When light enters a diamond, it is reflected and refracted out. If there is anything disrupting the flow of light in the diamond such as an inclusion, a proportion of the light will be lost. As a result, brilliance could be diminished. The number of inclusions can determine the degree of brilliance lost.

Inclusions, which are sometimes referred to as "nature's fingerprints," are usually not visible to the naked eye unless magnified.

Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America(GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from Flawless (FL) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamond found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable.

What's the difference between VVS1 and VVS1 or SI1 and SI2? The numbers represent levels within each grade. The 1s will be cleaner (have fewer or smaller inclusions) than the 2s. This allows for more specific grading categories.

Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like crystals, clouds or feathers.

To view inclusions, jewelers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10X its actual size. Even with a loupe, inclusions in the VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) to VS (Very Slightly Included) range can be very difficult to find.

The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. You may not notice a significant difference between a VS1 and a VS2. However, you should consider the number, size, brightness, nature and position of the inclusions.

Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond, An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant