{"id":9417,"date":"2019-10-24T07:00:04","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=9417"},"modified":"2019-10-24T09:50:21","modified_gmt":"2019-10-24T13:50:21","slug":"which-diamond-clarity-is-si-clarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/which-diamond-clarity-is-si-clarity\/","title":{"rendered":"WHICH DIAMOND CLARITY IS SI CLARITY?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Which<\/div>\n

Which clarity is SI clarity?<\/h2>\n

You ask the jeweler what the clarity of a diamond is. He tells you “SI clarity<\/strong>“… <\/p>\n

You smile and nod.<\/h2>\n

\nSI is a good clarity, right?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is where it gets tricky…<\/p>\n

\nFor SI could be good<\/strong> or not-so-good<\/strong> depending on which diamond clarity “SI<\/strong>” is.<\/p>\n

You see, some jewelers like to simplify and lump all of the SI’s together<\/strong> and say “SI<\/strong>“. But that isn’t very truthful… <\/p>\n

\nThere is more than one SI clarity diamond.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SI clarity is a range.<\/h2>\n

The SI clarity range is a couple of different clarity grades: SI1<\/strong> and SI2<\/strong> (and sometimes even SI3<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

The 1<\/strong> and 2<\/strong> are the important numbers (actually called level 1 and level 2) SI1 is better than SI2 <\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nLet’s take a closer Look at the meanings…<\/p>\n

SI1 clarity:<\/h2>\n

\nSI1 means Slightly Included<\/strong>. It has small inclusions and flaws that are only<\/strong> microscopic. They are not<\/strong> seen with the bare eye (unless you have a bionic eye<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

To see the inclusions in an SI1 diamond (like these SI1 clarity diamonds here<\/a>) you’ll need a 10x (ten powered<\/strong>) microscope<\/a> or a 10x jeweler’s loupe<\/a>. Under magnification like this, the inclusions and flaws should be easy to spot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

SI2 clarity:<\/h2>\n

SI2 is one step below SI1 clarity.<\/p>\n

\nSI2 has bigger flaws and inclusions<\/strong> in the stone that are almost<\/strong> invisible to the eye. From the top view (looking straight down into the diamond), the diamond will appear clean<\/strong> and you won’t normally see flaws<\/strong>. But, from a side view you’ll be able to spot them (sometimes<\/strong>, all stones are different).<\/p>\n

Viewing from the side may show you black carbon spots, lines, cracks, clouds… Things that were frozen in the diamond when the diamond was created a billion years ago.<\/p>\n

SI2 clarity (like these SI2 diamonds here<\/a>) is the in-between clarity grade<\/strong> that separates hidden inclusions (SI1 or higher) from visible inclusions (Included diamonds<\/strong>), which is I1 clarity<\/strong> or lower.<\/p>\n

This is why SI2 clarity is the questionable clarity<\/strong>. You may see inclusions depending on what angle you’re viewing the stone at.<\/p>\n

Granted, some people can look at SI2’s and never spot the flaws. Some inclusions are easier to see than others. Some hide better. Every diamond should be scrutinized and judged independently.<\/p>\n

And then there is one more SI clarity stone…<\/p>\n

SI3 clarity:<\/h2>\n

\nRight off the bat I’ll tell you this:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSI3 clarity is not recognized by GIA<\/strong> (GIA wrote the book on diamond grading: the 4C’s<\/a>).<\/p>\n

GIA<\/a> grades SI3 clarity diamonds<\/a> as being I1 clarity diamonds instead. <\/p>\n

There is no SI3!<\/h2>\n

\nThe diamond is either an SI2 diamond or an I1 diamond. Not something in between<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I can totally understand SI3 clarity though… I have seen some I1 clarity diamonds that really do face up so well that they could pass for an SI2 stone<\/strong> (I’ve highlighted many on this website). Some diamonds are borderline<\/strong> and it all comes down to opinion<\/strong>. There is no right or wrong. But there is no SI3!<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you can see any inclusions from the top down view<\/strong>, no matter what the color of the inclusion is (white or black), then that diamond will be<\/strong> an I clarity diamond.<\/p>\n

SI3 clarity is just a name to make the diamonds sound better than they really are.<\/p>\n

SI3 is what some may call it… But it’s really an I1 clarity stone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Don’t be fooled.<\/h2>\n

If a jeweler is calling the clarity of a diamond simply by the title of “SI clarity<\/strong>“, then…<\/p>\n

DON’T BUY IT!<\/h2>\n

\nAsk the jeweler “Which SI clarity? Is it SI1, SI2 or SI3?<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

There is a big difference in looks and a big difference in price<\/strong>. Check out these price differences below between an SI1, SI2, and an I1 clarity (SI3) diamond…<\/p>\n

Compare prices:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
CARAT WEIGHT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT, CERTIFIED<\/strong><\/td>\nPRICE<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.00, SI1, G, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,770<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.00, SI2, G, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$3,390<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.00, I1, G, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$2,260<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\nP.S.<\/strong> Viewing all those diamonds and seeing the differences in inclusions and flaws is pretty breathtaking<\/strong> (not to mention the difference in price<\/strong>).
\nPrices obtained through James Allen<\/a> (the lowest diamond prices around).<\/p>\n

Any jeweler that says “SI clarity<\/strong>” without telling you the 1, 2, or 3 (some jewelers carry SI3, others don’t, or won’t), should be telling you one thing loud and clear: It’s the lower clarity grade.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why do I say that?<\/h2>\n

\nBecause if the diamond was an SI1 clarity (the highest of the bunch), then they would be sure<\/strong> to tell you. The only reason not<\/strong> to tell you, is if it’s the lower clarity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

An SI1 clarity diamond will almost always be called an SI1 clarity diamond<\/strong> (and as you saw, the price differences were extreme). An SI2 or SI3 clarity diamond will just be given the name “SI clarity<\/strong>“. <\/p>\n

\nSo if they don’t tell you 1, 2 or 3… Just assume it’s SI2 or worse (and that’s what you should be comparing).<\/p>\n

\nAnd also don’t buy it<\/strong>… unless that’s what you wanted; an SI2 or lower.<\/p>\n

Don’t let “SI clarity” fool you.<\/p>\n

I clarity:<\/h2>\n

\nThe same holds true for I clarity. I clarity is made up of 3 grades<\/strong>: I1, I2 and I3. If the jewelry store tells you “I clarity<\/strong>“, it’s probably the bottom of the bucket, which is I2 or I3.<\/p>\n

VVS and VS:<\/h2>\n

Likewise with VVS clarity and VS clarity diamonds<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\nThere are VVS1, VVS2 and VS1, VS2. They all have numbers attached to them. If they lump it together as just “VS clarity<\/strong>” or “VVS Clarity<\/strong>” always assume it’s the lowest grade.<\/p>\n

\n1, 2, and 3 really do make a difference.<\/p>\n

So, what’s your number?<\/h2>\n

\nSee more great SI1+ certified diamonds here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\nCheers! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which clarity is SI clarity? You ask the jeweler what the clarity of a diamond is. He tells you “SI clarity“… You smile and nod. SI is a good clarity, right? This is where it [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,7,29,3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-certification","category-clarity","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds","category-engagement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9417"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}