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Another important characteristic of gems is clarity. Clarity refers to the presence or absence of flaws called inclusions. Inclusions are the result of imperfections caused when the gem was created or crystallized by nature. The term inclusion comes from the fact that they are inside the stone, not on the surface. Inclusions, imperfections, and flaws are synonymous, therefore.
Inclusions can be of several types. They may be tiny bubbles, specks of uncrystallized minerals or material, hairline cracks, and other flaws that interfere with the passage of light in a stone. They may be large enough to be seen with the naked eye or so small that a jeweler's loupe, a type of single-lens microscope, or even a highpowered microscope is needed to spot them.
The question for the consumer is this: "How great a magnification is needed to determine whether a diamond is flawless enough to have good clarity?" In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has, with the help of the industry, established a standard A diamond can be considered to be-and is called-"flawless when it shows no inclusions at 10-power magnification (rnagnifiec to 70 times its actual size). In other words, the diamond may still have
inclusions or flaws but they are so small that a stronger lens or. magnification is necessary for them to be seen and they do not interfere with the passage of light.
