January 28th 2022
Flawless Diamonds: Is FL Clarity Worth It?
By Bradley Gelbwaks
We’ve all heard about Flawless diamonds. Flawless is synonymous with perfection and is the pinnacle of diamond clarity. But what exactly is a flawless diamond? We’re going to explore what clarity is, what a Flawless diamond is, and what makes them so special so you can determine for yourself if a Flawless diamond is right for you.
What is Clarity?
Diamond clarity is a measure of how many imperfections exist within a diamond or on the diamond's surface. These imperfections, called inclusions and blemishes, can range from minor to serious depending on their size, type, and location. For a more in depth analysis, check out our What To Know About Diamond Clarity? blog post.
Can you tell which of the diamonds below is the most included?
Click on each diamond for more details and videos
What is a Flawless diamond?
When it comes to diamonds, Flawless is the highest clarity grade there is. It means that a diamond has no internal inclusions or external blemishes visible to an experienced grader at 10x magnification. In other words, it is without flaws. You can find it on the top of the GIA’s Clarity Grading Scale, right above Internally Flawless. You can read more about those here.
Why are Flawless diamonds so special?
Diamonds form over millions of years in extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth, so it is no surprise that most diamonds are filled with all sorts of internal inclusions. It is extremely unlikely that after all that time, all that heat and all that pressure during formation, that a diamond is in pristine condition. More likely, the diamond is riddled with all sorts of internal and external imperfections known as Clarity Characteristics. As the name would suggest, these characteristics define the diamonds Clarity grade.
Most diamonds that come out of the ground are not even of gem quality. 70 percent of all diamonds from the Earth are NOT gem quality. Only 30 percent of diamonds are in good enough condition for the GIA to consider gem quality. After the diamond rough is cut and polished into one of the beautiful shapes we all know and love, less than 1% are graded for clarity as Flawless.
There is certainly an allure to Flawless diamonds. They are appealing to collectors because of their rarity and perfection. Big beautiful flawless diamonds are truly a remarkable display of what mother nature and a master diamond cutter can create together. To many people, the perfect diamond reflects how they feel about their loved one when giving it as a gift or during a proposal. When it comes to clarity, they are the best of the best.
Is a Flawless Diamond worth buying?
You’ll have to make that decision for yourself, but I do have some insight.
If you are considering a FL diamond for you or your partner’s engagement ring, there are some things to be aware of.
FL diamonds command a premium for obvious reasons. If getting a completely inclusion free diamond is important to you, expect to pay more. Also, the price premium comes with that peace of mind but to the naked eye there is no visual difference between an truly eye clean diamond of a lower grade and a Flawless diamond.
Eye clean F VS1 diamond and F Flawless diamond
Chances are that once a FL diamond is set and worn, it falls into the IF category. Although diamonds are the hardest gemstones, they are not immune to cracks, chips, scratches, and scuffs. All of which would take a diamond from Flawless to Internally Flawless. This is why many collectors keep their Flawless diamonds tucked away in a safe. Although marginally, the value of the diamond decreases going down from FL to IF.
It’s time for you to determine what is right for you. If you can’t decide or have some questions, I’m over there in that chat box in the bottom right corner. Feel free to reach out, I’d love to chat with you.
