All You Need to Know About VVS2 Diamonds

VVS2 Diamond, 1.04ct, D color

When it comes to diamonds, a few key factors determine a stone’s value: carat weight, cut quality, and diamond clarity. Diamond clarity is often the most important factor (next to cut quality) as it determines how many blemishes and inclusions (imperfections) are present in a diamond. Clarity is graded on a scale from I (included) to flawless (FL), with VVS2 diamonds typically fetching a higher price than other grades. But are they worth the premium?

What Does VVS2 Clarity Mean in a Diamond?

If you are looking for a diamond for your engagement ring, you most likely came across diamond clarity grading.

Eleven clarity grades range from FL diamonds (flawless diamonds that are always eye-clean) to I3 (a diamond so full of surface blemishes and inclusions visible to the naked eye). Most people can’t afford flawless diamonds and therefore consider a VVS2 diamond. Those diamonds have no visible inclusions, just like entirely flawless diamonds.

VVS stands for “Very Very Slightly Included” diamonds. Diamonds in this clarity range are nearly perfect, and it’s usually impossible to tell the difference between VVS diamonds and FL diamonds.

Just take a look at the two diamonds below:

It’s impossible to tell the two diamonds apart. Even a trained gemologist would have difficulties detecting flaws under a jeweler’s loupe.

Unsurprisingly, VVS diamonds come with a hefty price tag. That’s because they are pretty rare but highly sought after.

That’s why many people who do proper research before purchasing a diamond decide that it makes sense to buy a diamond with a lower clarity rating.

That’s because those people know that it’s not worth their money to pay for a feature they can’t even see.

In the following two sections, I will tell you how you can find eye-clean diamonds with lower clarity grades for a fraction of the price of VVS diamonds.

Which one is better VVS1 or VVS2 diamond clarity?

Detecting inclusions in either VVS diamond grade is extremely difficult. You would never see any inclusions or blemishes using your naked eye once the diamond is in its setting.

Below, I am listing three randomly selected VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds.

Please click on the links below to see each listing. You can inspect the diamonds by interacting with each of the video listings. You can use the zoom function to see the actual size of the diamond.

1 VVS2 Diamond Example

2 VVS1 Diamond Example

3 VVS2 Diamond Example

Can you see the inclusions and blemishes in the 20X photos or the 10X videos? Most people can’t, and that’s why I believe that a VVS1 diamond clarity grade is not necessary unless you are purchasing a huge diamond.

The only differences between the two grades are technical. The difference depends on the inclusions’ accuracy when inspecting the diamond up view with a 10X magnifier.

A VVS1 diamond’s inclusions can only be seen from the bottom (pavilion) side up under magnification. A VVS2 diamond’s inclusions can be seen when inspecting it face up and are usually in the top half.

Both VVS diamond grades have very tiny inclusions making it almost unreasonable to opt for an even higher clarity diamond grade.

What is a VVS2 diamond worth?

Not all VVS2 diamonds are equal. There is considerable variation in quality and price depending on the stone’s cut, color, and carat weight. Based on those variations, you can find a 1-carat VVS2 diamond for as little as $2,800 and as much as $15,500.

However, an average 1-carat VVS2 diamond with an ideal cut and in the near-colorless range would cost you around $6,000 to $12,000.

That said, VVS2 grade diamonds are generally more expensive than other clarity grades, such as VS1 or S1. But they are cheaper than VVS1 diamonds.

Below, I put together a chart that shows how prices change with the diamond’s clarity grade (based on a round brilliant 1-carat H-color diamond):

As you can see, VVS diamonds are pretty pricey, and you can save money by opting for a lower-grade diamond that might have more inclusions and other slight imperfections.

Choosing a lower clarity grade doesn’t mean you can’t find diamonds with no visible inclusions outside of the VVS grades. In the next section, I’ll show you how!

Should you choose a VVS2 diamond or buy a lower clarity grade?

Just like a flawless diamond, VVS2 diamonds are so immaculate that even a purist can appreciate their beauty and clarity. But VVS2 might not be necessary to get a high-quality, seemingly perfect diamond.

That’s because most people cannot see any difference between an eye-clean diamond graded SI and one graded VVS2. That means you can find a diamond with no visible inclusions even if you consider an SI-graded diamond.

Just go to James Allen or Blue Nile and use the high-definition pictures to search for eye-clean low clarity diamonds.

If you are practical and want an eye-clean stone, consider VS1 or VS2 diamonds. If you want more for your money, you could even look at SI1 and SI2 diamonds. Here’s why:

As we’ve discussed, prices go down as the clarity grade goes down. The idea that diamonds sparkle any less at the lower grades is untrue.

The designation SI1 means “Slightly Included 1,” so the diamond has inclusions that can be seen under 10X magnification. But, that doesn’t mean that all SI1 diamonds have inclusions visible to the naked eye.

The designation SI2 is a grade down from SI1 and means “Slightly Included 2.” An SI2 grade diamond has inclusions that can easily be seen with a 10X loupe. You may even be able to see some of its inclusions and blemishes with your naked eye.

Many people, including some in the diamond industry, believe SI1 and SI2 diamonds can’t be eye-clean. That’s not true because you can find them if you know what you’re doing and have the right tools at your hands.

Buying VVS diamonds for engagement rings

When searching through James Allen diamonds, reduce the 20X magnification to 2X.

You are virtually viewing the diamond at nearly its true size when you do this. The 2x magnification is a little larger than the actual diamond, but at zero or 1X magnification, you really can’t see anything.

If you can’t see any inclusions at this magnification, there is a high chance that it will be eye-clean in reality.

Conclusion

When it comes to diamonds, the more expensive ones are often not worth the investment. Most people can’t afford flawless diamonds or even VVS diamonds.

For most people it makes sense to consider lower clarity grades for their diamond, such as a VS1 diamond or even an SI1 diamond. You can still find eye clean diamonds with lower clarity grades but for half of a price of a VVS2 diamond!

I suggest you go over your budget and think about how much you want to invest in beauty versus cost when deciding on which type of diamond will work best for you. James Allen has an excellent “Super Zoom” function that lets you see inside each stone so that you don’t have any surprises after purchasing one online or in person at a jewelry store without

Thank you for reading my blog post. Feel free to check out some of my other articles, such as my cushion cut diamond guide or my ring setting guide.