Name: Gabriel Edward Jewelers
Price range: $$

Clarity is a game played under a microscope but won by naked eye. The GIA Clarity Scale runs from “Flawless” to “Included”, each grade corresponding to the presence of a stone’s interior (inclusions) and exterior (blemishes) imperfections. Important detail- these grades are assigned while looking at a diamond under 10X magnification.

Some stones have no blemishes, just like your fiancée ???? But look at a 1.00 carat “VVS2” diamond versus a 1.00 carat “SI1” diamond without magnification. Which is which? If you can tell me your ring is free. If you’re wrong I get to name your firstborn.

Which is the “VVS2” and which is the “SI1”?

“SI1” on the left, “VVS2” on the right.

On a typical-sized (around 1 carat), brilliant-cut Center Diamond, Clarity Grades “Flawless” through “SI1” (and sometimes “SI2”) will look nearly identical to the naked eye.

Let’s take a look at the clarity maps on each stone’s grading report…

Here’s the “SI1”, a 1.01 carat “J” Color GIA Graded Natural Diamond.

Here’s the “VVS2”, a 1.18 carat “G” Color IGI Graded Lab-Grown Diamond.

You know what doesn’t look identical in person? The price tag. A GIA Graded “I” Color (most popular color grade this carat size) and “VVS2” Clarity 1.00 carat round diamond averages 19% more expensive than an equivalent “SI1”. Insanity!

What Clarity Grade for My Engagement Ring’s Center Diamond?

To maximize your budget in terms of Clarity, stick to the lowest grade that looks “eye clean”. Now you can allocate more budget to Color, Cut and Carat Weight, which are significantly more noticeable features of your Diamond. Here’s a good set of guidelines for the lowest eye clean clarity, by diamond shape and carat weight:

For Rounds:

<1.00 carats: An “SI2” will be eye clean 95% of the time.
Set filters: “SI1” – “SI2”
1.00 – 2.00 carats: An “SI1” stone will almost always work.
Set filters: “SI1” – “SI2”
2.00 – 2.50 carats: “SI1” is still generally eye clean.
Set filters: “VS2” – “SI1”
2.50 – 3.00 carats: “VS2” will be eye clean 95% of the time.
Set filters: “VS1” – “VS2”
3.00 carats+: Start with “VS2”, move to “VS1” around 3.50 carats, and the “VVS” range as you approach 4.00 carats.

For Fancy Brilliants:

For Fancy (non Round) Brilliant-Cuts (Cushion, Pear, Princess-Cut, Radiant, Marquise, Oval, Heart) go one grade up from each of the ranges for a Round.

For example, under 1.00 carats, set filters: “VS2” – “SI1”

For Step-Cuts:

For Step-Cuts (Emerald and Asscher), go two grades up from each of the ranges for a Round.

For example, under 1.00 carats, set filters: “VS1” – “VS2”

All this being said, if you find a stone you love within budget and its Clarity Grade is a couple grades higher than recommended here, don’t let that stop you. This article’s just a heads up to not focus too much of your budget on a less noticeable feature.

Javi Perez,
President

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