HOW TO CHOOSE AN I QUALITY DIAMOND

Let’s clear one thing up…

I clarity means included!

Included means; eye-visible inclusions.

All I clarity diamonds have flaws visible to the bare eye. You can see them just by looking at the stone (without using a microscope or a 10x jeweler’s loupe.

This is true for all I clarity diamonds; I1, I2, I3. I1 is the best of the bunch, but the flaws are visible, and will be visible for life (unless they fall to the outside of the stone where you can cover them up with a prong or the mounting).

Compare I quality diamonds to all of the other diamond qualities:

So cracks, black carbon spots, feathers, clouds, are all pretty much expected and normal. That’s what you’re paying for (if you want to avoid this, buy SI1 quality instead).

There is nothing wrong with these types of flaws, as long as the diamond is still strong and still beautiful. For you can get some really great deals buying I quality stones.

I would suggest sticking with I1 at the least though, for I2 and I3 can get pretty dull, dark, and not as durable; this is due to the massive amount of flaws inside the stone that break up the diamond’s integrity.

Many I clarity diamonds face up fine. Many of these visible flaws fall under the crown facets, or deep in the pavilion where they aren’t so noticeable. It’s when they fall dead center and under the table that they stand out like a sore thumb.

But no matter which I quality stone you purchase, they must be purchased under 1 condition:

BY SIGHT!

Meaning, don’t buy it sight-unseen. Don’t buy it for the cheap price. Don’t buy it because it comes with a neat little certificate. Buy it only after you personally inspect the stone.

You must see it!

You have to look at the diamond under magnification, with your own eyes, from all sides.

I quality diamonds will all look different (even diamonds with the exact same specification).

Compare these I quality diamonds below:

Some of these stones look much better then the others. Just like people, they are all different. And this can only be determined if you see and compare many stones side by side.

Like the 3 diamonds below; all I1 clarity, all H color, all very different in appearance:

This is also why I advise buying from James Allen. James Allen has tons of I quality (and every quality) diamond to choose from. You can really get super picky about which diamond to purchase. You can find the best looking stone, for the best price, and have it set into the mounting of your dreams (I advise pave mountings or halo mountings).

I Quality Diamond Pro Tips:

There are a couple of other things that can help you choose the ultimate diamond:

• Whiter diamonds face up brighter (like D, E, F, G, H)
• Excellent cut diamonds, or True Hearts cut diamonds will sparkle more and hide flaws better.
• White inclusions look better then black. They will blend in with the stone better. While black flaws, carbon, stands out and says look at me.
• Bigger diamonds will actually show the flaws much easier then smaller stones (so bigger isn’t always better).

Head on over to James Allen and take a peek at these recommended I quality diamonds here.

Cheers! :)