Coloured Stone - Clarity

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions (material that is trapped inside) and blemishes within a gemstone. While some inclusions can add to a stone's beauty or uniqueness, too many can lower its value and impact the overall appearance and durability of the stone.

The grading standards and acceptance of inclusions vary among different gemstone types. For example, emeralds are known for having a high level of inclusions, while the best quality rubies and sapphires are expected to have high clarity and minimal inclusions.

The clarity grading system for coloured gemstones also takes into account the colour of the stone, since inclusions can impact the way light interacts with the gemstone and affect its colour saturation and vibrancy. For example, a small inclusion in a red ruby may be more visible and impactful than the same inclusion in a blue sapphire.

In addition, the clarity grade of coloured gemstones is often described in more qualitative terms, such as "eye-clean" (no visible inclusions to the naked eye), "lightly included," or "heavily included," rather than the specific numerical grades used for diamonds (such as VS1 or SI2).

GIA Gem Clarity Types

A gem's clarity code won't always tell you the complete story. You also need to know its clarity type. Some gem species typically contain many noticeable inclusions, while others have very few inclusions. This varies due to the many ways gemstones form underground. The GIA has divided colored gemstones into three categories or types: I, II, and III.

The following table divides some popular colored gemstones into these clarity types.