What’s the Best Diamond Clarity and Why It Matters - A Diamond is Forever

Do you know why the Archduke Joseph diamond is so highly talked about in the world of jewellery? It’s something of a legend, and boasts of much more than just visual appeal. Mined from the Golconda region, this 76-carat, D-colour (also known as colourless or ‘icy white’) ‘Internally Flawless’ diamond is often referred to as ‘one of the most important diamonds in history¹.’

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 is missing from the gem. No clouding. No scars. No marks at all. Only perfect clarity. And 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 diamond clarity is.

Most natural diamonds form with tiny birthmarks or surface blemishes that document their billion-year journey. Only a rare few (less than 1%) are graded Flawless or Internally Flawless, the highest diamond 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 colour, too.

What makes a diamond high clarity?

When you’re out shopping for natural diamond jewellery for the wedding of your dreams (or to spoil yourself), you might come across jewellers referring to VS1 diamonds or VVS2 diamonds. They’re referring to the diamond clarity.

In the world of diamond grading, clarity is one of the key players in the famous 4Cs alongside cut, colour and carat. In simple terms, clarity measures how free a diamond is from those tiny birthmarks (known in the diamond world as inclusions).

While no natural diamond is technically 100% perfect (even the most Flawless diamonds might have microscopic characteristics that aren’t visible, unless under very high magnification), high clarity diamonds come impressively close.

A close-up of a polished natural diamond

Sitting at the top of the diamond clarity scale (graded under 10x magnification³) are:

FL (Flawless): No visible characteristics seen on the diamond, inside or out.
IF (Internally Flawless): No internal birthmarks at all, only minuscule surface blemishes, easily removable without weight loss.
VVS1 & VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included): Inclusions so small, even trained graders must search hard to spot them.

What makes high clarity natural diamonds 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 Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds ‘geological miracles’.

Even the most experienced graders might not be lucky enough to see gems like these in their lifetime. And while VVS diamonds are slightly more available, they still represent only a small fraction of all natural diamonds found.

How rarity influences the perception of diamond value

There’s no sugarcoating it: high clarity diamonds often come at a higher price⁴. And that’s due to scarcity. When only a small percentage of natural diamonds achieve Flawless or Internally Flawless status, demand, especially from collectors and investors, drives up their market value.

But the value of diamond 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 the allure (not to mention the heirloom potential of passing them down to future generations) of the gem.

Are high clarity diamonds worth the investment?

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 be preferable for these cuts.
Larger carat diamonds tend to show internal features more clearly⁶, so high clarity grades could in theory, increase their visual appeal.
Heirloom pieces or milestone jewellery may feel more meaningful with a rarity like IF or VVS1, if budget allows.

Investors or collectors often favour high clarity natural diamonds for their long-term value⁷ and prestige. As an added layer of trust, choose to invest in IOD or GIA-certified stones or diamonds certified by other reputable agencies.

Ultimately, choosing a diamond is a personal decision. So, the answer to ‘what’s the best diamond clarity?’ is not the only factor worth considering. More than clarity, perhaps a diamond’s cut, or the number of carats feels more significant to you.

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 jewellery, regardless of where it ranks in terms of clarity, or even the other 4Cs. After all, when you look at that beautiful natural diamond glinting in the sunlight, you’re probably not thinking about microscopic features, but about the sentiment it holds.