Diamonds have been a forever favourite for marking special occasions, engagements and celebrating everlasting love. This beautiful, shimmering, eye-catching stone will always be the go-to gift when wanting classic and sophisticated jewelry.
Diamonds come in an array of shapes, sizes and colors. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created a diamond grading system in the 1940s. This system is known as the four C’s. This refers to:
- Cut
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
To this day, it is the system in which all diamonds are measured. The quality of a diamond is the bedrock from which the entire diamond trade stems from. So, in order to understand what VVS means, and what VVS1 and VVS2 are, we need to first understand how important quality is when understanding diamonds.
Before we jump into the specifics of VVS explanations, let’s look at the four C’s first to gain a better understanding of the quality being measured when buying a diamond.
Cut refers to the diamonds proportions, polish and symmetry.
Color can be split into two categories: elaborate and colorless. The whiter a diamond is, the more value it has.
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond and its size. A bigger carat means a higher value.
Clarity refers to the amount and the size of inclusions inside a diamond. Many diamonds have imperfections ranging from small to large. However, if a diamond has no imperfections, it’s referred to as internally flawless (IF). This is very close to VVS.
The bottom line is this: the clearer the diamond, the more value it has.
What Is A VVS Diamond?
Simply put, VVS stands for Very Very Slightly Included. This means that a VVS diamond contains trace amounts of microscopic inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye. They can be seen under a seriously strong microscope and high magnification.
Another classification for a VVS diamond is that if it has many minuscule inclusions, these do not have any effect on the structure or appearance of the stone to the outside world. The inclusions are basically invisible to anyone who is not a diamond expert with his/her own highly magnified microscope or loupe.
As we saw above, VVS diamonds are split into two categories: VVS1 and VVS2. Below you will find an explanation of both.
What Are VVS1 Diamonds?
VVS1 diamonds are considered “clean to the eye”. This means that you cannot see any inclusions in the diamond with the naked eye, you would need a loupe or magnifier of some kind to view the inclusions.
VVS1 is considered to be more valuable and of a higher quality than VVS2 diamonds, purely because VVS1 has a slightly better clarity. The inclusions in VVS1 diamonds won’t be seen even under 10x magnification, they will only be viewed by someone with a highly trained eye and a powerful magnification tool.
What Are VVS2 Diamonds?
VVS2 diamonds are ranked lower than VVS1, but are also considered to be a good stone and “clean to the eye”. However, this only applies if the diamond is under two carats.
When a diamond is larger than two carats then it becomes difficult for the jeweller to grade. This is due to the fact that the quality of the diamond is dependent on where the inclusions are and can be tricky to view in a diamond bigger than two carats.
What Is The Difference Between VVS1 and VVS2 Diamonds?
The difference between VVS1 and VVS2 is very simple. The only difference between the two is that in a VVS2 diamond, the jeweller can see the tiny inclusions from above the diamond (the crown) using a 10 x magnification. Other than this small difference, VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds are essentially the same.
How Much Are VVS diamonds?
Just like all real diamonds, the price of the stone is largely affected by the four C’s. The shape of the diamond is also quite influential on the price.
On average though, a VVS1 diamond of 1 carat goes for around £4005. An average cost of a VVS2 diamond of 1 carat is roughly £3870.
Are VVS Diamonds Real?
Yes, VVS diamonds are 100% real. VVS diamonds are seen to be immensely valuable and expensive. The only categories of diamonds that come before them are Flawless and Internally Flawless.
The kinds of inclusions in a VVS diamond are usually inconsequential things like pinpoints, clouds, internal graining, or feathers.
How Rare Are VVS Diamonds?
VVS diamonds are considered mildly rare in comparison to lower grade diamonds. Lower grade diamonds are vastly easier to come by and much easier to afford, should you be on a budget. VVS diamonds are not impossible to find, but there are fewer on the market than lower grade stones.
Pros of VVS Diamonds
One of the pros of purchasing a VVS diamond is that they are so close to Flawless diamonds. The only diamonds of a higher clarity grade than VVS are Flawless and Internally Flawless, this makes them ranked 3rd in line of potentially Flawless diamonds.
Another pro of VVS diamonds is that due to the small size of the inclusions in them, they appear flawless to anyone viewing your ring unless they’re a highly trained jeweller with his/her microscope.
Lastly, due to their high quality and clarity, VVS diamonds can come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes. The lower the clarity or grade of a diamond, the more prone it is to have its inclusions and impurities show up easily to the naked eye. The quality of VVS diamonds means that they can be cut and fiddled with and you still shouldn’t be able to see the inclusions without a loupe of a microscope.
Cons Of VVS Diamonds
The main con of VVS diamonds is the price. They are expensive and the difference in clarity and grade between VVS and a lower grade diamond is not much.
To the untrained eye, whether you have a VVS or a VS diamond, for example, the general public would be none the wiser. So in essence, you may be paying extra for nothing.
Should I Buy A VVS Diamond?
VVS diamonds are incredibly popular due to their undeniable beauty and gorgeous sparkle. It is completely down to personal opinion and preference as to whether or not you wish to buy a VVS diamond.
However, if the price is an issue for you and you are focused on the expense, perhaps settling for a slightly lower clarity diamond would serve you just as well. It’ll still sparkle!