Diamond Clarity: The Full Chart (FL to I3)
The full diamond clarity scale from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3), which grades are eye-clean, and why Varniya starts at VS1 and above.
Clarity grades how clean a diamond is inside. Almost every diamond has tiny natural marks: inclusions within and blemishes on the surface, formed as it grew. Clarity measures how many, how large, and how visible they are. What matters is whether they are visible to your naked eye, not under a microscope. An eye-clean diamond looks flawless.
The clarity scale
| Grade | Meaning | Eye-clean? |
|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | Yes, rarest and priciest |
| IF | Internally Flawless | Yes |
| VVS1 / VVS2 | Very very slight inclusions, need magnification | Yes |
| VS1 / VS2 | Very slight inclusions | Yes, the Varniya floor |
| SI1 / SI2 | Slight inclusions, sometimes eye-clean | Below our bar |
| I1 / I2 / I3 | Included, visible to the naked eye | No, we don't stock |
The Varniya standard: VS1 and above
In lab-grown diamonds, anything below VS1 simply doesn't make the cut. The saving isn't worth the compromise, so Varniya starts at VS1 and goes up: clarity you can see, and quality you can trust. Every stone is clean to the naked eye, with a clean table and inclusions that don't affect its brilliance.
What makes an inclusion matter
Not all inclusions are equal. Five things decide their impact: size, number, position (an inclusion under the table is far more visible than one near the edge), type (cavities or chips can affect durability), and colour (dark marks show more than pale ones). This is exactly what we check on every certificate's plot map before a diamond earns its place at Varniya.
Browse the collection, or talk to a Varniya expert - we'll help you choose with confidence.
Next: Diamond Carat. Back to Diamond Buying Guide.
