The Difference Between Flawless Diamonds and Plumbing - Download (2023)

FAQs

What is the difference between flawless diamond? ›

Flawless and Internally Flawless diamonds are rare and very expensive. Flawless diamonds have no inclusions and no blemishes on the surface. Internally Flawless diamonds have no inclusions, but can have small blemishes on the surface, which can be polished away.

The truth is, nothing impacts a diamond's appearance (sparkle & scintillation) more so than its cut quality. Check out a comparison of 2 internally flawless diamonds with different cut quality…

VVS-1 Clarity Diamond Characteristics:

The abbreviation “VVS-1” means that the diamond is Very, Very Slightly (included) at the highest level, which is one. So, the difference between VVS-1 and Internally Flawless is the visibility of the inclusions.

The more noticeable these inclusions and imperfections, the lower the grade. Flawless (F) and internally flawless (IF) are the highest clarity grades. After these comes very very slightly included (VVS). VVS1 and VVS2 are different levels of this grade.

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.

Clarity is graded on a scale from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). A grade of flawless diamond will have no inclusions visible to a trained eye under 10x magnification. Flawless FL – On GIA Scale, FL is the grade is provided to a stone with no visible flaws, internal or external, when examined under 10x magnification.

If you want a great-looking diamond, you don't need to splurge on a D color flawless diamond. But if you want an expensive status symbol and the bragging rights that come with it, a diamond of this color and clarity might be just what you're looking for.

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.

Cubic zirconia's have an advantage over natural diamonds. They are typically priced at a fraction of the cost and can equal a diamond in terms of brilliance and fire. If sparkle is your thing, Moissanite's higher refractive index, compared to diamond, means it flashes more and it is a hard stone too.

On average, you can expect the cost of a 2 carat diamond to widely vary depending on its shape, cut quality, clarity, color, and whether it's a naturally mined or lab diamond. The varying cost can range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more.

Is VS1 or VS2 better? ›

A VS1 diamond has slightly fewer and smaller inclusions than a VS2 diamond. In other words, a VS1 diamond is slightly better than a VS2 diamond.

VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) diamonds are a grade better than VS (Very Slightly Included) diamonds. VS diamonds (both VS1 and VS2) contain a small number of inclusions when the diamond is viewed under 10x magnification.

Flawless is the top grade in the GIA Clarity Grading System. Diamonds graded Flawless don't have visible inclusions or blemishes when examined under 10-power (10X) magnification by a skilled and experienced grader. As clarity increases, and if all other value factors are equal, diamond price per carat also increases.

The True Value of Jewelry

Fine jewelry does not usually depreciate. In fact, it can even increase in value in the future.

Both a VVS diamond and a VS diamond will have clarity features that in almost all cases cannot be seen with the naked eye. Yet, price differences between these two diamonds can be as high as 30%.

Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG. They can also include some natural clear gemstones like white sapphire, white zircon or even clear quartz.

This means that diamond jewelry is often imitated and sold as a real diamond. If you have been sold a fake diamond it is most likely to be CZ (Cubic Zirconia), an imitation created in a lab. While some choose to knowingly buy and sell CZ gems, others attempt to exploit the industry and sell them as real diamonds.

Moissanite gemstones are one of the most affordable diamond alternatives.

If you are on a budget and want to get the biggest bang for your money, the best diamond clarity grade for you is VS2 or SI1. As long as you have eyeballed the diamond and it is eyeclean, there's really nothing to be worried about.

AGS 0: Flawless or Internally Flawless

Flawless diamonds have no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x. Internally Flawless diamonds have no inclusions visible under 10x, but can have very minor blemishes (marks and features confined to the surface only).

What is the lowest grade of diamond clarity? ›

I3 diamond clarity represents the lowest diamond clarity grade available.

How much is a 1 carat flawless diamond? Because flawless diamonds are so rare, the cost of a well-cut 1 carat round cut with a G-H Color ranges from $6,100 to $9,000. Larger flawless diamonds are even more rare, and their prices match that level of rarity.

Occasionally, an oily film can appear on the surface of a diamond ring that cannot be removed. This film can result in the diamond looking milky or foggy. Moreover, the greasy film cannot be wiped away. The effect often follows a noticeable change in the appearance of the diamond from bright and clear, to cloudy.

The Golden Canary Diamond, weighing a colossal 303.10 carats and Fancy Deep Brownish-Yellow in color. The diamond is one of the largest polished diamonds in the world and the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America.

Keep the diamond clean.

This is probably the most important (and affordable) tip. A diamond that's dirty will not sparkle. Diamonds have an affinity for grease, so it's important to clean them regularly. Find out how to keep your diamond clean.

The most expensive diamond cut is the round brilliant because it wastes the highest amount of rough stone – around 60% on average – during the cutting process.

What diamond clarity is most popular? The most popular diamond clarity grade we see amongst our customers is VS1, closely followed by VVS2. These diamond clarity grades offer the greatest value, because they cost less than the rare grades like flawless and internally flawless, but still offer an eye-clean appearance.

The most brilliant, or sparkliest, diamond cut is the round brilliant cut. Round brilliant diamonds are cut to have 58 facets (including the culet), allowing light to enter the diamond and reflect off of every facet to create a beautiful sparkle.

A fake diamond will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond. “People have a misconception that diamonds sparkle like a rainbow, but they don't,” Hirsch said. “They do sparkle, but it's more of a gray color.

The Diamonds

Despite this apparent emphasis on diamonds, Zales only sell pre-set rings and do not offer loose diamonds. You can shop by shape, setting type and metal type but there are no options to filter by diamond quality – an instant red flag for any brand who claims a commitment to diamonds.

How much is a 0.9 carat flawless diamond worth? ›

The average price of a 0.9 carat diamond is currently $3,741 (see price chart below). 0.9 carat diamonds can cost anywhere from $1,095 - $9,033 depending on the diamond's shape, color, clarity, and other factors.

The price range of a GIA certified round 2 carat diamond is from $6,000 to $60,000. At the lower end, the starting cost of a round GIA certified 2 carat diamond with M color and si2 clarity is $6,000-$8,000.

A 1.5-carat diamond can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $35,000. The cost depends on the quality of the stone and how well cut it is. In general, the best value to be somewhere between $8,000 and $12,000. This is where you can find a good balance of quality, beauty, and price.

H vs G Color Diamond

For most diamond shapes, h color is a great stone to go for. It is versatile and luxuriant. Since both G & H diamonds fall in the same near colorless category, with G being the higher quality choice.

Talk to a Diamond Expert

So, in short, a J diamond should be the best color for most people. A J diamond with an “excellent cut” is also far more preferable than a G diamond with a “poor cut”.

As long as you choose a round diamond with a color grade of J or above, you shouldn't see any noticeable color. Princess-cut diamonds also hide inclusions well, but because inclusions in the corners can make the diamond more susceptible to chipping, clarity is more important than color.

There aren't many differences between VS1 and VVS2 diamonds, but you'll pay different prices depending on which clarity grade you decide on. Diamonds in the VVS2 range are considered the best value of the higher clarities — and it won't compromise your diamond's brilliance.

GIA Clarity Scale (Best to Worst):

Internally Flawless (IF) Very Very Slightly Included 1 (VVS1) Very Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS2) Very Slightly Included 1 (VS1) Very Slightly Included 2 (VS2)

Once the diamond is mounted in a setting designed to display its fiery brilliance, the warmth will be undetectable. However, the F color diamond is the last color grade in the 'colorless' category while the G color diamond is the first color grade in the 'near colorless' category.

H color diamonds are an excellent value with a faint yellow hue that is difficult to detect unless compared side by side with other diamonds of a higher color grade. Typically, only a trained eye can see the difference between H and G color grades. Fifteen percent of customers choose an H color diamond.

What diamond color is best? ›

According to that GIA standard, the "best" diamond color is D. (Read more about D color diamonds here.) D color diamonds are the equivalent of IF or FL grade diamonds on the clarity scale — they're very rare, and their price definitely reflects that.

Is E a good diamond color grade? E is the second-best color grade you can get in diamonds. Considered to be colorless, this diamond offers an icy look.

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.

Diamonds categorized as VVS are visually flawless to the naked eye but include microscopic imperfections. Yes, VVS Diamonds are 100% real diamonds. VVS is a classification of clarity grade that stands for “very, very slightly included.” Inclusions are naturally occurring flaws that affect a diamond's overall value.

Prices will dip to start the year, then stabilize.

Last year ended with diamond prices in a slump, and the first quarter of 2023 will continue downward. This will present a buying opportunity for those coping with stubbornly high inflation in other areas.

VVS1 and VVS2 both have excellent clarity, and you won't really be able to tell the difference when you look at the two. In a VVS1 diamond, the inclusions are so tiny you can't even see them at 10x magnification. In a VVS2 the inclusions are still very tiny, but you can begin to see them at that magnification.

Out of the 4 C's of diamonds, the cut of the diamond is the most important. This is followed by color, clarity, and carat weight.

VVS diamonds are absolutely real and describe the clarity of a diamond. Specifically, VVS is a clarity grade describing a diamond that is very, very slightly included. This simply means that yes, VVS diamonds are real. Inclusions are flaws that occur naturally in 99.5% of diamonds, affecting the diamond's value.

Probably not, so it's simply not worth the price tag. You're far better off spending more of your budget on cut quality. The quality of the diamond's cut impacts the beauty and brilliance of your diamond more than any other aspect.

AGS Laboratory Director Peter Yantzer described it as a “one-in-a-billion diamond,” and the stone was given the highest possible AGS grade: 0/0/0. To date, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond remains the most perfect stone certified by the AGS.

Is vvs better than VS1? ›

Clarity grade is based on all characteristics of the inclusions, not just the quantity. VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) diamonds are a grade better than VS (Very Slightly Included) diamonds. VS diamonds (both VS1 and VS2) contain a small number of inclusions when the diamond is viewed under 10x magnification.

The 100.94-carat, D-color, internally flawless Type IIa diamond sold for $14.1 million, landing at the lower end of its $13.2 million-$19.8 million pre-sale estimated range.

Near colorless diamonds, (G-H-I-J grades) offer the best value if you want to make the most of your budget. You can save money in color and spend more on an excellent cut which in turn gives more brilliance. G and H color grades come just after the colorless range, so they still appear colorless when viewed face up.

The most important factors are diamond cut, clarity, carat, and color. The clearer, bigger, whiter, and brighter the diamond, the higher the price.

Appearance. Diamond simulants can be differentiated from diamonds due to their optical properties. Moissanite for example, is double refractive while a diamond is single refractive. This causes the moissanite to emit a fiery rainbow sparkle that is easily differentiated from a diamond with the naked eye.

I3 Diamonds – (Also called “Included Diamonds”) the lowest clarity grade a diamond can receive. It denotes that the diamond has many visible inclusions and blemishes that can be seen with the naked eye.

Quality. A VS1 diamond has no visible inclusions and under 10x magnification, the inclusions are almost unidentifiable. These diamonds make up the top 5 percent of all gem-quality stones. VS2 diamonds will only have eye-visible inclusions 5 percent or less of the time, which are more common in stones over 1 carat.

A nice one carat round diamond that is VVS1 clarity costs about $6,000. The price can vary a bit based on which shape you select, what color grade you go with, and whether it's well cut or not.

Moissanite disperses light very well and has higher light refraction than Diamond and will appear more brilliant. Additionally, Moissanite is less likely to attract grease or dirt over time than a Diamond due to its crystalline structure which should help keep the 'sparkle' longer between cleanings.