Clarity Grade

The GIA diamond clarity scale has 11 grades from Flawless (FL) to Included 3 (I3), assessed under 10× magnification. For colored gemstones, GIA uses a different system with three clarity types: Type I (typically eye-clean in nature, e.g., aquamarine), Type II (usually included, e.g., ruby), and Type III (almost always included, e.g., emerald). The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) uses a clarity grading scale for colored stones from Eye Clean to Moderately Included. Clarity grading directly affects value — a flawless 1 ct ruby can be worth many times more than an included stone of identical color and cut.