Navigating the intricacies of a diamond purchase can seem daunting, especially when deciphering diamond clarity grades.
Since a diamond’s clarity grade greatly impacts its allure and value, it’s worth your time to see the best clarity to fit your expectations and preferences.
Regarding engagement rings, I believe VS diamonds are the absolute sweet spot.
Most VS diamonds appear flawless to the naked eye and don’t carry the premium of top-tier clarity grades.
Let me show you around the world of VS diamonds!
Why Is Clarity Important?
Some couples prefer heart shapes over round, richer colors like K over D or the 2-carat size over 3.
But I have yet to meet someone who prefers diamonds filled with inclusions and impurities over a crisp, clear diamond.
Apart from the inclusions being potential eye sores, they can compromise diamonds’ ability to reflect and refract light properly.
Does this mean you have to opt for a flawless diamond?
Not at all.
As long as a diamond is eye-clean (which VS diamonds usually are), the clarity box is checked, and you can progress to picking a diamond color, shape and size.
What Are VS Clarity Diamonds?
VS clarity diamonds sit between VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) diamonds and SI (Slightly Included) on the GIA clarity scale.
VS comprises two subcategories: VS1 and VS2, with VS1 being the purest of the two.
The inclusions in VS diamonds are small, few and rarely noticeable to the naked eye.
Pair this with favorable pricing, and it’s clear why they’re one of the most popular clarity grades for use in high-end diamond jewelry.
Differences between VS1 and VS2 Clarity
VS1 and VS2 clarity diamonds are distinguished based on the inclusions’ number, location and size.
The differences are slight and will require some knowledge, a jewelers loupe and experienced eyes to tell the grades apart.
While the differences are minimal and require a gemological expert or a jeweler’s loupe to distinguish, they impact the diamond’s clarity grade and price.
What are VS1 Clarity Diamonds?
VS1 diamonds are the top tier in the category.
Inclusions in VS1 diamonds are typically minor internal graining, subtle clouds or minute specs on the crown of the diamond.
99% of VS1 diamonds are eye-clean.
VS1 is a safe bet for revealing step cuts like asschers and emeralds where inclusions have nowhere to hide.
What are VS2 Clarity Diamonds?
Although the inclusions in VS2 diamonds are larger or greater in quantity, they’re usually not visible to the naked eye.
As with VS1 diamonds, the imperfections are generally not in the table or heart of the diamond.
VS2 diamonds are well suited to all shapes, but step cuts over 2,00ct might call for a bump in clarity to VS1.
Price of VS Clarity Diamonds
A diamond’s price is based on its key characteristics:
- Shape
- Size (carat weight)
- Color
- Cut grade
- Clarity
Assuming the other specifications are identical, a VS1 diamond typically commands a premium of around 10%-15% over a VS2 diamond.
(TABLE)
In the clarity grading scale, VS sits comfortably between higher quality grades such as VVS and lower clarity grade diamonds like the SI-range, making them a premium yet reasonably priced option.
Note on VS Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds.
They’re 100% real diamonds in every possible way.
Since the lab growing process can be tightly controlled, the clarity of lab grown diamonds is generally much higher than that of their mined counterparts.
Lab diamonds come at greatly reduced prices to mined diamonds and offer unsurpassable value.
If you’re not up to speed on lab diamonds, I urge you to head over to this post: Lab Grown Diamonds vs Mined Diamonds.
VS vs VVS
One step up on the clarity scale, you’ll find VVS diamonds (very, very slightly included).
Both are higher clarity grades, but in the realm of VVS diamonds, even trained gemologists can have difficulty locating inclusions under magnification.
There’s rarely any visible difference between VS and VVS diamonds, but the latter is notably more expensive.
VS vs SI
The SI (slightly included) category has larger and more notable inclusions than VS.
The quality of SI diamonds has decreased over the past few years, and it’s fair to say that no more than 50% of SI diamonds are eye clean.
You can find good value in the SI arena, but I wouldn’t recommend them for diamond sizes larger than 0,70ct.
When balancing cost and visual appeal, VS diamonds trump SI diamonds at a marginally higher cost.
Rather than opting for a SI diamond, I recommend slightly decreasing the size or color and sticking to the VS clarity range.
Pros and Cons of VS Diamonds
Pros of VS Diamonds:
- Excellent Clarity: With the inclusions of VS diamonds not being visible to the naked eye they often appear as clean as flawless diamonds.
- Value for Money: They provide a perfect balance between cost and quality. They’re priced significantly lower than VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) and IF (Internally Flawless) clarities but offer comparable visual appeal since their inclusions usually aren’t visible.
- Versatility: Because the inclusions aren’t easily seen, VS diamonds work well with all diamond shapes and are particularly good for step-cut shapes (Emerald and asscher), where inclusions can be more noticeable.
Cons of VS Diamonds:
- Higher Price: If you were set on an SI diamond, the upgrade does come at a price. It’s money well spent, though.
- Minute Inclusions: If you or your fiancee-to-be walk around town with a microscope or jeweler’s loupe, the minor inclusions, visible under 10x magnification, might be a deterrent. Good luck.
Tips for Buying a VS Diamond
Ensure it’s free from visible inclusions
Although the VS-range seems like the clear value winner on the clarity scale, there are some bad sheep.
Unfortunately, you’ll find cheap VS diamonds that are not eye-clean on the market.
Always purchase from a reputable jeweler and ensure the diamond has a grading report from a reliable gemological institute like the GIA or IGI.
Also, have the jeweler confirm that the diamond is eye clean.
All our VS1 diamonds are guaranteed to be eye clean at Lumen Diamonds.
Consider the shape and size.
Inclusions can be more visible in larger diamonds and certain shapes like emerald cuts.
The open facets of shapes like emerald and asscher make inclusions easier to spot.
For these shapes we recommend sticking to VS1 or even higher if the size goes above 3,00ct.
Remember that a diamond’s clarity is just one aspect to consider.
The overall beauty of a diamond is a combination of the cut, carat weight, color, and clarity – the four Cs.
Where Can You Buy VS Diamonds
There are numerous places where you can buy VS diamonds. Brick-and-mortar jewelry stores are traditional options for viewing loose diamonds and jewelry firsthand.
However, with the rise of digital technology, many buyers are now purchasing from reputable online diamond retailers, which often provide more variety and competitive pricing.
Whether you choose to buy in-store or online, ensure the jeweler is reputable, offers certified diamonds from reliable gemological institutes, and provides good customer service.
VS Diamonds in Engagement Rings
VS diamonds perfectly balance appearance and price, making them an excellent choice for engagement rings.
Whether opting for a larger diamond with a higher weight or prioritizing a specific diamond shape, a VS clarity diamond focuses on the stone’s beauty rather than any obvious inclusions.
Remember, engagement rings are mostly viewed from about a foot away. Given this, a VS clarity diamond engagement ring would appear virtually flawless.
Conclusion & Recommendation
VS diamonds offer tremendous value for those looking to balance cost and quality.
These diamonds offer high clarity without the significant price tag associated with the higher clarity grades
Whether you’re seeking a diamond for an engagement ring or another piece of jewelry, a VS diamond is an excellent choice.
Prioritizing an eye-clean diamond, like a VS, allows you to allocate more of your budget to other critical aspects like cut quality, color and size.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We’ll gladly assist.
The Lumen Diamonds Clarity Guarantee
At Lumen our diamonds are guaranteed to be eye-clean, so we’ve removed the need to peruse an endless supply of diamonds in an effort to find the best eye-clean option.
FAQ
Yes, a VS diamond (Very Slightly Included) is considered a high quality diamond. Its inclusions are minor and are not visible to the naked eye, which means it will appear flawless when viewed without magnification. VS diamonds offer a great balance of quality and cost, providing an affordable option that maintains the brilliance and sparkle associated with high-quality diamonds.
A VVS diamond (Very, Very Slightly Included) diamond has less inclusions than a VS clarity diamond, which makes it technically superior in terms of clarity. However, the inclusions in a VS diamond are only visible under magnification, so the difference between VS clarity and VVS won’t be noticeable without magnification. Considering the significant price difference, with VVS diamonds being considerably more expensive, many would argue that a VS diamond offers better value for money.
VS stands for Very Slightly Included, and these diamonds are towards the higher end of the GIA clarity scale. They are typically eye-clean and offer a great balance between price and appearance. There are subcategories VS1 and VS2, with VS1 being the higher of the two.
VS is a clarity category which is the umbrella for VS1 and VS2. VS1 typically has fewer and smaller inclusions than VS2 diamonds, although both are eye-clean.
The highest clarity grade on the GIA Clarity Scale is Flawless (F). These diamonds have no interior or external inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification.
