Should you buy a VS or SI diamond? (2023)

FAQs

Is VS better than SI diamonds? ›

VS (very slightly included) and SI (slightly included). VS diamonds are of the highest quality, as they have very few inclusions or blemishes and are usually only visible under 10x magnification. SI diamonds have slightly more inclusions or blemishes, but they are still considered to be high quality.

SI stands for "Slightly Included," but that doesn't mean it's a bad grade. SI diamonds will often give you the most bang for your buck. Of the lower clarity grades, we recommend these. Like all diamonds, even flawless ones, SI diamonds have imperfections.

The clarity grades given by agencies like the GIA basically tell you how big of an issue these inclusions are. SI1 clarity diamonds should have slightly worse inclusions than VS2 clarity diamonds.

Theoretically, the difference between SI1 and VS2 diamonds is that SI1 diamonds are more included than VS2 diamonds. But sometimes an SI1 can be a better choice than a VS2 diamond, because the inclusions are less noticeable or they're in a place that's hidden by your setting or the prongs holding it.

VS clarity grade diamonds are very popular because of its lower price tag when compared to VVS diamonds, and its high quality when compared to SI diamonds whose flaws are easily seen in some cases.

Yes, lab diamonds have the same carbon composition as natural diamonds. Therefore, they have the same thermal conductivity. The test results are positive when exposed to the diamond tester, since the diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

According to a well known diamond trade organization the ideal diamond for investment is a Round Brilliant from 1.01 to 1.49 carat, D-H in color and from IF (internally flawless) to VS2 (very slightly included) clarity.

White or colourless diamonds have the most value.

On the diamond clarity scale, SI grades are closer to the bottom with only I (Included) grades lower. The SI range is broken down into two grades: SI1 and SI2. The difference between these two is in the amount, size, and how noticeable the inclusions are when viewed, with SI1 being the better grade.

Round Cut, Princess Cut diamonds: An SI1 or VS2 clarity grade will typically give you an eye-clean diamond. For large diamonds, we recommend a VS1 or VS2 grade, because the larger the diamond, the easier it is to see inclusions.

Which diamond clarity shines the most? ›

Because diamonds reflect white light, colorless diamonds produce the best sparkle and fire. In fact, the more color a diamond has, the less likely it is to reflect white light. And as a result, will produce less sparkle. A D-color diamond is the highest quality, and will offer the greatest sparkle.

Yes! Although an SI1 diamond isn't flawless, both SI diamond grades are beautiful and valuable. Most often, no one will come close enough to even see or identify inclusions. Like most other high-quality diamonds, SI diamonds will appreciate over time.

1. ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND. By far the most popular cut is the Round Brilliant, with it's fifty-seven perfectly aligned facets it's brilliance really does out-shine the others. Total internal reflection is the key here; light travels through the stone giving optimum sparkle and scintillation.

Flawless (FL) is the highest rating, followed by Internally Flawless (IF) (IF). Two further grade ranges are VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) and VS (Very Slightly Included). (You should keep in mind that VVS is better than VS in terms of quality.) SI and Included are the two lowest grades on the scale (I).

I1, I2, and I3 Diamond Clarity

I1 clarity have the least amount of eye-visible inclusions, whereas I2 diamonds have very visible inclusions. I3 diamonds are the lowest clarity grade possible prior to industrial drill bit use.

Moissanite. Currently, the most sought-after fake diamond stone name in the industry is the moissanite. Moissanite has developed a reputation for being the best alternative to natural diamonds since they can rival them in brilliance.

The clarity quality is Si, meaning “slight inclusions”. On this quality diamond, and certainly at under 0.50 carat, imperfections are not noticeable to the unaided eye. Only once under a jeweller's high-powered magnifying glass can these inclusions be detected.

This makes SI diamonds an excellent choice for jewelry consumers who are on a budget. While they may have blemishes, they'll shine just as brightly to the naked eye.

Round brilliant cut diamonds are easily the most expensive diamond shape. In part, that's because round is the most popular diamond shape. More than half of all the diamonds sold today are round diamonds. This incredible popularity means that diamond miners and retailers can charge more for such an in-demand shape.

To select knowledgeably, you need to know what jewelers know: the 5 C's of diamonds. Being well-versed in a diamond's color, cut, clarity, carat weight, and certification will take you a long way in ensuring you're selecting your perfect diamond.

Which diamond has the most value? ›

The most expensive blue diamond ever sold was a 14.2 carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which sold at $3.9 million per carat for a price of $57.5 million. The blue diamond that really takes the cake is the Hope Diamond currently housed at the Smithsonian, weighing in at 45.2 carats and worth an estimated $250 million.

Diamonds with a VS2 clarity grade offer you the best balance of beauty and affordability. We think they are the best diamond value. Buying a diamond that has a lower clarity grade but still no eye-visible inclusions will leave more money in your budget to buy a larger, more beautifully cut diamond.

The range of 1.0 to 1.9 carats is by far the most popular, but there are noticeable peaks at the 0.70 – 0.79 range, the 0.90 – 0.99 range and the 1.50 – 1.59 range. It's great to see that people take our advice and go for a diamond that's slightly lighter or heavier than industry cutoff weights to get the best value.

One of the decisions to be made when considering the purchase of an engagement ring is how many carats should the ring be? The average according to The Knot (a research company and website for all things wedding) is 1 to 2 carats. There is no rule. Developing a budget is always a good place to start.

According to the GIA “(SI) diamonds have noticeable inclusions that are easy to very easy for a trained grader to see when viewed under 10x magnification. The SI category is divided into two grades; SI1 denotes a higher clarity grade than SI2. These may or may not be noticeable to the naked eye.

Like VS2 diamonds, most SI1 clarity diamonds are flawless to the eye. But SI1 clarity diamonds are more likely to contain larger, noticeable flaws. If you're not the type to shop around and ensure your diamond will be eye-clean, stick to a VS2 clarity diamond.

Whilst in the above article, the author mentions the potential for a VS1 to be cloudy, this would be very rare, and more commonly, diamonds of an SI1 clarity or below are prone to suffer from poor transparency.

Overall, Costco diamonds are of decent quality and offer great value, as long as they're GIA certified. You can find a ring for 50% less than at other big-name jewelry stores. But compared to online retailers, Costco cannot match their selections, customization, or service.

Clarity is more important in shapes like emerald, princess, and asscher. Colour is important for cushion, radiant, pear and oval. Generally speaking, as long as you choose an eye-clean diamond, your diamond will still look beautiful in terms of clarity.

However I can assure you that Brian Gavin SI-1 clarity diamonds do not look cloudy, and as you can clearly see from the diamond clarity photograph and the high resolution video provided on the diamond details page for the 1.113 carat, H-color, SI-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Blue diamond with very strong blue fluorescence, ...

What is a poor cut diamond? ›

Poorly cut diamonds won't reflect as much light, giving the diamond less brilliance and fire. Some of the light will reflect out of the bottom of the stone, which is unseen when a diamond is set in a ring. Poorly cut diamonds may have light or dark patches that make the diamond look dull and lackluster.

It's a Type IIa cushion-cut diamond with a D color rating. In fact, the designer herself described the cut as “perfect.”

VVS diamonds rank higher on the clarity scale: which means their clarity quality is better than VS diamonds. The cleaner the diamond, the more extraordinary it is. VVS diamonds are rarer: and the rarer and closer you get to perfect, the more valuable and expensive the gemstone becomes.

VVS diamonds are known to be one of the highest grades of diamonds in terms of clarity, they have little to no traces of carbon on them. The VVS category is split into two grades; VVS1 and VVS2. VVS1 is a higher clarity grade than VVS2. VVS are rare & expensive that's why rappers like them.

VS and VVS Diamonds: Differences

VS diamonds have a higher clarity than VVS diamonds. This means that more of the diamond's natural sparkle is visible, which can make them look more expensive.

All VS clarity diamonds contain inclusions visible with magnification. In a VS1 diamond, the imperfections are smaller and harder to see than those in a VS2. Diamonds with a VS1 clarity grade will always be eye-clean. That means they'll have no imperfections visible to the naked eye.

Flawless (FL) is the highest rating, followed by Internally Flawless (IF) (IF). Two further grade ranges are VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) and VS (Very Slightly Included). (You should keep in mind that VVS is better than VS in terms of quality.) SI and Included are the two lowest grades on the scale (I).

VS1 diamonds don't have high relief inclusions like black spots in the center of the diamond or inclusions that cause durability issues. You definitely won't see the inclusions in a VS1 diamond with the naked eye.

Gia all the way! GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America, as is widely considered as the standard-bearer of the diamond certification industry.

What is the classiest diamond cut? ›

A heart-cut diamond is one of the best diamond cuts you can purchase if you're seeking a unique engagement ring that stands out among the rest. Heart diamonds maintain the brilliance and scintillation of the pear cut while incorporating hints of an oval.

Which diamond clarity is best? FL, which stands for Flawless, is the best rating for clarity. A diamond rated FL has no inclusions (imperfections), even when seen under 10X magnification. Less than 1% of all diamonds qualify so you'll most likely be choosing one in the lower graded VVS to SI range.

VS1 vs.

Diamonds with either VS1 or VS2 include minor inclusions. These are not visible to the naked eye and are only visible under 10x magnification. VS1 and VS2 stand for Very Slightly Included 1 and Very Slightly Included 2, respectively.

So, all else being equal, diamonds with fewer inclusions – or smaller, less noticeable inclusions – are usually more expensive than diamonds with more inclusions – or larger, more obvious ones. That's why, all else being equal, VVS diamonds will cost more than VS diamonds.

Since a round diamond is thought to hold the most value when compared to the other shapes, it will almost always be given a higher price than any other shape with similar clarity, color, and carat weight.

Diamonds increase in value over time and don't offer short-term results. In fact, like other physical commodities, the price of diamonds fluctuates from time to time.

There is a common misconception that non-certified diamonds are of lesser quality than certified diamonds. This is not the case though; they are created in exactly the same way. Many jewellers carry non-certified diamonds. They are simply stones that have not been put through formal lab grading.