Magnification

One of the most amazing things about clarity characteristics is how small they are. Most often, you need some sort of magnification to see them at all. Most diamond professionals, industry organizations, and government agencies agree that 10x magnification is the standard for clarity grading. “10x” means that the item being viewed is magnified ten times. It’s sometimes called 10-power.

The two types of instruments used most frequently in the jewelry industry are the loupe and the binocular microscope.

The loupe is the most convenient and affordable magnifier used for diamond grading. It’s small and portable: You can carry a loupe in your pocket. When used by someone with an experienced eye, a loupe is very accurate.