INTERNATIONAL CLARITY TERMS
GIA’s clarity terms are known worldwide. They are the common language that unites the world’s diamond professionals. However, you might hear some other clarity terms from time to time. Loupe clean is one; it indicates a diamond that might have surface blemishes, but shows no inclusions at 10X magnification. Its companion on the opposite end of the scale is pique’ (pee-KAY), a general term for included stones. Piquès are usually subdivided according to the prominence or severity of the inclusions.
The terms used by diamond professionals originally included variations on the word “imperfect,” as in very very slightly imperfect, very slightly imperfect, slightly imperfect, and imperfect. In recent years, the term imperfect was replaced by the word included.
These terms were shortened to the initials VVS, VS, SI, and I. The abbreviations eventually gained acceptance throughout the international diamond community. Their use is now widespread regardless of how the words they stand for translate into various languages. Very may translate to très in French, but in France a very slightly included diamond is still a VS. Even a country with a completely different alphabet – like Russia – uses the same abbreviations. |
