Heard of the Archduke Joseph diamond? It’s something of a legend in the jewelry world, boasting much more than just visual appeal. Mined from the Golconda region of India, this 76-carat, D-color (that’s colorless or ‘icy white’) ‘Internally Flawless’ diamond is often referred to as ‘one of the most important diamonds in history’1
Once owned by Archduke Joseph August of Austria, a member of the Habsburg dynasty, it carries both geological significance and royal prestige. It owes its incredible beauty to what lacks. No clouding. No scars. No marks at all. It’s a diamond without a single visible flaw. Only perfect clarity, where light moves through it with what’s been described as ‘indefinably water-clear’ brilliance.
But what makes it truly remarkable is just how rare that level of clarity is. The vast majority of natural diamonds form with tiny inclusions or surface blemishes that document their billion-year journey. Only a rare few (less than 1%) are graded Flawless or Internally Flawless, the highest clarity ratings2. This means that the Archduke Joseph diamond is not just an exception, but a pretty astounding one when you consider its size and color, too.
What defines a high-clarity diamond?
In the world of diamond grading, clarity is one of the key players in the famous 4Cs alongside cut, color and carat. In simple terms, clarity measures how free a diamond is from those tiny internal or external features (known in the diamond world as inclusions). These can be anything from microscopic crystals to faint feather-like fractures within the stone.
While no natural diamond is technically 100% perfect (even the most Flawless diamonds might have microscopic imperfections that aren’t visible, unless under very high magnification), high clarity diamonds come impressively close.
Sitting at the top of the diamond clarity scale (graded under 10x magnification3) are:
- FL (Flawless): No visible imperfections seen on the diamond, inside or out.
- IF (Internally Flawless): No internal flaws at all, only minuscule surface blemishes, easily removable without weight loss.
- VVS1 & VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included): Inclusions so small, even trained graders have to search hard to spot them.
Diamonds in these grades are rare, highly valued and often deliver incredible brilliance – especially when paired with an expert cut (another star in the 4Cs lineup).
Why high clarity natural diamonds are so rare
To understand their rarity, we need to go way back. Natural diamonds form deep underground, under immense pressure and heat over billions of years. And because of this, most diamonds bear some evidence of this formation process and the various interruptions that occur – from temperature changes to tiny, trapped minerals.
What’s truly extraordinary is when a diamond forms with little to no interference, emerging without any signs of that intense process at all. It’s why many call FL and IF diamonds ‘geological miracles’. Even the most experienced graders might not be lucky enough to witness them in their lifetime. And while VVS diamonds are slightly more available, they still represent only a small fraction of all natural diamonds found.
Why rarity shapes how we perceive diamond value
There’s no sugarcoating it: high clarity diamonds often carry a higher price4. And that’s due to scarcity. When only a small percentage of natural diamonds achieve FL or IF status, demand, especially from collectors and investors, drives up their market value.
But the value of clarity isn’t only financially driven, it’s emotional too. For collectors, rarity is the ultimate brag. Knowing you’re in possession of something not just incredibly beautiful, but super rare and highly covetable too, instantly increases its allure (not to mention heirloom potential).
Should you invest in high-clarity diamonds?
Not everyone needs or wants a diamond with top-tier clarity. But there are times when it could make sense…
- Step-cut shapes (like Emerald or Asscher) often have large open tables5 that make inclusions more visible, so high clarity could help here.
- Larger carat diamonds tend to showcase internal features more clearly6, so high clarity grades could in theory, increase their visual appeal.
- Heirloom pieces or milestone jewelry may feel more meaningful with a rarity like IF or VVS1, if budget allows.
- Investors or collectors often favor high clarity natural diamonds for their long-term value7 and prestige.
Ultimately, choosing a diamond is a personal business. And so is figuring out how important clarity is to you (perhaps a diamond’s cut, or the number of carats feels more significant). Some buyers love the idea of a diamond with character, inclusions and a ‘story’ that enhances its one-of-a-kind nature. Others prefer the idea of purity. A ‘clean slate’, if you will. In the end, it’s down to you, and what you’re most drawn to.
The main thing is that you find genuine joy in wearing your new piece of jewelry, regardless of where it ranks in terms of clarity, or even the other 4Cs. After all, when you glance down at that beautiful natural diamond glinting in the sunlight, you’re probably not thinking about microscopic features, but about the story and sentiment it holds.
Sources
- https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/archduke-joseph-diamond-fetches-record-215m/ ↩︎
- https://www.diamonds.pro/education/fl-if-diamonds/ ↩︎
- https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-clarity/ ↩︎
- https://www.vrai.com/journal/post/how-does-diamond-clarity-affect-a-diamonds-price/ ↩︎
- https://alldiamond.co.uk/asscher-and-emerald-cut-diamonds-a-guide/ ↩︎
- https://www.diamonds.pro/education/clarity/ ↩︎
- https://www.prinsandprins.com/rarity-and-heirlooms-why-natural-diamonds-hold-their-value/ ↩︎
