Is VS2 Clarity a Good Choice for Diamonds? Read This Before You Decide
Diamond clarity and the VS2 grade…
While diamond cut and color are important characteristics of the 4Cs, they’re closely followed by clarity. Whether you choose an Excellent cut D color or a Good cut I color, the clarity can dictate how much each stone sparkles. Finding a diamond with VS2 clarity is a good way to balance the expense of high-clarity stones with the lackluster shine of low-quality gems.🕵🏻♂️
But, are VS2 clarity diamonds a good option for everyone? Let’s dive into clarity grades and the differences between them, what sets VS2 clarity gems apart, and how to shop smart for these beautiful gems.
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Basics: What is VS2 clarity?
What is diamond clarity?
Diamond clarity is the mapping of a diamond’s imperfections. As diamonds form in the earth, the intense pressure and heat create tiny variations within a diamond’s carbon structure.
Gem cutters do their best to cut around these flaws, but they often have to leave a few intact to preserve the polished gem.
About 99% of diamonds sold have inclusions or blemishes. Inclusions are flaws within a diamond, such as clouds, feathers, cavities, graining, etc. Blemishes are imperfections on the diamond’s exterior, and they include scratches, abrasions, pits, nicks, etc.
A diamond may have only inclusions, only blemishes, or both. Very rarely, diamonds have neither!
How do gemologists grade diamond clarity?
The GIA has a scale for grading diamond clarity, and it ranges from FL to I3. Here is a brief overview of the clarity grading scale used by gemologists:
GradeClarity Rating
FLFlawless
IFInternally Flawless
VVS1Very, Very Slightly Included 1
VVS2Very, Very Slightly Included 2
VS1Very Slightly Included 1
VS2Very Slightly Included 2
SI1Slightly Included 1
SI2Slightly Included 2
I1Included 1
I2Included 2
I3Included 3
Experts grade diamond clarity by first inspecting a diamond from varying angles with 10x magnification. They use their findings to denote any blemishes on the diamond’s surface.
Then, they use microscopes to search for internal flaws they should note on the diamond report. However, gemologists don’t just mark down every imperfection they find. Instead, they limit their search to “grade setting inclusions”, which means flaws that impact scintillation, face-up appearance, or value.
Finally, they mark all noted inclusions and blemishes on a “diamond plot” or map of where one can find these imperfections within each diamond. Doing so makes it easier for buyers to search for imperfections themselves and figure out whether they are bothered by them.✅
Diamond professionals use 5 criteria to grade diamond clarity: size, nature, number, location, and relief. These factors cover each flaw’s size relative to the diamond, type, place within the diamond, and color or visibility as well as how many inclusions or blemishes the diamond has overall.
What is VS2 clarity?
A diamond with VS2 clarity has inclusions that are visible to an observer under 10x magnification, which is the standard magnification of a jeweler’s loupe.
However, without magnification, the diamond is eye-clean. The inclusions are very small, and observers would not be able to identify them even under bright lighting. In turn, this means they do not impact face-up appeal. Because the inclusions in a VS2 diamond are well hidden, these diamonds are ideal for individuals who can’t afford FL or IF quality but don’t want any visible issues.
There are some exceptions to the typical inclusions that are difficult to see in a VS2 clarity diamond. For instance, certain flaws may show up at the edges of the diamond. However, these imperfections are considered “prongable”, which means a jeweler can hide them under a prong in a ring setting.
VS2 vs. VS1 clarity: What’s the difference?
So what’s the difference between a VS2 clarity diamond and a VS1 clarity stone? Let’s run through their main distinctions and break down why they’re graded separately.👇🏻
Comparing VS1 and VS2 clarity
It’s true that VS1 and VS2 diamonds have similar characteristics. Both are characterized by minor inclusions that can’t be seen without at least 10x magnification. So what exactly is the difference between these two grades?
In short, the location and size of inclusions are the main differences. While both diamonds have inclusions that are difficult to spot without magnification, VS2 imperfections are closer to the table and darker than VS1 flaws.
Because the VS2 diamond can mask flaws effectively, it’s the recommended clarity grade for any diamond less than 2-carats. However, for larger stones, at least VS1 clarity is necessary to keep inclusions hidden!✍🏻
Spotting the differences in VS2 and VS1 diamonds
The lack of visible flaws in a VS1 diamond creates about a 10% difference in price, and shoppers are often left wondering whether this extra money is worth it.🧐 Let’s look at two diamonds from James Allen and compare their inclusions to better understand why these differences are important.
Take a look at these two diamonds. Both are 1-carat, Excellent cut, and G color:
VS2 Clarity Diamond (1-carat Excellent cut G color) | James Allen SKU: 10429584
VS1 Clarity Diamond (1-carat Excellent cut G color) | James Allen SKU: 4252570
From these images, it would be difficult to know which diamond has VS1 clarity and which one is VS2, as they’re very similar!
However, when looking at their diamond plots, the differences become clearer:
VS2 Diamond Plot
VS1 Diamond Plot
The first thing to note is the number of inclusions in the VS2 diamond when compared to the VS1 stone. The VS2 diamond has about 9 inclusions, and the VS1 stone has about 5-7.
Aside from the number of inclusions, the VS2 diamond’s series of crystals, naturals, and indented naturals are more visible than the VS1’s cloud, needle, and minor crystals.
Crystals are small portions of other minerals stuck within the diamond, and they can be large. The VS2 stone has quite a few, and they’re spread a bit further across the gem’s surface. In contrast, the VS1 diamond has a cloud of minute pinpoint imperfections, which are concentrated in a small section of the stone and do not spread like the VS2’s crystals.
The VS1 also has some minor needles, which need at least 10x magnification to be visible. However, the VS2 diamond has some naturals and indented naturals, which are unpolished portions of the diamond. These can be more visible to viewers than the tiny needles!
Overall, the VS2 diamond may not have a much larger amount of inclusions than the VS1 stone, but the TYPES of inclusions in this gem are more visible than the concentrated section of minor inclusions in the VS1 diamond.
VS2 vs. SI1 clarity: What’s the difference?
So what if we decide to step down a clarity grade and go with an SI1 diamond? Let’s take a look at these two clarity grades and their differences.
Comparing VS2 and SI1 clarity
Taking one step down in clarity can’t change that much about a diamond, right? Well, it depends! The step from VS2 to SI1 is actually one of the places you can see more visible issues with your diamond.
Unlike the low visibility of VS2 inclusions, SI1 diamonds have imperfections that are always visible under 10x magnification. They may still be eye clean, but it’s not a guarantee!📝
VS2 clarity is always the safest bet for a diamond under 2 carats. SI1 diamonds are visibly more included than VS2 stones, and it’s difficult to find one that has an Excellent cut and colorless color to bring out the brilliance you expect from a diamond.
Spotting the differences between VS2 and SI1 diamonds
So just how visible are these non-eye clean inclusions in SI1 diamonds, and how do they stack up to those typically found in VS2 diamonds? The short answer: it can be pretty easy to identify the differences between these two clarity grades under showroom lighting.
Let’s take a look at the same VS2 stone before and compare it to an SI1 diamond of equal cut, color, and carat:
VS2 Clarity Diamond (1-carat Excellent cut G color) | James Allen SKU: 10429584
SI1 Clarity Diamond (1-carat Excellent cut G color) | James Allen SKU: 11054433
Immediately, you probably saw the darker inclusions scattered around the table of the SI1 diamond.
While the VS2’s crystals, naturals, and indented naturals are somewhat visible, the SI1 stone’s are plentiful, varied, and on full display in this face-up image.
When looking at the diamond grading reports, it’s clear the SI1 diamond has a few more issues than the VS2 stone:
VS2 Diamond Plot
SI1 Diamond Plot
In addition to the same inclusions the VS2 stone has, the SI1 diamond also contains feathers, needles, and clouds. These inclusions cover a decent amount of the stone’s table, and the “Comments” section of the report notes that there are even additional clouds and pinpoints that aren’t shown.🔍
Unlike the VS1’s clouds which aren’t visible to the naked eye, SI1 clouds can be an issue because they may cause hazy white sections to form if there are enough points within them.
Furthermore, feathers are small fractures within diamonds that can leave your gem susceptible to chipping and cracking. Any inclusion that can impact the structural integrity of a diamond is something to watch for!
Again, while you CAN find eye-clean SI1 diamonds, you still have to worry about whether their inclusions could cause structural damage a few years after purchase.
How much is a VS2 diamond? (Comparison with other diamonds)
A diamond with VS2 clarity sits at the intersection of quality and cost-efficiency. Overall, expect to pay about 10% less than a VS1 clarity diamond and almost 50% less than a top-quality IF clarity gem. However, prices are always subject to availability, brand, and the other 3Cs!
So how does the price of a VS2 diamond stack up against other clarity grades? Let’s look at 1-carat round diamonds with Excellent cuts and G color to compare:
