Clarity is graded at 10x magnification. The grade is a useful comparison point, but the size, location and visibility of a feature matter more when you're choosing a diamond.
Diamond clarity chart
| Grade | Name | What a grader sees at 10x | Offered by Axiom |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | No inclusions or blemishes | Yes |
| IF | Internally Flawless | No inclusions. Minor surface blemishes only. | Yes |
| VVS1 | Very, Very Slightly Included 1 | Features extremely difficult to find | Yes |
| VVS2 | Very, Very Slightly Included 2 | Features very difficult to find | Yes |
| VS1 | Very Slightly Included 1 | Minor features, difficult to see | Yes |
| VS2 | Very Slightly Included 2 | Minor features, somewhat easier to see | Yes |
| SI1 | Slightly Included 1 | Noticeable features | No |
| SI2 | Slightly Included 2 | Noticeable features, sometimes visible without magnification | No |
| I1, I2, I3 | Included | Obvious features that can affect appearance or durability | No |
How clarity is graded
A lab examines the diamond at 10x magnification under controlled lighting. It looks for inclusions, which are features inside the stone, and blemishes, which are on the surface. Crystals, feathers, clouds, pinpoints and needles are common inclusions. Nicks, scratches and polish lines are common blemishes.
The grade depends on five things: how many features there are, how big they are, where they sit, what kind they are, and how easy they are to see.
Clarity isn't sparkle. That comes from cut. Two diamonds with the same clarity grade can look different, so check the report and the video, not just the letters.
FL and IF
FL (Flawless) means a skilled grader sees no inclusions and no blemishes at 10x. IF (Internally Flawless) means no inclusions, though there may be minor surface blemishes.
These are the rarest grades. They don't mean a diamond can't chip, and they don't mean it'll look brighter than a VS2. Depending on the inclusion pattern, an FL and a VS2 can look the same at normal viewing distance. What you're paying for at the top of the scale is rarity and the paperwork.
VVS1 and VVS2
VVS stands for Very, Very Slightly Included. Features are very hard for a trained grader to find even at 10x. VVS1 features are harder to find than VVS2.
A heads-up on photos: magnified diamond video can show details you'd never notice on a hand. If a VVS stone looks a little busy in a 40x video, that's the magnification talking.
VS1 and VS2
VS stands for Very Slightly Included. Features are minor at 10x. VS1 features are generally harder to see than VS2, but where they sit and how much contrast they have varies from stone to stone.
For most brilliant-cut diamonds (round, oval, cushion, radiant, pear, marquise, princess), VS1 and VS2 show nothing to the eye in almost every case. At Axiom, VS and VVS stones are priced close together, so moving up to VVS costs less than you might expect. The real price jump comes at IF and FL. Those stones cost more to source, and the jump is bigger at whole carat sizes like 1.00 and 2.00, where they're rarest. Axiom keeps the same margin on them as on everything else, so the higher price is just the higher cost passed through.
Not every VS stone is automatically eye-clean, though. Look at the report, the video and the shape together.
SI and I grades
SI (Slightly Included) and I (Included) diamonds have features that are easier to see at 10x, and in the lower SI and I grades, often without magnification. Some can affect durability if a feather reaches the surface.
These grades are part of the standard scale, but Axiom doesn't offer them. Every Axiom diamond is VS2 or higher.
What "eye-clean" means
"Eye-clean" means you can't see any inclusions without magnification from a normal viewing distance, about 6 to 12 inches. It's not a lab grade. It's a practical description, and it's the one that matters once a diamond is on a hand.
Whether a stone is eye-clean depends on the grade, the shape, the size of the stone (features are easier to spot in larger diamonds) and where the inclusion sits. One near the edge, or under where a prong will go, is far less of a concern than one in the center of the table.
How shape changes what you see
Brilliant cuts (round, oval, cushion, radiant, princess, pear, marquise) have lots of small facets that scatter light and help hide small inclusions.
Step cuts (emerald, Asscher) have long, open facets that work like windows. Inclusions are easier to see. If you want an emerald cut, lean toward VS1 or higher and watch the video closely.
A clarity checklist
- Check the exact grade on the report for the stone you're considering.
- Look at where inclusions sit, especially near the center or at points and corners.
- Compare stones of the same shape and similar size.
- Keep in mind that lighting, magnification and screen settings change how video looks.
- Ask whether anything would be visible at arm's length, not just whether the grade sounds good.
A note on our calculator: to keep estimates simple, it groups FL with IF, VVS1 with VVS2 and VS1 with VS2. The exact grade of every available diamond is on its IGI report.