Diamond Clarity Chart & Color Scale: Diamond Grading Scale

The 4Cs at a glance

Diamond Grading Scale Chart

GIA developed the 4Cs and its grading scales in the 1950s as a universal way to describe diamond quality, and most labs and jewelers use the same terms today. Each C is graded separately, and together they describe a diamond's quality and value.

The diamond grading scales (GIA)
C	Scale, best to lowest	What it measures
Clarity	FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3	Inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external), judged under 10x magnification.
Color	D to Z (23 grades): colorless D–F, near colorless G–J, faint K–M, very light N–R, light S–Z	The absence of color, compared against masterstones under controlled lighting.
Cut	Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor	How well a standard round brilliant's proportions, polish and symmetry return light as brightness, fire and scintillation.
Carat	Carats, measured to the hundredth (one point)	Weight, not size: 1 carat = 0.2 grams = 100 points.

Interactive

Diamond Grading Explorer

Pick any clarity, color or cut grade to see what it means, or combine all four Cs to see how a diamond's grades trade off against each other, including how GIA would assess a lab-grown diamond with the same grades.

Illustrative 10x clarity plot, not a photograph. Real inclusions vary in type, size and position.

VS2

Very Slightly Included 2

Minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see at 10x magnification.

11 grades, best to worst

Diamond Clarity Chart

The diamond clarity scale from best to worst, using GIA's definitions. Clarity describes how few inclusions and blemishes a diamond has; each plot below is an illustration of a typical pattern at 10x magnification, not a photograph of a real stone. For photographs of real diamonds at each grade, see real clarity examples.

Flawless FLInternally flawless IFVery, very slightly included VVS1–VVS2Very slightly included VS1–VS2Slightly included SI1–SI2Included I1–I3

FLFlawless
No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
Nothing to see, with or without a loupe.
IFInternally Flawless
No inclusions and only insignificant blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
Nothing visible to the unaided eye.
VVS1Very, Very Slightly Included 1
Minute inclusions that are extremely difficult to see under 10x magnification.
Not visible to the unaided eye.
VVS2Very, Very Slightly Included 2
Minute inclusions that are very difficult to see under 10x magnification.
Not visible to the unaided eye.
VS1Very Slightly Included 1
Minor inclusions that are difficult to see at 10x magnification.
Usually not visible to the unaided eye.
VS2Very Slightly Included 2
Minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see at 10x magnification.
Usually not visible to the unaided eye in a brilliant cut. Check step cuts more closely.
SI1Slightly Included 1
Noticeable inclusions that are easy to see at 10x magnification.
Sometimes visible without magnification, depending on size and position.
SI2Slightly Included 2
Noticeable inclusions that are very easy to see at 10x magnification.
More often visible to the unaided eye than SI1.
I1Included 1
Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.
Often visible with the unaided eye.
I2Included 2
Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.
Often visible with the unaided eye.
I3Included 3
Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.
Often visible with the unaided eye, and the most obvious of the Included grades.
Reading the plots
Dark marks are inclusions: pinpoints, crystals, feathers and clouds. The dashed gray line on IF is a surface blemish. The gray wash on I3 shows reduced transparency.
Drawn for this page; not taken from real reports.

Plots are illustrations of increasing inclusion levels, drawn for this page. A real grading report plots the actual characteristics of one diamond.

Real diamonds, photographed

Diamond Clarity Examples: Real Photos From FL to I1

These are photographs of nine real natural round diamonds, each graded by GIA, one for every clarity grade from Flawless to I1. Each stone is shown face-up and greatly enlarged, so you see far more than you would at actual size. Tap any diamond to view it larger.

FLFlawless2.01 ct · D color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
IFInternally Flawless1.70 ct · J color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
VVS1Very, Very Slightly Included 10.87 ct · H color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
VVS2Very, Very Slightly Included 21.21 ct · H color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
VS1Very Slightly Included 11.00 ct · H color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
VS2Very Slightly Included 21.00 ct · H color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
SI1Slightly Included 11.00 ct · H color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
SI2Slightly Included 21.02 ct · G color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded
I1Included 11.02 ct · F color · Excellent cutNatural · GIA graded

What to look for

From FL through SI1, these diamonds look much alike: any inclusions are too small or too faint to pick out at this enlargement, which is why clarity is graded under 10x magnification. In the SI2 diamond you can pick out a few small dark specks, clearest in the enlarged view, and the I1 diamond shows inclusions near its center that are easy to spot.

There is no I2 or I3 example: we found none among the GIA-graded round diamonds available to photograph. In both grades, inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification and can affect transparency and brilliance.

Photos of real natural diamonds, each with a GIA grading report. Each image is cropped, centered and scaled to the same size on a plain gray background; nothing is retouched. The diamonds range from 0.87 to 2.01 carats and from D to J color, and studio lighting varies slightly between shots, so judge color from the grading report, not a screen.

How the Diamond Clarity Scale Works

Almost every diamond contains tiny natural characteristics. GIA calls internal and surface-reaching characteristics inclusions and purely external ones blemishes. A trained grader examines the diamond under 10x magnification and sets the clarity grade from the number, size, relief, nature and location of those characteristics. The scale has six categories and 11 grades:

Diamond clarity scale (GIA), best to worst
Grade	Name	Under 10x magnification	To the unaided eye
FL	Flawless	No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification.	Nothing to see, with or without a loupe.
IF	Internally Flawless	No inclusions and only insignificant blemishes visible under 10x magnification.	Nothing visible to the unaided eye.
VVS1	Very, Very Slightly Included 1	Minute inclusions that are extremely difficult to see under 10x magnification.	Not visible to the unaided eye.
VVS2	Very, Very Slightly Included 2	Minute inclusions that are very difficult to see under 10x magnification.	Not visible to the unaided eye.
VS1	Very Slightly Included 1	Minor inclusions that are difficult to see at 10x magnification.	Usually not visible to the unaided eye.
VS2	Very Slightly Included 2	Minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see at 10x magnification.	Usually not visible to the unaided eye in a brilliant cut. Check step cuts more closely.
SI1	Slightly Included 1	Noticeable inclusions that are easy to see at 10x magnification.	Sometimes visible without magnification, depending on size and position.
SI2	Slightly Included 2	Noticeable inclusions that are very easy to see at 10x magnification.	More often visible to the unaided eye than SI1.
I1	Included 1	Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.	Often visible with the unaided eye.
I2	Included 2	Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.	Often visible with the unaided eye.
I3	Included 3	Inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification.	Often visible with the unaided eye, and the most obvious of the Included grades.

Eye-clean is not a grade

"Eye-clean" is a trade phrase for a diamond with no inclusions you can see without magnification. It is not a GIA grade, and whether a VS2 or SI1 stone is eye-clean depends on where its inclusions sit and how large the diamond is. GIA notes that inclusions are typically easier to see in an emerald cut, because its long, open facets show them more readily than the many small facets of a brilliant cut. For step cuts, consider a higher clarity grade or check the stone itself.

Shopping by clarity? Compare settings and center stones in our diamond engagement rings.

23 grades, D to Z

Diamond Color Scale and Chart

GIA's diamond color chart grades the absence of color, from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow, light brown or light gray). The swatches show the trend across the scale; real differences between neighboring letters are too subtle for any screen.

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Rendered tints, not photographs. Color grades are set by comparing a diamond with physical masterstones under controlled lighting.

Diamond Color Grades, Explained

GIA divides the 23 grades into five groups. Graders compare each diamond with masterstones of known color under precise, controlled lighting, because, as GIA puts it, color distinctions are so subtle that they are often not noticeable to the untrained eye. Even so, those small steps make a real difference to rarity and price.

GIA diamond color scale groups
Group	Grades	What you see
Colorless	D–F	The top of the scale. D is the highest color grade, and E and F differ from it only slightly. Within the normal range, colorless diamonds are the rarest and most valuable (GIA).
Near colorless	G–J	A very slight warmth that a trained grader can pick out against masterstones. GIA notes that color distinctions this subtle are often not noticeable to the untrained eye, especially once the diamond is set.
Faint	K–M	A faint warmth, usually yellow, that is more likely to show face-up. It reads softer next to yellow or rose gold than next to white metal.
Very light	N–R	A very light yellow or brown tint that most people can see face-up.
Light	S–Z	Light yellow, light brown or light gray color that is clearly visible. A diamond with more color than the Z masterstone is graded on the fancy color scale instead.

Why the scale starts at D

Before GIA created a universal scale, the trade described diamond color with letters, numbers, Roman numerals and terms such as "blue white," which led to confusion. GIA started its scale at D to avoid confusion with, or association to, those earlier systems.

Fancy color diamonds

Diamonds with more yellow or brown than the Z masterstone, or with a color other than yellow, brown or gray, are fancy color diamonds. They are graded on a separate fancy-color scale, with grades such as Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid.

Excellent to Poor

Diamond Cut Grades

Cut is how well a diamond's facets interact with light. GIA's cut grading system, introduced in 2005 and printed on reports for round brilliants since 2006, has five grades: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. It applies to standard round brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z color range, because the round brilliant is the only cut with standardized facets. GIA judges three face-up effects:

Brightness: the white light reflected from the surface and inside the diamond.
Fire: the scattering of white light into the colors of the spectrum.
Scintillation: the sparkle and the pattern of light and dark areas as the diamond moves.

Graders also consider design and craftsmanship: weight ratio (weight relative to diameter), durability, polish and symmetry. In GIA's words, the higher the cut grade, the brighter the diamond.

Well proportionedLight reflects off both sides of the pavilion and returns through the top.

Too shallowLight meets the pavilion at too small an angle and escapes through the bottom.

Too deepLight reflects off one side, then escapes through the far side of the pavilion.

Simplified 2-D illustrations that ignore refraction. They show why proportions matter; they are not a cut grade.

GIA cut grades (standard round brilliant)
Grade	What it means
Excellent	GIA's top cut grade. Proportions, polish and symmetry work together for the strongest balance of brightness, fire and scintillation.
Very Good	Close to Excellent. Light return is strong, and the difference from Excellent can be subtle face-up.
Good	Returns much of the light that enters, but proportions let more light escape, so the diamond looks less bright than higher grades.
Fair	Noticeable light leakage. The diamond can look less lively, and parts of it may look dark or glassy.
Poor	Much of the light escapes before it can return to your eye, so the diamond can look dull even with high color and clarity.

Real diamonds by cut grade

Three real round diamonds with GIA cut grades of Excellent, Very Good and Good, all SI1 clarity.

Excellent1.00 ct · H · SI1Table 57% · Depth 62.9%Natural · GIA graded
Very Good1.00 ct · F · SI1Table 58% · Depth 63.9%Natural · GIA graded
Good2.01 ct · J · SI1Table 65% · Depth 65.8%Natural · GIA graded

A single still photo is a poor judge of cut: brightness, fire and scintillation depend on the lighting and on the diamond moving, and these three were photographed separately and differ in size and color. What a photo does record is proportion: the Good-cut diamond's 65% table and 65.8% total depth are both higher than those of the Excellent and Very Good diamonds here. Compare grades on the report, and see a diamond in motion when you can.

Fancy shapes

Oval, pear, princess, cushion, emerald and other fancy shapes do not receive a GIA cut grade. Their reports still grade polish and symmetry, so judge proportions, length-to-width ratio and how evenly the stone sparkles. Browse shapes side by side in our diamond engagement rings.

Carat Weight

Carat is the only C that is measured rather than judged. One metric carat is 0.2 grams, divided into 100 points, so a 0.75 carat diamond is also called a 75-pointer. Because carat is weight, the size a diamond shows face-up also depends on its shape and cut proportions.

Carat weight at a glance
Carat	Points	Grams	Round diameter*
0.50 ct	50 points	0.10 g	about 5.2 mm
0.75 ct	75 points	0.15 g	about 5.9 mm
1.00 ct	100 points	0.20 g	about 6.5 mm
1.50 ct	150 points	0.30 g	about 7.4 mm
2.00 ct	200 points	0.40 g	about 8.2 mm
3.00 ct	300 points	0.60 g	about 9.4 mm

*Typical diameter of a well-cut round brilliant, from our diamond size chart. Individual stones vary.

To see how every shape measures at each weight, use the diamond size chart.

How to Balance the 4Cs

No single grade makes a beautiful diamond. A few principles, all based on how the scales are defined:

Protect the cut. Cut controls brightness, fire and scintillation, so a lower cut grade can hide the benefit of top color and clarity.
Color steps are subtle. GIA notes that differences between neighboring color grades are often not noticeable to the untrained eye, especially once a diamond is set. Near-colorless G to J stones show only a slight warmth.
Clarity is graded at 10x. VVS and most VS diamonds look the same face-up to the unaided eye as a Flawless one. SI stones vary, so judge each one.
Step cuts need more care. Emerald and Asscher cuts show inclusions more readily, so a higher clarity grade can be worth it.
Carat is weight. Compare millimeters, not just carats, when size matters.

Ready to compare real stones? Browse natural diamond rings or lab-grown diamond engagement rings.

GIA vs. IGI vs. AGS Grading Scales

The major labs share GIA's vocabulary for color and clarity, but they present grades differently, and each lab applies its own standards. Where you can, compare diamonds graded by the same lab.

How the major labs grade diamonds
Lab	Color	Clarity	Cut
GIA	D to Z	FL to I3 (11 grades)	Excellent to Poor, round brilliants only
IGI	D to Z letters	IF, VVS, VS, SI and I grades	Reports can show "Ideal," a grade name GIA does not use
AGS	0 to 10	0 to 10	0 to 10; AGS Ideal 0 is the top grade

The AGS 0 to 10 scale

The American Gem Society uses a deduction-based scale for cut, color and clarity, where 0 is the best grade and 10 the lowest. Its grades are written in a fixed order, cut, then color, then clarity, then carat weight, so a top-cut, colorless, flawless one-carat diamond reads 0/0/0 – 1.000 carat. On the cut scale, 0 is Ideal, 1 Excellent, 2 Very Good, 3 to 4 Good, 5 to 7 Fair and 8 to 10 Poor.

AGS cut scale
AGS grade	Name
0	Ideal
1	Excellent
2	Very Good
3–4	Good
5–7	Fair
8–10	Poor

AGS Laboratories closed at the end of 2022, and its research staff, technology and Las Vegas facility were integrated into GIA. GIA now offers the AGS Ideal Report, a digital supplement to a GIA report that rates light performance (brightness, fire and contrast). You will still see older AGS reports on diamonds in the market.

How Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Graded

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. US rules define a diamond as a mineral of essentially pure carbon crystallized in the isometric (cubic) system, and the FTC's Jewelry Guides require sellers to qualify a lab-made stone clearly, with words such as "laboratory-grown" or "laboratory-created." How they are graded now depends on the lab.

GIA: Premium or Standard since October 1, 2025

On October 1, 2025, GIA replaced its grading of D-to-Z lab-grown diamonds with the GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Quality Assessment, which uses descriptive terms instead of the grades created for natural diamonds. Each stone is described as Premium or Standard from an overall assessment of its clarity, color, polish, symmetry and, for round brilliants, cut.

"GIA will no longer use the nomenclature created for natural diamonds to describe what is a manufactured product."
Pritesh Patel, GIA president and CEO, who noted that most lab-grown diamonds fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity

GIA laboratory-grown diamond assessment criteria
Factor	Premium (all required)	Standard (minimum)
Clarity	VVS or higher	VS
Color	D	E to J
Polish	Excellent	Very Good
Symmetry	Excellent	Very Good (Good for fancy shapes)
Cut (round brilliants)	Excellent	Very Good

A stone that meets Premium in some factors and Standard in others is described as Standard.
A stone below any Standard minimum, such as SI clarity or K color, does not receive a GIA assessment.
Stones must be at least 0.15 carat, and each girdle is laser-inscribed "Laboratory-Grown" with the assessment number.

IGI and other labs

IGI, which grades many lab-grown diamonds, said in July 2025 that it "will continue applying the universal 4Cs grading to all diamonds, whether natural or lab-grown," so its reports still show color, clarity and cut grades. Its lab-grown reports also state the growth process, such as CVD (chemical vapor deposition), and note any indications of post-growth treatment. So when a lab-grown report issued after September 2025 shows D-to-Z color and VS-style clarity grades, it comes from a lab other than GIA.

Compare options in our lab-grown diamond engagement rings and lab-grown diamond jewelry.

Diamond Fluorescence

Fluorescence is the glow some diamonds show under ultraviolet light. GIA reports it by intensity as None, Faint, Medium, Strong or Very Strong, and names the color when it is Medium or stronger. It is an identifying characteristic, not one of the 4Cs.

About 25 to 35 percent of diamonds fluoresce, and more than 95 percent of those glow blue (GIA).
Blue fluorescence can make a faintly yellow diamond look more colorless in daylight. The color grade does not change.
In a GIA study published in 1997, average observers saw no systematic effect of fluorescence on appearance, and strongly blue fluorescent diamonds were generally judged to have a better color appearance face-up.
Fluorescence does not cause haziness by itself. GIA links it to a hazy look in fewer than 0.2 percent of the fluorescent diamonds it receives.

GIA's conclusion is that fluorescence is neither good nor bad, and that strongly fluorescent D to H diamonds may sell for less even though their appearance is usually unaffected.

Diamond Grading FAQ

What is the diamond clarity chart?

The diamond clarity chart is GIA's 11-grade scale for inclusions and blemishes, from best to worst: Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2 and I3. Grades are set by a trained grader using 10x magnification and depend on the number, size, relief, nature and location of the clarity characteristics.

What is the diamond color scale?

GIA's diamond color scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow, light brown or light gray) in 23 letter grades, grouped as colorless (D-F), near colorless (G-J), faint (K-M), very light (N-R) and light (S-Z). Grades are assigned by comparing a diamond with masterstones under controlled lighting. Diamonds with more color than Z are graded as fancy colors.

What does VVS mean in diamonds?

VVS stands for Very, Very Slightly Included. VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds have minute inclusions that are extremely difficult (VVS1) to very difficult (VVS2) for a trained grader to see under 10x magnification, so they are not visible to the unaided eye. Only Flawless and Internally Flawless rank higher.

Is VS1 or VS2 clarity better?

VS1 is one grade higher than VS2. Both are Very Slightly Included: GIA describes VS1 inclusions as difficult to see at 10x magnification and VS2 inclusions as somewhat easy to see at 10x. In most brilliant-cut diamonds neither is visible to the unaided eye, so many buyers treat them as similar face-up.

Is SI1 clarity good for an engagement ring?

SI1 can be a good value, but it depends on the individual diamond. SI1 inclusions are easy to see at 10x magnification and are sometimes visible to the unaided eye, depending on their size and position. Look at the stone face-up, or ask for photos or video, and be more cautious with step cuts such as emerald cuts, where inclusions are easier to see.

What are the 4Cs of diamonds?

The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, the universal system GIA developed in the 1950s to describe diamond quality. Color runs from D to Z, clarity from Flawless to I3, cut from Excellent to Poor for standard round brilliants, and carat is weight, where one carat equals 0.2 grams.

What is the best diamond color grade?

D is the highest color grade on GIA's scale, followed by E and F, which together make up the colorless range. Near-colorless G to J diamonds show only a slight warmth that GIA notes is often not noticeable to the untrained eye, so they can be a sensible way to balance color against size and budget.

How are lab-grown diamonds graded?

Since October 1, 2025, GIA no longer uses its D-to-Z color and Flawless-to-I3 clarity terms for D-to-Z lab-grown diamonds. Its Laboratory-Grown Diamond Quality Assessment describes them as Premium or Standard based on color, clarity, polish, symmetry and, for round brilliants, cut. Other labs, such as IGI, still grade lab-grown diamonds on the familiar 4Cs scales.

What is the AGS 0 to 10 grading scale?

The American Gem Society (AGS) uses a deduction-based scale from 0 to 10 for cut, color and clarity, where 0 is the best grade and 10 the lowest. For cut, AGS Ideal 0 is the top grade. AGS Laboratories closed at the end of 2022, and GIA now offers the AGS Ideal light performance report as a digital supplement to GIA reports.

Is diamond fluorescence bad?

Not necessarily. GIA describes fluorescence as neither good nor bad. About 25 to 35 percent of diamonds fluoresce, almost always blue, and it is reported as None, Faint, Medium, Strong or Very Strong but is not one of the 4Cs. Blue fluorescence can make a slightly yellow diamond look whiter in daylight, and GIA says it is linked to a hazy look in fewer than 0.2 percent of the fluorescent diamonds it receives.

Does GIA give a cut grade for fancy-shaped diamonds?

No. GIA gives an overall cut grade only to standard round brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z color range, because they are the only cut with standardized facets. Fancy shapes such as oval, pear, emerald and princess receive polish and symmetry grades, so judge their proportions and appearance directly.

Is carat the same as diamond size?

No. Carat is a measure of weight: one carat equals 0.2 grams, divided into 100 points. How large a diamond looks depends on its shape and cut proportions too, which is why two diamonds of the same carat weight can face up at different sizes. A well-cut 1 carat round diamond measures about 6.5 mm across.

Cite this chart

Free to reference with a link to Diamond & Sapphire.

Diamond & Sapphire. "Diamond Clarity Chart and Color Scale: The Diamond Grading Scale, Explained." Updated October 2026. https://diamondandsapphire.com/pages/diamond-clarity-chart

Link to this chart

Writing about diamond grading? Link to this chart.

<a href="https://diamondandsapphire.com/pages/diamond-clarity-chart">Diamond Clarity Chart and Color Scale</a> by Diamond & Sapphire

Methodology and sources

Every grading definition on this page comes from the published scales of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Clarity definitions quote GIA's wording for each grade under 10x magnification; color groups and cut grades follow GIA; the AGS cut scale follows AGS's 0 to 10 system; and the lab-grown criteria are taken from GIA's August 2025 announcement and its published assessment chart. Statements about IGI lab-grown reports are based on IGI's July 2025 statement and a published IGI report. We do not publish prices or price premiums, because diamond prices depend on the individual stone and the market.

Color swatches, clarity plots and light-path diagrams are drawn in the browser for this page. They are illustrations, not photographs, and screens vary. The 4Cs picker turns GIA's definitions into plain-English guidance; it is not an appraisal. Round diameters use the same model as our diamond size chart.

Sources

Diamond & Sapphire, 101 Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109.