Make the Call (6.48)
After a stone has been thoroughly cleaned, leaving no traces of dust particles, you are ready to grade it. With your 10x loupe, examine the stone through the crown first, since this will be the view that decides the final grade. First impressions are important but not necessarily crucial. Often a faint cloud may not be instantly recognized without patient examination. Shift the diamond, viewing it at different angles through the crown bezel facets. During this process, reflect light across the different facet surfaces to check for blemishes such as surface graining or lizard skin. Also check for bearding, which is very common.
After having been satisfied with the crown views, look through the pavilion. This will often reveal a missed inclusion that was difficult to pick up from the crown. If this is the case, look again for the inclusion through the crown view to see how visible it is. Remember that the final clarity grade depends on what is visible through the crown. With higher clarity stones, it is helpful to divide the diamond into imaginary sections for more thorough examination.
Before assigning the final clarity grade to the stone in question, remember these factors: Amount of inclusions, size, contrast, transparency, location, and durability.
