Most diamonds have tiny inclusions, and in most cases you cannot see them. Understanding that one fact will save you a great deal of money.
The Clarity Grades
FL and IF. Flawless and Internally Flawless. No inclusions visible under magnification. Rare and priced accordingly.
VVS1 and VVS2. Very Very Slightly Included. Inclusions are extremely difficult to spot even under a loupe.
VS1 and VS2. Very Slightly Included. Inclusions are visible under magnification but not to the naked eye. Excellent balance of quality and price.
SI1 and SI2. Slightly Included. Inclusions are easier to find under magnification and are sometimes, but not always, visible without it.
What Eye Clean Means
A stone is eye clean when you cannot see any inclusion looking at it normally, at arm length, in ordinary light. Plenty of VS and even SI stones are eye clean.
An eye clean VS stone costs meaningfully less than a VVS stone of the same size and looks identical on the hand.
The Smart Move
Do not pay for clarity nobody can see. Choose the highest clarity grade that is comfortably eye clean, then put the money you saved into cut quality or carat weight, where it will actually show.
Every stone we list carries an IGI or DIA clarity grade, and we will tell you honestly whether a given stone is eye clean before you commit to it.
Read Next
- Cut Quality: Why It Matters More Than Carat Weight
- The Diamond Budget Guide
- Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds
Browse stones by clarity grade or book a viewing in Rivonia.