” and the AIGS clarity grade definitions.
The table below shows the two different grading systems (GIA, AIGS), each grade should be relatively compared to each other.
GIA
Color Stone Clarity Grading Type II |
AIGS
Color Stone Clarity Grading |
VVS Very, Very Slightly Included
(The best) minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see using 10X, but still not visible to the naked eye. |
CI Clean
In the face-up position, no inclusions are visible to the naked eye. No surface imperfections, such as scratches or pits, are visible. |
VS Very Slightly Included
Noticeable inclusions that are easier to
see using 10X, and may be slightly visible to the naked eye. |
LI1 Lightly Included 1
In the face-up position, minute
inclusions and/ or surface imperfections are visible
to the naked eye, but are very
difficult to see and have no significant effect upon the
stone's transparency or overall appearance. |
LI2 Lightly Included 2
Inclusions are visible to the eye, but are difficult to see and have no significant effect on the transparency or overall appearance of the stone. |
SI1 Slightly Included 1
The inclusions are easily seen using 10X and are
large or numerous, and are noticeable with the naked eye |
MI1 Moderately Included 1
In the face-up position, inclusions are easily visible to the naked eye, but have only aminor effect upon transparency and/ or appearance. |
SI2 Slightly Included 2
The inclusions are easily seen using 10X and are large or numerous, and are very noticeable with the naked eye. |
MI2 Moderately Included 2
Inclusions are very easily visible to the naked eye, but have only a minor effect upon transparency and/or appearance. |
I1 Included 1
The inclusions are very obvious and they have a moderate negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone. |
VI1 Visibly Included 1
In the face-up position, inclusions are very easily visible to the naked eye and, have an effect on the transparency and appearance of the stone. |
I2 Included 2
The inclusions are very obvious and they have a severe negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone. |
VI2 Visibly Included 2
Inclusions are extremely visible to the naked eye. They have a distinct effect on the transparency and appearance of the stone. |
I3 Included 3
The inclusions are very obvious and they have a severe negative effect on both the over-all appearance and durability of
the gemstone. |
H1 Heavily Included 1
In the face-up position, inclusions are extremely visible to the naked eye, having a significant effect on the stone's transparency and appearance. |
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