IF Diamond: Are Internally Flawless Diamonds the Finest Choice for Clarity Grade?

“Are IF diamonds worth buying?” Our answer is yes, they are, but let us look into some technicalities to make sure you truly understand what IF diamond is and why they are so expensive.

Diamonds are some of the most beautiful stones that nature has created. As we extract the diamonds and segregate them, we see them based on the 4 most important factors that make a diamond what it is. These 4 factors that make up the identity of a diamond are cut, carat, color, and clarity. In this article, we will be focusing on the clarity of diamonds, or in this case, IF diamond.

Each of these 4 segregations has divisions, and here we talk about the clarity. The clarity of a diamond can be divided into F (Flawless), IF (internally Flawless), VVS (Very Very Slightly Inclusive), VS (Very Slightly Inclusive), and SI (Slightly Inclusive). These are further broken down into grades to make it clear which group a diamond belongs to.

The clarity of a diamond suggests the inclusion of blemishes and flaws in the white crystal while it was being formed. Diamond, being a natural stone, has inclusions from the time it was created under tremendous pressure and just below the surface of the earth.

What Is an IF Diamond?

IF diamonds are Internally Flawless diamonds. They are graded only after the FL category, which stands for Flawless. They are the second least flawed diamonds. Internally flawless diamonds have inclusions and blemishes which are not visible under 10x magnification. Viewing IF lab diamonds with the naked eye will make them appear as clear as a flawless diamond.

These diamonds contain flaws that might in some ways affect the strength and durability of the diamond, which in this case, shall not be considered. The flaws of these diamonds are not internally included, as stated by the name. The only flaws they might have are minor details like scratches or polish marks. These might have occurred while adding finishes or cuts to the diamond.

The IF clarity diamond will make you want to buy it over other options that might be available in the market. Due to its brilliance, the IF lab diamond is used in a variety of jewelry options, which can be customized based on the wearer’s style.

Internally Flawless diamonds fall into the category of those with the highest brilliance and shine. These If diamonds are one of the topmost sparkling diamonds, due to their lack of flaws on the inside. An IF diamond is said to have a very brilliant shine as compared to other lower grades of diamonds.

Diamond clarity IF is very clear, but it does not seem to have any advantage over a VVS or VS when compared in aesthetics. Since, to the normal eye, they appear very similar. Before choosing an IF clarity diamond, one should see how it affects them when selecting a better grade of a lower clarity diamond.

IF diamonds are worth a lot and are valued as one of the top categories of diamonds, The brilliant shine and flawless nature of these diamonds make them rare and super valuable. Only a small percentage of diamonds worldwide are IF diamonds.

These are usually very expensive and can take a toll on your finances. It is necessary to have a pre-decided budget before you start to buy these precious gems. A lab created IF diamond is high-priced, hence is preferred only for ceremonial or crucial pieces of jewelry/items.

VVS or VS clarity diamonds are considered a preference after IF since they are visibly flawless to the naked eye and cannot be distinguished. Moreover when wearing these diamonds in rings or other jewelry makes the inclusions completely invisible.

To save money and also get a better value for the price, VVS or VS are chosen by individuals over a similar carat of IF diamond.

Clarity is not the only value that a diamond has. Clarity is only one of the 4Cs (Clarity, Cut, Carat, and Color) that are present in a diamond. Other C options, such as carat, color, or cut, can also be selected based on personal preference or design requirements.

Deciding which quality of the diamond is crucial to you will in turn determine what diamond is appropriate for you and also come to a fixed budget concerning the IF clarity of diamonds.

How Much Is an IF Diamond Worth?

Internally flawless diamond price start at around $800-900 depending on the other varying factors like the remaining Cs. Usually, the FL and IF variants of diamonds do not give good returns, as they end up catering to the top audience. Usually, the market is open to VVS or VS diamonds and at most SI diamonds.

FL and IF diamonds do not fall into the affordable category of diamonds and hence end up being an asset rather than an investment.

An eye-clean diamond is a much more feasible option than a diamond that seems similar to the naked eye and is much more expensive for the same amount of diamond carat.

Also Read: The Lab Grown Diamond Clarity: Things To Contemplate

Shape	Carat	Cut	Color	Clarity	Price
cushion	2.03	Ideal	D	VVS1	$1045 $995	View
oval	2.09	Ideal	F	VVS1	$1338 $1274	View
radiant	2.06	Ideal	D	IF	$2950 $2810	View
cushion	3.40	Ideal	D	VVS1	$4137 $3940	View
oval	3.03	Ideal	F	VVS1	$1811 $1725	View
emerald	2.94	Ideal	E	VVS1	$2306 $2196	View
cushion	2.47	Ideal	D	IF	$5892 $5611	View
emerald	3.01	Ideal	D	VVS1	$1657 $1578	View
oval	2.44	Ideal	E	VVS1	$2131 $1598	View
emerald	2.05	Ideal	E	VVS1	$1111 $833	View
emerald	1.53	Ideal	E	VVS1	$1089 $817	View
pear	2.26	Ideal	E	VVS1	$1983 $1487	View
pear	2.21	Ideal	E	VVS1	$1943 $1457	View
oval	1.57	Ideal	F	VVS1	$985 $739	View
radiant	1.79	Ideal	E	VVS1	$1184 $888	View
radiant	1.52	Ideal	D	VVS1	$1013 $760	View
radiant	1.76	Ideal	D	VVS1	$1227 $920	View
radiant	1.77	Ideal	D	VVS1	$1233 $925	View
emerald	1.55	Ideal	E	VVS1	$771 $578	View
pear	2.28	Ideal	E	VVS1	$2000 $1500	View

Difference Between IF and FL Diamond

An FL diamond is flawless and contains no blemishes or inclusions visible to the naked eye. They are hardly visible under a magnification of 60-100x. These are the top category of diamonds and hence the most expensive.

IF diamonds are Internally Flawless diamonds, meaning internally as blemish free as FL, with some blemishes or flaws on the surface of the diamond. Hence, these fall into a category lower than and next to the FL. And IF diamond clarity will make you feel like it is everything you need because the brilliance of the gem just leaves you mesmerized.

IF vs FL Diamond: Price

The price difference between an FL diamond and an IF diamond is substantially large. When 1 carat of FL diamond and IF diamond is compared, the difference comes up to anywhere between $1000-1700.

This makes up a huge amount. When comparing these two diamonds, one can buy an IF diamond with a larger carat than that of an FL, at a price that is the same. There are no visible distinctions between these two varieties and they end up being visually the same as one another.

Are IF and FL Diamonds Worth It?

The external flaws are very minute and cannot even be seen under a magnification of 10x, let alone by the normal eye. Even IF diamonds require way too much magnification (close to 60x) to see the flaws, that too by a professional eye. No matter how good your eyes are, a normal person can’t tell the difference between these diamonds.

IF vs FL Diamond: Eye-Cleanliness

The IF clarity can be considered the highest among the diamonds, with slight flaws that are only external and not visible to the unaided eye. These diamonds are known to be expensive due to their internally flawless nature.

Regardless, they do not provide the best value in diamonds. One can easily choose VVS clarity diamonds or even VS, at a much lower price than an IF diamond, and help save a lot when on a budget.

Buying IF Diamonds: You Should Buy It or Not

Buying IF clarity diamond is a task in itself too, since we never know which one to choose. The best option is to get started with a budget so that there is a clear idea of where you shouldn’t exceed your expenses.

One place where a compromise can be made for an IF diamond is the color of the diamond. When one chooses a D color for the diamond, then it is certainly going to be heavily priced.

The lower grade of colors like G and H will decrease the cost of the diamond by almost more than half. This will not end up creating a vast difference in the appearance of the diamond, and it will definitely allow one to stick to a budget when they are considering buying these diamonds.

Also Read: Lab Created Diamond Color Grade: What to Look for

When buying IF diamonds online, one has to be considerate as to buying from well-known websites and also trust them to send in a certificate of the diamond used. Once the certificate exists, then the value of the diamond is believable.

We at Loose Grown Diamonds offer the best-price diamonds certified by Gemological Institute of America (GIA), International Gemological Institute (IGI), and Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL). Every one of these diamonds is perfectly made and can be put on any piece of jewelry you want.

Moreover, if you find yourself confused about determining the cost of your chosen diamond, you can make use of our diamond price calculator and you can also use our promo code for a discount.

Conclusion

IF diamonds are one of the niche qualities of diamonds, that caters to a very specific crowd. These are usually preferred by people who do not have budget constraints and end up spending on the best of the diamonds. Alternatively, if one is specifically looking for a good quality diamond on a budget, then there are a variety of options that one can choose from.

In cases like this, it becomes important to make a wise decision. You are investing in an IF diamond, and even if there is no return, there should be some value that the diamond provides. If there is a similar-quality product available at a lower price, why should one invest more than twice in the same product?

IF diamonds are very precious and beautiful but also very tricky to buy, you should stay updated with information on diamonds in the market. So you know what is trending, and then it helps you either form a budget or come to a conclusion about the internally flawless variety of diamonds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are IF Diamonds Rare?
IF Diamonds are one of the rarest kinds of diamonds that are in the high clarity category of diamonds. They make up only 0.5-1% of the diamonds in the market since they are very unique and hard to find.

How Common are IF Diamonds?
IF diamond form around only 1% of the diamonds mined. This rare nature of these diamonds thus makes them more expensive as compared to the other clarity of diamonds.

What Is a 1-Carat Flawless Diamond Worth?
A 1 carat flawless diamond will be worth almost $1600 on average, which will be affected by a lot of other factors that make the diamond what it is. These shall include the other 3 Cs that make up the diamond’s identity. 1 carat IF diamonds are very precious, but they do not offer such a good value for the money one has invested. The investment in the diamond should be worth the price that has been offered to buy it.

Is IF Better than VVS1?
In terms of certification, IF is higher than VVS1, but overall, we see that VVS1 is worth more than IF. VVS is valued rightly and gives a good return even at later stages of the diamond’s life. When viewed through the naked eye, VVS1 is as flawless as compared to IF. Without magnification, they both possess the same quality. Hence, while investing or choosing, one should make a wise decision based on what matters to them the most.