Diamond Clarity Explained: VVS vs VS vs SI

In the diamond industry, all these terms are well-known and people ask what is  VVS vs VS vs SI clarity?. It’s important for you to understand the essence of each before buying your next diamond jewelry. 

VVS means very, very slightly included, thinking what inclusions, and what is this? In simple terms, Inclusions are the tiny marks trapped inside a diamond as it forms, usually pinpoints, feathers, crystals, or clouds. 

Coming back to VVS, it includes trained grader struggles to find at 10x. VS means very slightly included, visible under magnification but not to your eye. SI means slightly included, where inclusions get easier to spot and may occasionally show. For most buyers, VS1 or VS2 is the value sweet spot, identical to VVS on the other hand, meaningfully cheaper.

What is diamond clarity?

Clarity as the word indicates is a measure of how clean a diamond is. A grader views the stone face-up under 10x magnification, then scores it on what they find, inclusions inside, and blemishes on the surface. It's one of the 4Cs.

Our full diamond clarity guide breaks down each grade in more detail.

VVS vs VS vs SI: what's the difference?

Let’s understand the difference between all VVS vs VS vs SI clarity before you plan to buy the best one. 

The gap between VVS and VS is real on paper and invisible in life. Once a stone is set and on a hand, nobody is looking at it through a loupe. 

Which clarity is "eye-clean"?

An eye-clean diamond looks completely clear when you hold it in your hand. The inclusions are still in there. You just can't see them without magnification.That's the part worth caring about as nobody around you looks at a ring through a microscope.

• VS1 and above: reliably eye-clean.

• VS2: eye-clean in the large majority of cases.

• SI1: often eye-clean, but check the stone rather than the grade.

• SI2: risky. Some are fine, many aren't.

Two things affect the eye-clean diamond clarity. First is size, a bigger stone has a bigger table, so inclusions that hide at 1 carat can show at 2. And shape, step cuts like emerald and asscher have long open facets that hide nothing, so go VS2 or better. Brilliant cuts like round, oval, and cushion scatter light and conceal far more.

How to check clarity before you buy

Don't buy the grade but also buy the stone. Two reports can both read SI1 and look completely different, because clarity depends as much on where an inclusion sits as on how big it is.

• The plot on the certificate. Every report maps inclusions onto a diagram of the stone. Marks clustered under the crown, near the girdle, or off to one side often disappear once the setting's prongs cover them. Marks sitting in the middle of the table are the ones that show.

• The magnified video. Watch it full screen, then imagine the stone at arm's length. If you had to hunt for the inclusion on a zoomed video, you won't find it on a hand.

• The type of inclusion. A white or transparent feather is far less visible than a dark crystal the same size. Dark, centered inclusions are the ones to avoid.

An SI1 with a feather tucked under a prong beats a VS2 with a black crystal dead center, and costs less.

Best clarity for a lab-grown diamond

Here's what changed. Since October 1, 2025, GIA no longer issues VVS, VS or SI grades for lab-grown diamonds. Its reports now say only Premium or Standard. GIA's reasoning: most lab-grown stones fall into one narrow quality band.

You can roughly translate the labels and understand VVS vs VS vs SI clarity. Premium means VVS clarity or better with D color. Standard means VS clarity with E-to-J color. Anything below that gets no assessment at all, so a lab-grown SI stone doesn't get a lower GIA grade, it gets nothing.

IGI still grades lab-grown diamonds on the full clarity scale, and grades most of the world's supply. Every diamond we sell is IGI certified, so you still get a specific grade to compare against, not a two-word summary.

Additionally, we do have a GIA-certified lab-grown diamond in our inventory. IGI still grades lab-grown diamonds on the full clarity scale and grades a significant share of the world's supply.  

That clustering is also why chasing VVS makes less sense in lab-grown than in natural diamond. The supply already sits high on the scale, so the premium buys you a better-sounding certificate rather than a better-looking ring.

One practical rule: VS2 for most stones. VS1 above 2 carats or for step cuts. SI1 is fine for brilliant cuts under 1.5 carats if you've confirmed it's eye-clean.

Does clarity affect sparkle?

Barely. Cut controls sparkle, how light enters the stone, bounces, and comes back to your eye. A poorly cut VVS looks duller than a well-cut SI1, every time.

Clarity only touches brilliance when inclusions are large or cloudy enough to physically block light, which mostly means the I grades. Within VVS through SI1, you're paying for rarity on paper, not for light.

If you’re ready to compare grades? Filter our lab-grown diamonds by clarity and also by other features and see the certificate for every stone before you buy.

FAQs

What's the difference between VVS1 and VVS2? 

VVS1 inclusions are exceedingly difficult for a professional grader to detect at 10x, but VVS2 inclusions are marginally easier. Both are invisible to you. The distinction affects price, not appearance.

Do lab-grown diamonds have different inclusions than natural ones? 

Yes. Natural stones tend to have crystals, feathers, and clouds. Metallic flux traces may be seen in lab-grown stones generated using HPHT, whereas mild graining can be seen with CVD. Both are evaluated using the same scale.

Is SI3 a real clarity grade? 

No. GIA's scale runs FL to I3 with no SI3 in it. If you see SI3 advertised, it's usually a retailer relabeling a stone that graded I1 elsewhere.

Does clarity affect resale value?

It's a factor, but a small one next to carat weight and cut. Resale value for lab-grown diamonds is restricted regardless of grade, therefore buy for esthetics rather than investment.

Can a diamond's clarity change over time? 

The grade doesn't change on its own. A hard knock can chip a stone or extend an existing feather, which is why setting choice matters more than clarity for daily wear.