{"id":25566,"date":"2018-09-14T09:25:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T13:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=25566"},"modified":"2023-04-17T11:32:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T15:32:27","slug":"the-search-for-i3-clarity-diamonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/the-search-for-i3-clarity-diamonds\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SEARCH FOR I3 CLARITY DIAMONDS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/div>\n

First off, what is I3 clarity<\/strong>, and where can you buy them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I3 Definition:<\/h2>\n

\nI3 is a clarity grade that has many, many inclusions<\/strong> (both internally and externally), that can easily be seen with the bare eye (no magnification<\/strong>, loupe or microscope needed).<\/p>\n

\nDiamonds like I3 have very little brilliance or sparkle<\/strong>. They are the lowest possible clarity grade on Earth.<\/p>\n

See the I clarity chart below:<\/h2>\n

\n\"I1<\/p>\n

\nAs you can see, the I clarity range is made up with 3 grades: I1, I2 and I3<\/strong>. I3 is the lowest, the bottom of the bucket<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So why would you buy them?<\/h2>\n

\nTo save money<\/strong>, of course. I3 clarity will be the cheapest clarity you can buy. You can literally save thousands of dollars<\/strong> by buying these stones.<\/p>\n

Are they worth it?<\/h2>\n

\nMaybe… Maybe not<\/strong>. It all depends on what you’re using the diamond for, and if you’re fine with the way the diamond looks.<\/p>\n

\nMost diamonds that are set into tennis bracelets, earrings and pendants<\/strong> are I clarity stones (meaning included<\/strong>). Usually these diamonds don’t get the scrutiny that an engagement ring would (people don’t grab your ear and yank it closer<\/strong>…) And in items where the diamonds are smaller, harder to see, I3 might be perfectly fine<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

So is price the only reason?<\/h2>\n

\nActually yes<\/strong>. I can’t think of any other reason to buy a diamond that’s filled with inclusions (especially eye-visible flaws<\/strong>). And with getting I3, you’re really getting the worst looking stones possible. Some will look dark<\/strong>, some will look like a chunk of crushed salt<\/strong>, others will have huge fractures or cracks<\/strong>… Some will even make you gasp!<\/strong> They’re eye-openers for sure.<\/p>\n

\nAnd because I3 is riddled with huge inclusions<\/strong>, these faults actually make the stone more brittle<\/strong>. It could crack in half or chip much easier than a diamond that’s cleaner inside. <\/p>\n

So is it still worth it?<\/h2>\n

\nLet’s see…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nOn a quest to find I3 clarity diamonds, I went to Blue Nile<\/a> and James Allen<\/a>… Only to find NONE!<\/strong> These big diamond dealers don’t sell that low of a quality<\/strong>. Blue Nile’s lowest clarity is SI2<\/strong>, and James Allen’s is I1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nI had to venture into mall stores<\/strong>, eBay <\/strong>and Amazon <\/strong>to find them.<\/p>\n

And this is what I got:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Where<\/p>\n

\n(And only that one person on eBay actually showed the REAL diamond<\/strong> (nice and dark). All the rest of the stores showed fake sample photos that in no way resemble the diamond you’d get<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

See them all here:<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n