Updated 10 October 2026
A diamond clarity chart grades a diamond by its inclusions, the tiny traces left as it formed, from FL, flawless, down to I3, included. GIA's scale has 11 grades in six groups, judged by a skilled grader at ten times magnification. Every Nivara diamond is VVS clarity, the group just below flawless and internally flawless.
What diamond clarity means
Clarity measures how free a diamond is from inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions sit inside the stone: pinpoint crystals, fine feathers, faint clouds. Blemishes sit on the surface, such as a small scratch or nick. Mined diamonds hold traces of how they formed in the earth, and lab grown diamonds hold traces of how they grew. IGI, which certifies every Nivara diamond, grades lab grown diamonds on the same clarity scale as mined ones.
The diamond clarity chart, FL to I3
| Grade | Name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | No inclusions and no blemishes visible to a skilled grader at 10x. |
| IF | Internally flawless | No inclusions at 10x, only tiny blemishes on the surface. |
| VVS1 | Very, very slightly included | Inclusions so slight a skilled grader struggles to find them at 10x. The cleaner of the two VVS grades. |
| VVS2 | Very, very slightly included | Inclusions so slight a skilled grader struggles to find them at 10x, a touch easier to find than in the grade above. |
| VS1 | Very slightly included | Minor inclusions, difficult for a skilled grader to see at 10x. |
| VS2 | Very slightly included | Minor inclusions, somewhat easy to see at 10x. |
| SI1 | Slightly included | Inclusions noticeable to a skilled grader at 10x. |
| SI2 | Slightly included | Inclusions noticeable at 10x, more so than in the grade above. |
| I1, I2, I3 | Included | Inclusions obvious at 10x that may affect transparency and brilliance, rising from I1 to I3. |
In every pair, the grade marked 1 is the cleaner of the two.
How diamond clarity is graded
A skilled grader examines the diamond at ten times magnification, the industry standard, through a loupe or microscope, turning it to see it from every angle. GIA weighs five things for each characteristic: its size, how many there are, where it sits, what kind it is, and its colour or relief, meaning how much it stands out from the diamond around it. Position can decide the grade. An inclusion directly under the table, the large flat facet on top, counts for more than the same inclusion tucked off to the side.
The result is recorded on an independent report. Our guide to reading an IGI certificate shows where to find the clarity grade and how to verify the report online.
VVS1 vs VVS2: what separates them
Both grades mean very, very slightly included: inclusions so small that a skilled grader has difficulty finding them at ten times magnification. VVS1 is a touch cleaner than VVS2. The difference lives under the loupe, in the size, number and position of a few pinpoints. To the eye, both look clean, in any light. Our guide to VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds goes into the detail.
Where clarity shows most
Two things make inclusions easier to see: size and shape. In a larger diamond, every characteristic is larger too. Step cuts such as emerald and asscher have long, open facets that act like a window into the stone, while the many facets of a round brilliant break light into sparkle that hides more.
Clarity does not create sparkle; cut does. Inclusions dull a diamond only when they are large enough to affect transparency and brilliance, which is where the included grades sit. That is why every Nivara diamond is ideal cut as well as VVS clarity: the cut makes it bright, and the clarity keeps it clean at any size and in any shape.
Why every Nivara diamond is VVS clarity
There is one standard at Nivara and every diamond meets it: VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut and IGI certification, from a pair of small studs to a 2 carat solitaire. There is no lower tier. A single standard means a 0.3 carat emerald cut is held to the same clarity as a 2 carat oval, and every diamond is ₹50,000 per carat, with the gold and setting added, the same for everyone. The price guide shows how a piece adds up.
Comparing jewellers? Ask whether every piece carries the same clarity grade, or whether the grade drops as the price does. Our guide to the best lab grown diamonds in India sets out that question and the others worth asking any brand.
VVS clarity solitaires, from step cut to brilliant
An emerald cut shows clarity most plainly; a round brilliant hides the most. Each of these holds a VVS E diamond. Prices are for 14k gold and move with the gold rate.
Amara emerald cut solitaire, from around ₹39,000. A 0.3 carat emerald cut diamond in four prongs on a slim white gold band.
Amora radiant solitaire, from around ₹49,000. A 0.5 carat radiant cut diamond in four prongs on a slim yellow gold band.
Amora cushion solitaire, from around ₹49,000. A 0.5 carat cushion cut diamond in four prongs on a slim yellow gold band.
Amora round solitaire, from around ₹1,39,000. A round brilliant diamond in four prongs on a yellow gold band with beaded edges and a small diamond set in its side, 1.6 carat in all.
See all solitaires and lab grown diamond engagement rings.
What comes with every piece
- One diamond standard, whatever the budget: VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut.
- IGI certification, and on solitaires the report number laser inscribed on the stone, so the paper and the diamond are one.
- 14k or 18k BIS hallmarked gold.
- A lifetime exchange at 100% of the current gold and diamond value, and a lifetime buyback at 100% gold and 85% diamond value.
- Lifetime polishing, cleaning and prong tightening, for as long as the piece is worn.
See VVS clarity for yourself
Clarity is easiest to understand with a diamond in front of you, in daylight, on your own hand. Book a private viewing at our showrooms in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore or Ahmedabad. Anywhere else in India or abroad, book a video consultation; we ship to 28 countries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest clarity grade for a diamond?
Flawless, written FL, is the highest grade: a skilled grader finds no inclusions and no blemishes at ten times magnification. Internally flawless comes next, then VVS1 and VVS2. Every Nivara diamond is VVS clarity, with inclusions invisible to the eye.
What is the difference between VVS1 and VVS2?
Both mean very, very slightly included: the inclusions are so small that a skilled grader struggles to find them at ten times magnification. VVS1 is a touch cleaner than VVS2. The difference shows only under magnification; to the eye, both look clean.
How many diamond clarity grades are there?
GIA's scale has 11 grades in six groups: flawless, internally flawless, two very, very slightly included grades, two very slightly included, two slightly included and three included, written I1, I2 and I3.
Do lab grown diamonds have clarity grades?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds carry tiny traces of how they grew, just as mined diamonds carry traces of how they formed, and IGI grades them on the same clarity scale. Every Nivara piece is IGI certified, and the report states the clarity grade along with colour, cut and carat weight.
Where in a diamond does an inclusion matter most?
Position matters as much as size. GIA notes that an inclusion directly under the table, the large flat facet on top, affects the grade more than the same inclusion off to the side. Step cuts such as emerald and asscher show inclusions more readily than brilliant cuts, and larger diamonds show them more than small ones.
