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Colored gemstones aren’t graded like diamonds. Here’s what the clarity and cut codes on this stone actually mean.
Graded by eye, not under a loupe — so the scale is shorter than a diamond’s.
No inclusions visible to the naked eye — the cleanest grade for a colored stone. Tiny inclusions may still show under 10× magnification; for gems, that’s normal.
Minor inclusions that are hard to spot without magnification and don’t affect the stone’s beauty or durability.
Inclusions visible to the naked eye that can slightly soften transparency or sparkle — usually reflected in a friendlier price.
Why “flawless” isn’t the goal
GIA judges each species against its own kind, by how included it naturally tends to be:
So an eye-clean emerald is rare and prized, while an eye-clean aquamarine is simply expected.
For colored stones, “cut” usually names the faceting style — not a quality grade.
Covered in small angled facets that maximize sparkle — round, oval, cushion, pear and most colored-stone cuts.
Long, parallel facets in rows like staircase steps (emerald cut, baguette). Fewer flashes, but an elegant “hall of mirrors” that shows off color and clarity.
Cut, polish & symmetry grades
When a stone is graded, these rate how precisely it was cut and finished, best to least:
Colored gems are graded more loosely than diamonds — cutters often favor richer color and carat retention over textbook proportions.