What is the standard magnification used for grading the clarity of diamonds?

The standard magnification used for grading the clarity of diamonds is 10X. This level of magnification provides a sufficient view to assess inclusions and surface blemishes within the diamond without making them appear overly large or distorting their appearance. At 10X, graded clarity characteristics can be effectively evaluated, allowing gemologists to accurately determine the diamond's clarity grade according to the established grading scale.

Using a lower magnification, such as 5X, may not reveal all clarity characteristics, especially smaller inclusions. On the other hand, magnifications like 20X or 30X could provide excessive detail, which may complicate the grading process by highlighting minute features that do not significantly impact the overall clarity grade. Thus, 10X strikes the right balance, enabling a comprehensive and standardized assessment across various diamonds.