---
title: "Clarity characteristic: meaning in gemology"
description: "A clarity characteristic is any inclusion or blemish in or on a diamond. Together they set the clarity grade."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/clarity-characteristic
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Clarity characteristics

# Clarity characteristic

Also called clarity characteristics, flaw, imperfection

A clarity characteristic is any inclusion or blemish in or on a diamond. Together they set the clarity grade.

## In more detail

Their effect depends on their size, nature, number, position and relief at 10x. Like birthmarks, they identify one particular stone. They also help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants.

## On a grading report

Drawn on the clarity plot and named in the key to symbols on a full report. A Dossier lists up to four in words.

## Related terms

- [Inclusion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/inclusion): An inclusion is a clarity characteristic inside a diamond, or one that reaches the surface from inside.
- [Blemish](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/blemish): A blemish is a clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a diamond.
- [Clarity plot](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/clarity-plot): The clarity plot is the map on a full grading report: an outline of the stone with symbols on it. Each symbol shows the type, position and approximate size of a clarity characteristic.
- [Key to symbols](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/key-to-symbols): The key to symbols is the list beside the clarity plot. It names the kinds of clarity characteristic on that plot.
- [Clarity grade](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/clarity-grade): The clarity grade says how free a diamond is of inclusions (inside) and blemishes (on the surface) at 10x magnification. GIA's scale has 11 grades in six categories, from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3).

## Learn more

- [The diamond clarity scale explained, from FL to I3](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/four-cs/diamond-clarity-scale)
- [The clarity plot: how to read the inclusion map on a report](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/grading-reports/diamond-clarity-plot)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)