The purity of a stone is a criterion mattering in the establishment of its value.
Generally speaking, the more a stone gemstone is pure, that is with few or no inclusions, the more its value will be raised.
We use a magnifying glass with swelling x10 to study the purity of a stone.
Only diamonds benefit from an international classification:
- IF = Intenational flawness = pure in the magnifying glass x10,
- VVS1 and VVS2 = Very very small inclusions = very very small visible inclusions in the magnifying glass x10.
- VS1 and VS2 = Very small inclusions = very small visible inclusions in the magnifying glass x10.
- Si1 and Si2 = Small inclusions = small visible inclusions in the magnifying glass x10.
- P1 = Pricked 1 = Small inclusions hard to see in the naked eye.
- P2 = Pricked 2 = Inclusions easy to see in the naked eye.
- P3 = Pricked 3 = big or numerous inclusions easy to see in the naked eye.
- Graduation VVS, VS, SI can, in principle, not be subdivided into 1 or 2 only for the diamonds furthermore of 0.47ct.
Attention: these terminologies have to be used only for diamonds. There is no convention allowing to use them for other fine stones or precious stones.
