All natural gemstones have characteristic inclusions that form along with the gem in the earth. These inclusions may be crystals, needles, voids, fissures, or even tiny pockets of liquid trapped inside. If they don’t detract from appearance, clarity features are accepted in most colored gems and don’t affect value. In fact, they provide a benefit by proving that the gem is natural.

Still, the ideal for most gems is that there should be no inclusions readily visible with the naked eye, particularly if the gem has a light color. There are some gemstones that are extremely rare without visible inclusions. You should expect to see inclusions in emerald, red tourmaline, and, to a lesser extent, ruby.