Diamonds are carbon exposed to tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. This process can result in a variety of internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and external features called ‘blemishes.’ Evaluating diamond clarity will involve analyzing the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone. While no diamond is perfectly pure, the closer it comes, the higher its value. Inclusions are enclosed in a diamond or extend into it f rom the surface. Blemishes confine to the surface of a polished diamond. Clarity measures the incidence of natural inclusions or imperfections found in a diamond. The diamond that has next to no visible inclusions are flawless, which makes it very rare and higher in value. Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, so diamonds are examined under a 10x magnifying loupe to determine their clarity. A diamond with several or large inclusions has less brilliance than a diamond containing fewer or smaller inclusions. The flaws in a diamond interfere with the path of light as it travels into, and then out of, the stone.