When compared to white diamonds, clarity is less of a factor in determining the value of a fancy colour diamond. Although large and obvious inclusions can detract from a coloured diamond’s beauty, they are often masked or partially hidden by the intensity of the diamond’s colour. Unlike colourless diamonds, the value of a natural coloured diamond hinges on the colour’s richness, beauty, rarity, and saturation.
The rarer the stone, the less an impact the clarity grade will have on its price. For example, the prices of a one-carat vivid blue VS2 and a one-carat vivid blue S11 should not be far apart. But, if you were to take the same stones in fancy yellow, the lower clarity grade would cause a downward impact on the diamond’s price.
Clarity in Blue and Pink Diamonds
Fancy pinks generally feature inclusions. Just a small percentage of fancy pinks receive a higher clarity grade, with the majority of pinks falling within the SI to I1 range. The same pressure that causes the plastic deformation may also cause fractures within the stone.
Blues, on the other hand, tend to be less included, with higher clarity grades actually more common.