The clarity grade of a diamond is one of the important parameters that can have a great impact on its appeal and value. Different clarity grades are assigned for these stones based on the amount of impurities and imperfections present in them. The clarity of a diamond is the measure of the presence of inclusions and blemishes present in this stone.
Diamonds with clarity grades Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF) have great value, as they have no visible inclusions even under magnifications. Diamonds with a slight amount of inclusions are given the grades VVS (very very slightly included) and VS (very slightly included). Even though these diamonds have slight levels of inclusions, they are not visible to the naked eye. These inclusions will be visible only under 10x magnification. Therefore, VVS and VS diamonds won’t have a comparable difference when compared to FL and IF diamonds in terms of their clarity.
Choosing VVS and VS diamonds can help you to save a significant amount on your diamond rings without compromising on their beauty. Therefore, we explain some of the important things you want to know about these clarity grades.
VVS Diamonds
VVS diamonds have inclusions that can be really difficult to see under 10x magnification. The VVS grade is further divided into VVS1 and VVS2. The inclusions in VVS1 stones will be “extremely hard” to see under 10x magnification, whereas, the inclusions in VVS2 diamonds are “very hard” to see under 10x magnification. The visibility of inclusions of VVS2 diamonds will be more when compared to VVS1 diamonds.
VS Diamonds
The inclusions in VS diamonds are slightly more visible than in VVS diamonds. However, they are still not visible to the naked eye. VS diamonds are also divided into VS1 and VS2. These diamonds have imperfections that range from hard (VS1) to somewhat easy to view (VS2) under 10x magnification. In some rare cases, the inclusions in VS diamonds might be visible to the naked eye.
Do Lab Grown Diamonds Have Inclusions?
Yes. Lab grown diamonds also come with imperfections like inclusions and blemishes, as they are developed under the same conditions that mimic the conditions under the earth that are required for the formation of diamonds. Therefore, these diamonds can also have inclusions. So it is important for you to get grading reports when purchasing both natural as well as lab grown diamonds.
When choosing between VVS and VS diamonds, make sure to compare them side-by-side to find out which is the best option for your budget.