How to Buy VS2 Clarity Diamonds | Your Diamond Guru

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Diamonds are graded in multiple ways, from cut to coloration. There’s another grading system that can be a little more complex — Clarity. 

Today, clarity is measured through modern diamond imaging techniques, usually relying upon laboratory-grade machinery and diamond experts to identify what grade of clarity a diamond is graded at. 

One of the most popular diamond grading choices is the VS2 Clarity Diamond, frequently bought due to its very reasonable prices and its potentially eye-clean qualities. They’re a common choice of purchase for both diamond initiate and expert alike. 

What Is A VS2 Clarity Diamond?

A VS2 Clarity Diamond sits at the lower end of the ‘VS’ grade, which stands for ‘Very Slightly Included’. While its counterpart in this grade, the VS1 Clarity Diamond, is almost always going to be eye-clean, a VS2 Clarity Diamond has a wide range of possibilities when it comes to clarity.

Clarity is a term used in the diamond industry to refer to the visual appearance of the diamond, such as the presence of blemishes and inclusions. The grade ‘VS2’ is part of a wider range of diamond grading determined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This divides eleven grades into six categories:

• Flawless (FL)

• Internally Flawless (IF)

• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) — VVS is divided into two grades, VVS2 and VVS2

• Very Slightly Included (VS) – VS is also divided into two grades, VS1 and VS2

• Slightly Included (SI) – SI is divided into SI1 and SI2

• Included (I) – Included divides into I1, I2, and I3

Some VS2 diamonds may sit just below VS1 in their grading, while others may have just been included rather than being graded as an SI1. 

Clarity is graded by identifying the type, size, number, relief, and position of inclusions and blemishes that may be present inside a diamond. These are known as ‘syngenetic’, which is a blemish that occurs as a diamond is being formed, and ‘epigenetic’, where a blemish occurs after a diamond has been formed. Common blemishes and inclusions come from black carbon deposits present in the diamond, where carbon hasn’t crystallized into diamond. 

VS2s usually carry an inclusion that can be seen under 10x magnification, but is hardly visible to the naked eye, which is a great benefit to most buyers.

A finalized grading is influenced by several factors, but many expert diamond graders will work to universal standards when judging the quality of a diamond. 

Why Choose A VS2 Clarity Diamond?

To begin with, a VS2 Clarity Diamond will be noticeably cheaper than a VS1. This is most commonly due to a visible inclusion. For example, take this 1.71-Carat Round Cut Diamond by Blue Nile, priced at $12,928. Then, look at this 1.70-Carat Round Cut Diamond, priced at $13,260. These are both VS2 graded, but the latter costs around $700 less, even though it has a slightly smaller carat weight.

This is due to the inclusion you can visibly see in the first diamond. Inclusions such as these lower the price, but are usually imperceptible. However, it’s always worth choosing a diamond that’s undergone rigorous inspection under magnification and has been evaluated by high-res diamond imaging, done by a trusted diamond expert, such as Whiteflash, Blue Nile, or James Allen. 

The Cost of A VS2 Clarity Diamond

As a buyer, you should always remain within a budget that is comfortable for you. Don’t go for the most expensive diamond you can find, but also don’t go for deals that seem too good to be true. 

When it comes to the cost of a VS2 Clarity Diamond, prices tend to vary. This depends on several features of the diamond itself, such as the quality of cut, color, carat weight, and whether there are any immediately visible inclusions. 

Take this 0.704 ct G VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond from Whiteflash. At 0.704 ct, it’s a smaller carat weight than the industry standard (which is 1), which will bring down the price. Its coloration is also a G, which is just outside of the colorless range (another industry standard), which means there is an ever so slight tinge to the color. 

Compare that to this 1.062 ct H VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Diamond, which is also VS2 graded, but has a much larger carat weight, bringing up the price. As you can see, even though many diamonds can be graded at VS2, their prices will vary depending upon their unique qualities.

It’s worth noting that both of these diamonds are from Whiteflash’s A CUT ABOVE® range, which is internationally renowned for having some of the most superb quality diamonds on the market today. This shows you that a VS2 Clarity Diamond can be of supreme quality, without the need for an incredibly costly investment.

For more great examples from a wide range of VS2 Clarity Diamonds and their relative prices, you can explore Whiteflash’s Round Cut Loose Diamonds, and use the in-built sliders to search for various ranges of VS2 diamonds to discover what affects the price the most. Click here to begin. 

Should You Buy A VS2 Clarity Diamond?

It really depends. On the face of it, VS2 Clarity Diamonds can be just as impressive as flawless diamonds. It’s a diamond grade that offers both beauty and great value for money. However, the main thing to look for is whether a VS2 Clarity Diamond is eye-clean. 

Eye-clean is where an inclusion can’t be seen with the naked eye, requiring either a magnifying glass or other piece of specialized equipment to spot. This means that with day-to-day use, there’ll be no issue of having a diamond with an ugly blemish in its core. A buyer’s goal should be to find an affordable eye-clean diamond within the VS1 or VS2 range. 

In fact, the opposite of this is one of the most common mistakes first-time buyers make. They assume they need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a diamond that’s been graded as either flawless or internally flawless, whereas a VS2 diamond may look the same, but save them thousands upon purchase. 

So with this knowledge in mind, how can you go about choosing a VS2 Clarity Diamond?

How to Choose a VS2 Clarity Diamond

Choosing a diamond is usually dictated by the Four Cs; Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color. Now, as we’re talking about VS2 Clarity Diamonds, that C has already been decided. However, remember to weigh up the others:

Cut

When it comes to diamonds, cut is the most important factor for determining quality, as it actually has the most impact on the overall quality and performance of the diamond.

When cut, a diamond is essentially an item containing a number of tiny mirrors, each taking in and bouncing light in multiple directions. For the best light performance, a diamond should be cut with absolute precision, which makes for better light performance. The American Gem Society provides a grading scale for diamond cuts:

• 0 – Ideal

• 1 – Excellent

• 2 – Very Good

• 3, 4 – Good

• 5, 6, 7 – Fair

• 8, 9, 10 – Poor

You can find more information about diamond cut on our diamond cut education page.

Color

While, in general, the standard for an excellent diamond is colorless, color is really a subjective feature of a diamond. Many retailers and buyers want colorless, while others can be particularly interested in colored diamonds. 

For example, if a diamond is colored with a very saturated yellow color, it’s known as either a ‘fancy yellow diamond’ or a ‘canary diamond’, which is quite popular in some circles. 

If you’re looking for a colorless VS2 Clarity Diamond, choose a diamond that sits within the colorless ‘D-F’ bracket. 

Carat

For the uninitiated, carat represents the weight of the diamond. Usually, the higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond, as higher carat diamonds are rarer than their smaller counterparts. 

One carat diamonds set the industry standard, being the most popular weight. With many retailers, you can search for diamonds through weight alone, with many offering their weighings within three decimal points. 

However, like color, diamond carat is subjective. 

Just remember, the first thing you want to look for in a VS2 Clarity Diamond is the diamond being eye-clean.

VS2 Clarity Diamonds: Our Final Recommendations

In our opinion, VS2 Clarity Diamonds offer some of the most beautiful and affordable gemstones on the market today. They offer the same beauty as flawless diamonds but at a much-reduced price tag. 

If you’re looking for a larger carat weight, you may need to go up a grade, such as a VS1 or VVS2. The bigger the diamond, the more visible inclusions and blemishes may be, which means a higher clarity diamond may be needed. 

Finally, VS2 Clarity Diamond shouldn’t be chosen on a whim. Remember to determine whether the diamond in question is eye-clean, as this can never be assumed. When searching, get the expert opinion of those who can prove the credentials of the diamond being sold. Our recommendations for finding this information include the trust diamond retailers

Whiteflash

,

Blue Nile

, or

James Allen

.