what does eye clean exactly mean?

[haagen_dazs]

i keep reading about people''s desire for an eye clean diamond
i am sure it means not being able to see a flaw with one''s eye (and not under any magnification)

so at which grade does eye clean become a 100% certainty?
is VVS and VS always considered eye clean since it takes a 10x loupe to see the flaw?

can a IF or VVS or even VS be NOT eye clean? if so under what circumstances?

Since I and SI are kind of filled with flaws, do most diamonds rated I and SI have a very high chance of it being non-eyeclean?

thanks for explain this to me.

 

[kenny]

VS2 is almost always eye clean to almost all people, but I think I have read here that some eagle-eyed people have reported that they can spot certain inclusions with the naked eye in certain VS diamonds especially after they know exactly where the inclusion is located, especially in larger emerald or asscher cuts.

100% certainty is a very very high standard but I'd guess there has never been a GIA/AGS VVS2 in which a single person could spot an inclusion in with the naked eye - though I'd love to hear that I'm wrong about this.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

We are working on a major answer to this vexed question.
expect a detailed reply any day now

 

[4ever]

You may find This thread about the definitions of eye clean useful.

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably, but clarity grading is done only face up, so a stone of VVS/VS grade might still have visible inclusions from the side, bottom.

There are actually quite a large proportion of SI1 stones that are eye-clean so just ask the vendor if you are interested in a stone.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

here is an example of face up eye clean and side view not

 

[FB.]

There''s never a 100% guarantee that any clarity grade will be eye clean, since diamonds are graded by humans and we all make mistakes from time to time. With that statement, I''m also assuming that very occasionally, a diamond could be given completely the wrong grading report, or have some kind of typing error on the report.

But assuming that the lab has reported the grade correctly, I''d say that VS1 or above guarantees that it''s eye clean - when mounted - at all viewing distances and lighting conditions.

VS2 is almost always eye clean, unless there''s a cluster of dark inclusions (black crystals) under the table, since they will appear as one large inclusion to the naked eye at extremely close distances of about six inches. But you would need an eagle-eye to see them, even at six inches. I can only see such inclusions in perfect lighting and - being a scientist - I have an eye for detail.
Almost everyone else would struggle to ever see VS2 inclusions, even when they''re clustered under the table.

SI grades are borderline eye clean - some will be eye clean and some won''t. At close distances, you may see the inclusions, but it depends on their size, location and colour. It''s a stone-by-stone judgement in the SI grade. Too many clouds can impair light transmission in SI''s that are "eye clean".