Diamond clarity is a quality of
diamonds relating to the existence and visual appearance of internal characteristics of a diamond called
inclusions, and surface defects called
blemishes. Clarity is one of the
four Cs of diamond grading, the others being
carat,
color, and
cut. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that can appear whitish or cloudy. The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. A clarity grade is assigned based on the overall appearance of the stone under ten times magnification.