Colored stone guides
Clarity in Colored Stones
Judging a colored stone by diamond clarity rules is the most common mistake buyers make.
The short version
Inclusions are the record of how it grew
Nearly every natural gemstone has inclusions. In a colored stone they are not merely tolerated — in some species they are expected, and their absence is the thing that raises an eyebrow.
It depends on the species
Normal in one stone, a fault in another
Emerald almost always shows inclusions; the trade calls the internal landscape a jardin, and a flawless emerald invites suspicion rather than admiration. Aquamarine and tanzanite are routinely clean, and a visibly included one is a poor example.
What to look at instead
Liveliness, evenness, and durability
Whether the stone is lively and even in color, and whether anything visible sits where it will catch the eye once set. An inclusion that threatens durability — a fracture reaching the surface at a corner — matters more than one that is merely visible.