No two diamonds are alike. A diamond’s most distinguishing characteristics are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to the naked eye. However, under a jeweler’s magnifying loupe or microscope they can look like crystals, tiny rivers, or clouds. A diamond’s clarity is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions–fewer inclusions mean better clarity–and how visible they are. The greater a diamond’s clarity, the greater its brilliance and value. A diamond categorized as internally flawless will have no inclusions, but this is extremely rare.
