One of the essential qualities used to evaluate a diamond’s value is its clarity. But how does diamond clarity work? In this article, we discuss the highest clarity grade for diamonds – “FL Clarity”.
- What is FL Clarity
- FL Diamond Pricing
- Pros and Cons of Buying an FL Diamond
- Guide to Purchasing FL Diamonds
- Talk to a Diamond Expert
What Is FL Clarity?
“FL” stands for flawless, and it refers to diamonds that are free of inclusions and blemishes.
One of the first things to understand about diamonds is that no two diamonds are the same. Each earth-mined diamond has a unique crystalline structure and can, therefore, contain imperfections both internally and externally. Internal imperfections are referred to as inclusions, while external imperfections are called blemishes. Inclusions can be tiny bubbles, cracks, and similar microscopic imperfections.
Clarity is the absence of imperfections within a diamond. A diamond’s clarity, or the number of inclusions, can impact how easily light can travel through the diamond. Together with color, cut, and carat weight (the other three of the 4 Cs), clarity is one of the most important factors that determines the quality of a diamond.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed a clarity grading system of different clarity levels. FL clarity diamonds are the highest clarity grade, sitting at the top of the scale.
FL clarity diamonds have no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification. To say it in other words, an FL clarity diamond is perfect from the inside out.
In terms of clarity, FL diamonds are the most sought-after gemstones in the world. They’re incredibly rare, commanding the highest prices on the diamond market. In fact, only 1% of natural diamonds have an FL rating.
FL Diamond Pricing and Chart
Since they’re so rare, FL clarity diamonds cost much more than diamonds with other clarity grades, even though they might have the same color, cut, and carat weight. A well-cut 1-carat FL clarity diamond can cost between $6,000 to $10,000. As we’ll explain further, the total price depends on many other factors.
Here’s an overview of the average price for an FL clarity diamond with different carat weights. Note that the prices below reflect market pricing as of July 2024.
| Carat Weight | Price |
|---|---|
| 0.5 carats | $1,750 |
| 1 carat | $9,100 |
| 1.5 carats | $21,450 |
| 2 carats | $43,000 |
| 3 carats | $106,500 |
| 4 carats | $186,000 |
| 5 carats | $302,500 |
As you can see, FL clarity diamonds are extremely expensive. Additionally, as we explain in our Guide to Diamond Carat Size, diamonds increase exponentially in price as carat weight increases. Since a whole diamond is worth more than the sum of its parts, the price per carat increases drastically as the carat weight increases.
The price of an FL clarity diamond can change depending on many factors, such as the diamond’s color and cut. Most who are determined to get a perfectly flawless diamond also want a colorless diamond. Diamonds that belong in the D-F color scale are quite pricey, so be prepared to pay even more for this combination. Choosing a diamond from the G-J category offers the opportunity to save thousands of dollars. A 1-carat round brilliant FL-clarity D-color diamond will cost about $17,000 vs $9,100 for a G-color diamond of the same specs. You can find more info on diamond colors in our color guide.
The shape can also cause a major shift in price. For instance, a 1-carat pear-cut FL clarity G-color diamond costs around $7,300, while a round brilliant cut of the same specs will cost about $9,100.
If you want to know more about FL clarity diamond pricing, we advise you to talk to a diamond expert.
Is It a Good Idea to Buy an FL Clarity Diamond?
If you’re thinking about buying an FL clarity diamond, here are some of the most important considerations to keep in mind.
Pros of Buying an FL Clarity Diamond
Because flawless diamonds are so rare, they’re hard to find on the market. This makes them extremely valuable and a good long-term investment piece.
If you’re setting it in an engagement ring, it means you’ll have an exceptional and unique ring.
Since they are free of any inclusions or blemishes, flawless diamonds will look beautiful in jewelry, particularly in an engagement ring. Additionally, certain diamond shapes, such as Asscher or Emerald cuts, will particularly benefit from the flawless clarity in terms of the sparkle and brilliance of the diamond.
That said, many diamonds of lower clarity grades can offer a nearly identical appearance to the naked eye for a far cheaper price.
Cons of Buying an FL Clarity Diamond
The biggest disadvantage of an FL clarity diamond is that you will spend a fortune on it, especially if you want a diamond engagement ring with more than 1 carat. As you can see from the chart above, FL clarity diamonds can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Chances are, you’ll have some trouble finding an FL clarity diamond. We mentioned that only 1% of natural diamonds have the FL clarity grading. Furthermore, FL clarity diamonds with a D color grade make up just 0.001% of diamonds worldwide. Since they’re so rare, you might not be able to find an FL clarity diamond with the cut, color, or carat weight you initially wanted.
Expert Tip: It’s also important to mention that diamonds with a lower clarity grade can look identical to a flawless diamond to the naked eye. It’s the same with D color diamonds and F color diamonds. They look the same, but the price differences are astronomical. You might ask yourself if such an expensive investment is worth it if you could get a much cheaper diamond that looks the same.
Types of Inclusions in an FL Clarity Diamond
Ideally, you don’t want to see any eye-visible inclusions in your diamond. But just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Even FL clarity diamonds carry inclusions, you can’t see them at a certain magnification ratio. The truth is, there is no such thing as a diamond with non-existent inclusions. It’s simply the way they are formed.
Gemologists determine a diamond’s clarity by examining the size, number, location, and nature of its inclusions. These factors can impact a diamond’s visual appearance, minimizing its brilliance and beauty. Inclusions refer to whatever gets trapped in the diamond’s structure during its formation.
The most common diamond inclusions are crystals, graining, pinpoints, feathers, clouds, and twinning wisps. One diamond can appear with all of these types of inclusions at once. It’s even possible to find crystals growing inside the diamond.
You won’t have to worry about inclusions if you buy an FL clarity diamond. Even though they may exist, it’s physically impossible to perceive them. Only trained gemologists can see the inclusions with the help of a special microscope.
How to Buy a Loose FL
When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, you’ll have to decide whether to buy a loose diamond or a complete ring together with the setting.
If you want a loose FL clarity diamond, there are many online jewelry shops you can check. The main issue of online shopping for loose diamonds is that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With so many options out there, you might focus on the wrong thing and miss important details. Not to mention that they all look the same to the naked eye.
To prevent this from happening, you can write a list of criteria you’re looking for in a loose diamond. For example, “FL clarity,” “round brilliant cut,” “E color,” “1.5 carats,” and similar. Give this list to a trusted expert jeweler and ask them to find the ideal loose diamond. If you need a jeweler’s help, fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we can help you find what you’re looking for.
FL vs. IF Clarity Diamonds
“FL” stands for flawless, and “IF” means internally flawless. While FL clarity diamonds take first place on GIA’s clarity scale, IF clarity diamonds are right behind them.
An untrained eye wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between an IF and FL clarity diamond. Under 10x magnification, FL diamonds don’t exhibit internal or external inclusions, while IF clarity diamonds can have some surface blemishes. These blemishes can be polish marks, surface graining, extra facets, or naturally occurring imperfections. Diamond cutters don’t remove these blemishes because they don’t want to minimize the diamond’s carat weight.
The biggest difference between an FL clarity diamond and an IF clarity diamond is its price. Internally flawless clarity diamonds are 25% to 35% less expensive than flawless diamonds. Still, IF diamonds are much pricier than diamonds with lower clarity levels.
If you want our recommendation, unless you’re purchasing it as an investment, we wouldn’t recommend spending the money on a Flawless diamond. Instead of focusing on the perfect clarity, you can get a diamond with VVS1 or VVS2 clarity but with better color, cut, and carat weight. You can get a larger and brighter stone that looks nearly identical to the naked eye as a FL diamond, but for so much cheaper.
Top 7 Insider Tips and Tricks for Buying FL Clarity
If you’re contemplating buying an FL clarity diamond but are unsure where to look or what to look for, these seven insider tips and tricks will help.
1. Ask for a GIA certificate
Whether you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring online or in person, always ask to see the diamond certificate. Every diamond should come with a certificate, GIA certificates being the most reliable. If you want to buy a diamond with VVS2 clarity and higher, the certificate will prove you’re not being scammed. This is especially important for FL clarity diamonds.
2. Consider a Slightly Smaller Diamond
When people shop for diamond engagement rings, one of the first factors they have to think about is the carat weight, which usually affects the price the most. If you have your sights set on a larger stone, we advise you to go a little bit smaller. Instead of buying a 1-carat diamond, opt for a 0.99-carat diamond. Instead of a 2-carat diamond, choose a 1.99-carat diamond.
The differences in carat weight are so minor, that they’re almost nonexistent. However, the smaller carat size will cause a major shift in price. This will allow you to get a high-quality FL clarity diamond while staying within your budget.
3. Shop for an Antique Diamond
Antique and vintage engagement rings are at least 100 years old. Since all diamond engagement rings were handmade at that time, you’ll know you have a truly unique ring.
Additionally, the age adds to the ring’s value, so if you ever decide to sell it, you’ll be able to charge a higher price due to its rarity.
4. Only Buy From a Reputable Company
An FL clarity diamond is an expensive investment, which is why you need to be careful about where you buy it. It’s perfectly fine to buy a loose diamond online, just make sure the online jewelry store is trustworthy. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to photoshop a diamond and make it look perfect. To avoid receiving a heavily included diamond in the mail, only buy from reputable jewelers. It would be best if you could ask to see the ring in person before making the purchase.
5. Find a Promo Code or Ask for a Discount
An FL clarity diamond engagement ring won’t be cheap, which is why you should try to get it for a lower price. You can do this by finding a promo code or asking for a discount. Most online jewelry stores offer discounts of 5% to 15% or promotion codes you can find on their website or social media channels. Even if the code has expired, they will probably extend it for you if you ask nicely.
If you want to know more about how to negotiate for an engagement ring, this article can help you.
6. Get a Yellow Gold Mounting
Even if you do find an FL clarity diamond engagement ring, it might not be in the D-F color range. You might have the budget for an FL clarity diamond, but not a D-color diamond. Don’t forget that the G-J grades are near colorless, so they won’t exhibit any noticeable traces of yellow. If there are some yellow undertones, a neat way to conceal them is with a yellow gold mounting. Doing this means you will still have a good-quality ring without making the color obvious.
7. Choose the Right Cut
People often think that clarity and color affect a diamond’s clarity the most. What truly influences a diamond’s appearance is its cut. That is, how well the stone was cut. If the diamond has a low-quality cut, it won’t matter if it has the FL clarity grade. Depending on where you get the diamond, you’ll be able to choose between good, very good, and ideal cuts. If you have the budget for it, choose an ideal cut diamond. It’s much more important than the diamond’s clarity.
Guide to Purchasing an FL Clarity Diamond Ring
Do online research before you buy an FL clarity diamond. Based on your budget, see what your options are. Perhaps you’ll figure out that you would rather focus on the color or the carat weight instead of clarity.
Choose a setting that makes the diamond’s clarity pop. You can achieve this effect with a simple solitaire setting with a few side stones. Another option is to get a halo-style diamond engagement ring. They come in different shapes and sizes, and you can even get a halo made from other gemstones, like rubies, emeralds, or sapphires.
Talk to a Diamond Expert
There are three important things you need to know about FL clarity diamonds: they’re extremely rare, incredibly expensive, and, above all else, unbelievably beautiful. “FL” stands for flawless, which makes it so desirable and timeless. Even flawless diamonds come with tiny inclusions; we just can’t see them with the naked eye.
Evaluating a diamond’s clarity online can be tricky, which is why you should let a diamond expert help you. Fill out the form below and one of our diamond experts will reach out to you within one business hour.
