Clarity difference to the naked eye

[sarah95]

If an SI2 stone is totally eye clean, with white inclusions that are only visible under magnification, how can one tell the difference (by the naked eye) between an SI2 and a VVS1? Is this something only an expert can see or can a laymen see the difference too?

 

[snickerdoodle1]

I want to know this very same thing!!!

 

[denverboy]

to the average person, given a flawless diamond and a eye clean SI1 diamond (all else equal), I don''t think you could tell them apart. After you get below the "eye clean" barrier, inclusions are looked at under magnification and then you''ll see some that are large or small under magnification and that is what will affect the value.

 

[:)]

Date: 9/29/2008 8:27:15 PM
Author:sarah95
If an SI2 stone is totally eye clean, with white inclusions that are only visible under magnification, how can one tell the difference (by the naked eye) between an SI2 and a VVS1? Is this something only an expert can see or can a laymen see the difference too?

If it is eyeclean, and only visible under magnification, NO ONE will be able to tell that it isn''t a flawless clarity grade with their naked eye (could only tell if holding the stone and looking at it with a loupe!)

Hence the reason you will find many people on this board aiming for eyeclean to maximize their budget in color, cut, weight, etc.

Make sure you have the definition of ''eyeclean'' defined with the person who says it is eyeclean - some people mean eyeclean at absolutely any distance, to others eyeclean means from a distance of 18 inches away, etc - in those stones an expert (or even possibly a layman) could then see the flaw if closer than the defined eye clean range.

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 9/29/2008 8:27:15 PM
Author:sarah95
If an SI2 stone is totally eye clean, with white inclusions that are only visible under magnification, how can one tell the difference (by the naked eye) between an SI2 and a VVS1? Is this something only an expert can see or can a laymen see the difference too?

Most people can't tell the difference by the naked eye, and that's why SI2 represents a great value when it's eyeclean.

It's possible for non-experts to possibly see it, but it's not very prevalent. It really depends on the individual's eyesight, his/her sensitivity to clarity, and also on lighting conditions.

My friend and I both wear SI2 stones; mine is 1.24ct and hers is 2.28 ct. Neither of us can see the (white) inclusions in my stone without a loupe.

She's a HAWK-eye, though, and she can locate the inclusion in her stone in the right lighting conditions with her eye. I can't see the inclusion in her stone for the life of me; I'm not as sharp-visioned as she is on clarity. The inclusion in her stone doesn't bother her even when she does see it, so that's a plus. She's got insanely precise vision, to the point of noticing the difference between a ring made with 1.3mm instead of 1.5mm.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 9/29/2008 8:27:15 PM
Author:sarah95
If an SI2 stone is totally eye clean, with white inclusions that are only visible under magnification, how can one tell the difference (by the naked eye) between an SI2 and a VVS1? Is this something only an expert can see or can a laymen see the difference too?

If it is totally eye clean, then without a loupe the difference can not be told...

Wink

 

[Indira-London]

Date: 9/29/2008 11:43:28 PM
Author: Wink

Date: 9/29/2008 8:27:15 PM
Author:sarah95
If an SI2 stone is totally eye clean, with white inclusions that are only visible under magnification, how can one tell the difference (by the naked eye) between an SI2 and a VVS1? Is this something only an expert can see or can a laymen see the difference too?

If it is totally eye clean, then without a loupe the difference can not be told...

Wink

Toyally agree...I wear IF-VVS to VS to SI1 diamonds myself and no-one including me can tell the difference except with the x10 loupe!

The only exception would be by superman or any of his relatives that have x-ray or x10 vision...
Superman has yet to walk into my office though occassionally (ca. 1 person every 1-2 years) I get individuals with super-vision or ones who are super-sensitive to inclusions who can see some inclusions in some VS2/SIs but ONLY when they look closely...but this is very rare (the last such client was a photographer, another one was a micro-biologist...both professions where they scrutinise small details). On the other extreme, far more clients even struggle to locate the inclusions in SIs even with a x10 loupe.

 

[Sharon101]

Very interesting to know that once a diamond is eye clean.....its as good as IF to all who see it!!!!!

And to push this point further......a diamond may be considered IF at a set magnification. If you were to go further into the magnification there would no doubt be inclusions to be found!!!!! So to some extent with the higher levels of clarity, its to do with a given amount of magnification rather than human eyesight!!!!!

 

[Indira-London]

Date: 9/30/2008 8:59:50 AM
Author: Sharon101
Very interesting to know that once a diamond is eye clean.....its as good as IF to all who see it!!!!!

And to push this point further......a diamond may be considered IF at a set magnification. If you were to go further into the magnification there would no doubt be inclusions to be found!!!!! So to some extent with the higher levels of clarity, its to do with a given amount of magnification rather than human eyesight!!!!!

Very true! One of my doctor clients bought a VVS1 diamond and then made the mistake of viewing it under an electron microscope (magnified by a factor of 1000s or so) thereby shattering her impressions on her diamond''s clarity!

 

[stone-cold11]

HHAHA, she should know better. Nothing is smooth under those magnification.

 

[Fly Girl]

I''d like to inject a note of caution here. Eyeclean to the industry means from the top down view. There are many customers who like to look at their diamonds from the side. It is possible for inclusions to not be visible from the top view, but to have them be readily apparent from the side. I recently looked at a Crafted by Infinity SI2, comparing it to a VS1 of the same size. While I couldn''t necessarily see the inclusions themselves, the many additional flashes of light return from the side view gave this diamond away.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

You are right, Flygirl, that the definition of ''eye-clean'' generally refers to a top-down-view. Generally, inclusions are easier to spot through the pavilion, whereas the brightness makes them difficult to see in the normal viewing position.

Funny that you mention that comparison between one of our SI2''s with a VS1. I was just inspecting one of our I1''s the other day, which had a feather in the pavilion. Top-down, because of the direction of the feather, it was an eye-clean stone, of which the inclusion would not bother you even when looking with a loupe. Through the pavilion however, the feather showed a full spectrum of colours, which immediately gives it away. I suppose that you were looking at a stone with a similar inclusion.

Live long,