Explaining the Nature of Very Slightly Included Diamonds

Alright. This is where things get kinda tricky. If anyone has ever been on a fine jewellery or diamond inventory site, they are bound to have encountered terms like very slightly included or very very slightly included, or in turn, acronyms like VSI or VVSI. Whilst the meaning these terms are meant to communicate may seem straightforward, distinguishing between them may not always be so.

In this Education page, one of a series of writeups that seeks to clarify what these various diamond clarity levels are, we will engage the very slightly included diamonds, explain what they are and why you should consider going for them.

Diamond Clarity Levels

As we do on other pages on the subject of diamond clarity, we start off with a quick overview of diamond clarity levels. Diamond clarity is an important measure that forms part of the 4Cs of diamonds. Hence it is a key measure that anyone serious about getting a high-quality diamond ought to consider. So what does the term clarity mean in relation to diamonds?

Diamonds are precious stones that are valued for their durability and beauty. The visual quality of diamonds is greatly determined by the cut of the stone which seeks to enhance the light reflective qualities of the stone. However this ability to reflect light and produce those captivating effects like scintillation and brilliance greatly rests on the internal clarity and external integrity of the diamond’s surface.

The presence of inclusions: either in the form of internal breaks, chips on the surface, the presence of external materials within the crystal structure of the stone, or a number of other various inconsistencies will disrupt the flow of light that hits the surface and reflects back out, and the light that passes through the gemstone. Both these effects are important when it comes to generating the glitter and glow of cut diamonds that make these gemstones valuable.

In the diamond clarity scale, a specific gemstone's clarity is measured from the near absence of inclusions and blemishes: flawless diamonds (FL) to Included ones (I). This takes us to the process of differentiating between these various diamond clarity levels.

Determining VS1 and VS2 Diamond Clarity

When it comes to the diamond clarity scales one of the questions that may interest the reader is their origins. How do these inconsistencies emerge and why do they differ from one gemstone to the next? Since diamonds, and here we are talking about natural diamonds, which are sourced from nature-form over the course of tens of millions of years, deep underground.

Diamond inclusions are in many ways a natural effect that results in the complex formation process that diamonds undergo resulting from the extreme heat and pressure to which they are subjected to. With hardening carbon atoms take on external impurities and defects in the crystal formation. A key point on the diamond inclusions is that not all inconsistencies found in the stone are internal (hence the term inclusion) but often present at a surface level, and is a function of the long and ardours journey that diamond deposits make in their journey from the deep regions of the Earth, such as the mantle till they reach the closer to the surface. Blemishes to the stone’s surface are the key to dividing between flawless and internally flawless diamonds.

With Very Slightly Included Diamonds (VS1 – VS2) the inclusions that are present in the stone are not always visible to the naked eye without some kind of magnification. However, for a trained eye, the inclusions can be identified, particularly for the VS2 subcategory in this range of stones. VS1 and the slightly more included VS2 diamonds do feature slight blemishes on the surface of the gemstone.

Further very slightly included diamonds when subjected to 10x magnification-which is a standard practice in the diamond world-showcase noticeable inclusions that sets them apart from the Very Very Slightly Included range of diamonds which exist a step above them. However, the differences in terms of clarity are often minor, with inclusions themselves being less disruptive in kind with respect to the diamond effects like the stone’s sparkle.

Why Opt for Very Slightly Included Diamonds

For starters, very slightly included diamonds are among the most popular in the diamond clarity range. So when it comes to picking a solid diamond for a fine jewellery item, like an engagement ring, top diamond jewellery companies tend to feature a larger array of diamonds that fall into the VS1 and VS2 range.

In addition to being much more affordable than the top two entries: flawless and internally flawless, they are often a better bet than the very very slightly included range of stones when considering competing prices. Arguably very slightly included is the solid choice for engagement ring buyers, considering that the inclusions are virtually not visible, and when combined with a solid cut, like a round brilliant cut, they make for a solid stone.

Of course, when it comes to picking a top-quality diamond for an engagement, it is important to keep in mind the 4Cs together. There is no point limiting your focus to one element, for example, picking a pricey flawless diamond, but only for it to be a tiny 0.25-carat stone that is purely cut with a low colour grade. That wouldn’t work. The principle when it comes to diamond selection is a balance of natural qualities in relation to cost.

Here very slightly included diamonds (VS1 – VS2) is a solid choice, provided you stick to a solid colour range, which generally falls in the D – G range. However, it is important to not compromise too much on carat, as that tends to be a key feature of diamond pricing. So try to stick to the 0.50 – 0.75 range for very slightly included diamonds.

VS1 vs VS2 Clarity

A possible consideration for those who are new to the business of diamond selection, there might be some questions about which is the right clarity level for you. That is should one choose one over the other, or do these differences matter? In simple terms, there is a reason why the very slightly included range is divided into two subcategories. VS1 is the better version: containing fewer inclusions and less visible ones. In fact, the kind of inclusions that are visible in the very slightly included range often falls into VS2 diamonds. With the latter, often requiring 10x magnification to identify them.