Topaz is generally eye-clean to very slightly included. Clarity
is a subjective term, however the following is how we describe
clarity:
Opaque: the gemstone will not transmit light
through it.
Translucent, or cloudy:
the gemstone transmits light, but you cannot see clearly through
it.
Heavily Included: the gemstone is transparent, but the gemstone is littered with inclusions,
which are very visible without magnification.
Moderately Included: the gemstone is transparent, but there are several inclusions, which
are visible without magnification.
Slightly Included: the gemstone has some very minor inclusions, which may be visible without
magnification.
Very Slightly Included (Eye-Clean):
the gemstone has some very minor inclusions that are not readily
visible without magnification. Some Inclusions may be visible
without magnification once you see them under magnification
and know exactly where to look.
Very Very Slightly Included:
the gemstone has some very very minor inclusions which are difficult
to see under magnification.
Loupe Clean (Clean): no
inclusions were seen using 10x magnification. However the gemstone was not examined microscopically. The gemstone may be internally
flawless or flawless.
Internally Flawless: the gemstone was examined under a microscope of at least 40x magnification,
and no inclusions were seen. The gemstone has some external
blemishes.
Flawless: the gemstone was examined under a microscope of at least 40x magnification
and no inclusions were seen and the gemstone has no external
blemishes.
The measure of visibility through
a Topaz
is known as its transparency. It is an often-overlooked characteristic
when discussing Topaz.
Topaz
can sometimes be very lightly included, most commercial quality
ranges from transparent to translucent.
Transparency is designated
as follows:
• Transparent - objects look clear through the gemstone.
These gems
boast superb brilliancy in spite of any inclusions they
may contain.
• Semitransparent - objects appear somewhat hazy or
unclear through the gemstone.
• Translucent - objects are hard to see through the
gemstone. Light can pass all the way through, but it
is fairly diffused.
• Semi-translucent or semi-opaque - a small fraction
of light passes through the gemstone.
• Opaque - almost no light passes through the gemstone.
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