Bottom Line Recommendations
- VS1 and VS2 have inclusions that can be seen under 10X magnification. However, such inclusions are minor and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- When buying diamonds in this clarity grade, and when buying any diamond for that matter, always give priority to the quality of the cut. This has the most impact on the brilliance, fire, and scintillation of the diamond.
- Always take time to observe and evaluate the diamond. This is the best way to find out how eye clean it is. Diamonds that have inclusions near the center or have large inclusions are much less appealing than diamonds that have smaller inclusions that are located near the edges and are hard to spot.
- When going for VS diamonds, consider the shape of the diamond. Emerald cuts and Asscher cuts have large facets that can accentuate the visibility of the imperfections. On the other hand, fancy cuts have more brilliance and can hide the appearance of the imperfections.
- Consider the size of the diamond. A large diamond will have larger facets making it easy to spot the inclusions and imperfections. If you want a diamond that is 2 carats or more, go for fancy shapes and a clarity grade of VS1 and above.
- When buying your diamonds, we recommend James Allen and white flash. They provide high definition 360-degree videos of the diamonds which will help you evaluate your VS1 and VS2 diamonds to find the right stone for you.
If you searching for a beautiful stone on a budget, then the VS1 and the VS2 are an excellent choice. They are the most recommended clarity grades.
Clarity tends to confuse a lot of people. However, the prices between clarity grades can be huge.
However, people still wonder whether they can choose one over the other or if they are good enough for engagement rings.
Diamond clarity
Before you can find the right VS1 and VS2 diamond for you, it is important to first understand the diamond clarity scale. This will help you be able to compare diamonds in different clarity grades.
Clarity is one of the diamond 4Cs. The others include the cut, color, and carat weight. The diamond clarity scale tells you how flawless the diamond is.
Diamonds take millions and billions of years to form under the earth’s crust and will be exposed to different types of impurities. Imperfections inside the crystal lattice of the stone are called inclusions while those found on the surface of the diamond are called blemishes.
The diamond clarity scale created by the GIA is as shown below:
FL: Flawless
IF: Internally Flawless
VVS1: Very Very slightly included 1
VVS2: Very Very slightly included 2
VS1: Very Slightly Included 1
VS2: Very Slightly Included 2
SI1: Slightly Included 1
SI2: Slightly Included 2
I1: Included 1
I2: Included 2
Flawless diamonds have no blemishes and inclusions. Internally flawless diamonds have no inclusions but they may have blemishes that are difficult to spot even under 10X magnification.
VVS diamonds have inclusions and blemishes but these can only be seen under 10X magnification.
The visibility of the inclusions and the blemishes increases as you go down the clarity scale. Slightly included diamonds, as well as the included diamonds, have inclusions that can be spotted by the naked eye. In other words, they are not eye-clean.
The VS1 and VS2 diamonds are situated in the middle of the clarity scale. With the VS1 and VS2 diamonds, the inclusion can be spotted with 10X magnification. However, the diamonds will appear eye-clean. Note that some diamonds in the VS1 and VS2 clarity grades are more eye clean than others.
VS1 vs VS2 Diamonds – Quality
We’ve noted that VS1 and VS2 diamonds have imperfections that are minor but can be seen with 10X magnification. But is there a difference between them?
VS1 diamonds have fewer inclusions that are much harder to see than VS2 diamonds. What’s more, is that the inclusions in VS1 diamonds are situated near the edges. On the other hand, VS2 diamonds have inclusions that are located near the center of the diamond making them easier to see.
Imperfections in VS diamonds are hard to spot with the naked eye and sometimes only a trained jeweler can view them. Note however that it is still possible to find VS diamonds with inclusions that can be detected by the naked eye. These are not eye-clean.
When buying your diamond, it is important to ensure that you view and evaluate the diamond yourself. This is because while a diamond report will tell you which clarity grade a diamond belongs to, it will not tell you whether the diamond is eye-clean or not.
Most of the time and especially when dealing with fancy cut diamonds, VS diamonds will be eye-clean. However, with step-cut diamonds such as the emerald cut and the Asscher cut, the fewer and larger facets can make spotting the imperfections much easier.
VS1 vs VS2 Diamonds – Price
The best thing about the VS1 and VS2 diamonds is the price. Their prices are significantly less than Flawless or Internally flawless diamonds.
When you consider that it can be difficult to tell the difference between a Flawless diamond and a Very Slightly included diamond with the naked eye, then you can understand why they are among the most recommended clarity grades. This is especially so when you want to strike a balance between the best price and a high-quality diamond.
They are the best choice for anyone who is looking for a stunning eye clean diamond while being on a budget.
VS1 vs VS2 Diamonds – Do they look different
Take a look at this 1 carat VS1 diamond here and compare it with this 1 carat VS2 diamond here. Can you tell the difference?
Chances are you cannot. If you are trying to get the best deal, you will be much better off with an eye clean VS2 diamond. This is because the prices between them can be huge as you can see above.
On the other hand, one of the main advantages of going for a VS1 diamond over a VS2 is not just the price but the settings. The inclusions can be hidden by prongs as they are closer to the edges.
Ultimately the right stone for you will depend on personal preference. If you want a large stone a VS diamond is a great way to achieve this.
Considering that VS diamonds appear eye clean, there is no need to go for a higher clarity grade diamond as the visual appeal will be similar.
VS1 vs VS2 Diamond – Which one to choose
The first thing to consider when shopping for a VS1 or a VS2 diamond is whether it is eye clean. You can only determine this by observing the diamond yourself.
That said, they are both great options when you are looking to strike a great deal and when you want to go higher in carat weight. Just keep in mind that the larger the diamond, the easier it is to notice any imperfections.
When looking to buy a diamond, priority needs to be given to the quality of the cut as it has the most effect on the appearance of the diamond.
VS1 and VS12 diamonds may offer a sweet spot between quality and price but how about the SI1 diamonds?
Keep in mind that it is possible to find an SI1 diamond that is eye clean. However, these are rare and you are more likely to find SI1 diamonds with obvious and visible inclusions.
You are much better off sticking to VS2 or VS1 diamonds.
Where to buy VS1 and VS2 diamonds
The best place to buy diamonds is online. Physical stores have a lot of overheads and staff costs and this will be reflected in the price. On the other hand, online stores have very little overheads which allow them to provide competitive prices.
Our best sellers are James Allen. They offer customers a 30-day money-back guarantee and free shipping. What’s more, is that you get to see magnified videos and images of the VS diamonds helping you to make the best evaluation.
We also recommend Whiteflash. They have a large selection of VS diamonds at highly competitive prices.
When buying your diamonds, avoid going for the included clarity grades. The stones have imperfections that are easily visible to the naked eye.