Clarity

What are FL (Flawless) clarity diamonds? | Rare Carat

A comprehensive guide explaining FL diamond clarity

Summary

A flawless (FL) diamond has no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
They are exceptionally rare, making up less than 1% of all diamonds.
Even a flawless stone can appear dull if it has a poor cut.
The grade is often sought for its symbolic meaning of perfect love.

Rian here. We've written these clarity grade articles for you to get the nitty gritty on each diamond clarity grade. You can also get the big picture: view our page on the diamond clarity scale or read more posts in diamonds 101 about specific diamond clarity grades. Enjoy!

The Details About FL Clarity Diamonds

Flawless diamonds make up less than 1% of the diamonds in the world. Needless to say, their price tags reflect that rarity.

Yes, flawless diamonds are the rarest of the rare, the unicorns of the diamond world. But they are worth it, right? Because they are perfect?

I'm about to burst your bubble. Do you think a 'flawless' diamond is actually flawless? Well if you do, you're a damn fool. Technically, a diamond is deemed 'flawless' if it is inclusion and blemish free under 10x magnification.

Here's how FL compares to IF and VVS1 on inclusions:

Clarity Grade	Inclusion Type	Visible Under 10x?	Naked-Eye Visible?
FL	None at all, internal or external	Not visible, by definition	No
IF	No internal inclusions, may have tiny surface blemishes	Blemishes barely detectable	No
VVS1	Very few, tiny pinpoints or needles	Extremely hard to spot	No

Flawless is Relative

If a blemish can be found under 20x magnification, would you still think it was 'flawless'? My point is this: don't weigh yourself down too much searching for that 'flawless' diamond, since it basically doesn't exist.

And even if you find that unicorn, know it can still be ruined by a bad cut. A poor-quality cut can have a hugely negative impact on the brilliance of the stone, dampening the sparkle and scintillation. If you insist on going for a flawless grade diamond, get one with an excellent cut and perfect proportions too.

Lab-grown diamonds typically cost 73-83% less than natural diamonds at the same specs, and clarity is one of four factors driving that price. Here's a real comparison at 1 carat, round, G color, Excellent cut, across FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, and SI2, natural versus lab-grown:

Clarity Grade	Natural Price	Lab-Grown Price	Savings
FL	$5,600	$950	83%
IF	$4,800	$850	82%
VVS1	$4,050	$755	81%
VVS2	$3,055	$665	78%
VS1	$2,435	$570	77%
VS2	$2,000	$500	75%
SI1	$1,650	$430	74%
SI2	$1,350	$370	73%

Prices reflect August 2026 listings and may fluctuate based on availability and market conditions. This reflects lab-grown vs. natural savings only, not Rare Carat's own price advantage of 20-40% off comparable listings.

Finally, on a more 'reflective' note, there seems to be some 'flawed' reasoning behind wanting a flawless diamond to represent your one true love. In theory, the love you have for your partner is pure and perfect. Some would argue they want something equally pure to represent it. Fair enough. But in real life, is your love for someone always pure and perfect?

IF Diamond Clarity >

FL Clarity Diamond FAQs

How uncommon are FL clarity diamonds, and what kind of price range do they usually fall into?

FL diamonds make up less than 1% of all diamonds out there, so yes, they're rare. That rarity comes with a serious price tag too. But here's the thing: all that extra clarity might not even show up to the naked eye once the ring's on your finger.

Should I always aim for FL when looking for a diamond?

Honestly, not really. A well-cut diamond a grade or two below FL will look nearly identical in everyday light. Plenty of buyers skip FL entirely and put that money toward a better cut or a bigger stone instead, and nobody's the wiser.

Does buying an FL diamond guarantee the best sparkle?

Nope, and this trips people up a lot. Sparkle comes down to cut, not clarity. You could buy the most flawless stone on earth and still end up with a dull ring if the cut's mediocre. Chase the cut grade first.

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Dr. Rian Mulcahy

Diamond PhD

Rian is officially a Diamond PhD - just ping us if you’d like to read her fascinating 200-page thesis, titled Facets of Value: An Investigation into the Formation of Worth in the Diamond Market. She has consulted various firms all along the pipeline, from the rough diamond market to the recycled diamond industry. She holds an MA in Globalisation and Development from University College Cork and a PhD in the Sociology of Diamond Valuation from the London School of Economics.