Do you need VVS Clarity for your Diamond to be eye clean? In most cases, absolutely not! On a Brilliant-Cut Diamond (Round, Oval, Pear, Princess, Cushion, Marquise, Heart, Radiant), you’re usually eye-clean at VS1 Clarity up to 4 carats. On a Step-Cut Diamond (Emerald-Cut and Asscher), you’re good with a VS1 Clarity up to around 3 carats. Clarity’s the least important of the 4 Cs. If you’re trying to optimize your budget on the largest Diamond possible, your Clarity Grade should be eye-clean and not much more. You don’t need VVS Clarity unless you’re getting an extremely large Diamond.
What’s the difference in quality between a VVS2 Clarity and a VS1 Clarity?
Here’s a VVS2 Clarity 3.02 carat Pear-shape Diamond. It’s a beautiful stone, with proportions within IGI’s “Excellent” Cut range for a Pear. Both to the naked eye and under magnification, this stone’s extremely clean.
Here’s a 3.29 carat VS1 Clarity Pear-shape Diamond. “Excellent” Cut and “F” Color just like the stone above. You’ll notice a dark carbon inclusion on the Table (flat top facet) under magnification, but not to the naked eye. This is a perfect example of eye-cleanliness. The stone has visible inclusions under zoom but none visible to the naked eye.
What’s the difference in price between a VVS2 Clarity and a VS1 Clarity?
The price difference between different Clarity Grades can range from a few hundred in Lab-Grown to a few thousand in Naturals, assuming all other aspects of the Diamonds are equal. The 3.02 carat VVS2 Pear-shape was $2,250 and the 3.29 carat VS1 Pear-shape was $1,850. That’s an immediate savings of $400, for a larger Diamond!
Check out this chart for the best Clarity Grades based on your Center Diamond’s shape and size. This is always worth confirming in person (or asking your jeweler to do so if they’re not local), but this chart’s a great guideline to start your search with.
And check out this video from our Instagram comparing the 2 Diamonds to the naked eye and under loupe!
Javi Perez,
President
I’m here to help you create the PERFECT Engagement Ring for thousands off retail price. Keep saving for a lifetime with your soulmate while creating a Ring she’ll adore forever.
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