VS1 and VS2 are diamond clarities given by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Diamonds with VS1 and VS2 clarities are good quality clear diamonds and are free from inclusions. If you have a tight budget and are looking to buy the perfect gemstone, then a diamond with vs1 or vs2 clarity could be a favorable option as it offers a good value for money. Are you confused between vs1 and vs2 clarities? Do you think diamonds of such clarities are a good fit for an engagement ring? Don’t worry, we have crafted this article after thorough research to enlighten you about the distinctions between VS1 and  VS2 diamonds and how they are a good choice among diamonds with different clarities.

Before knowing the characteristics of diamonds having vs1 and vs2 clarities, it is imperative that you first understand what diamond clarity actually means.

Understanding Clarity with Respect to Diamonds

The clarity is just a grade that is given to a diamond on the basis of its flawlessness. Diamond clarity is one of the 4Cs (cut, clarity, carat weight, and color) that you analyze in a diamond.

While they are forming in the Earth’s crust, diamonds have a tendency to form external and internal imperfections such as marks, mineral bubbles, and inclusions. These flaws cause the diamond clarity to lower down. The flaws are inversely proportional to the diamond’s clarity: the higher the external and internal flaws, the lower the clarity. We keep mentioning inclusions, but do you know what imperfections they are?

What exactly are inclusions?

Inclusion is a term given to small marks that are formed at the diamond’s body. Inclusions are formed when the diamond is being made under high pressure inside the Earth’s crust. These are basically tiny bubbles or fissures that occur within the diamond. When considering the clarity of diamonds, inclusions are looked upon negatively; that is, they are known to reduce a diamond’s value since more inclusions mean less clarity.

However, the same inclusions also give the diamond a unique look. They provide that beauty and rarity to a diamond that makes it stand out.

The GIA has a clarity grade scale for the diamond. You can determine a diamond’s clarity by seeing where it falls on the GIA grade scale. The GIA has awarded these grades to these diamonds on how they appear under 10x magnification.

Below we have listed the GIA grade scale:

Best grade: FL (Flawless)

Second best grade: IF (Internally Flawless)

Third best grade: VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1)

Fourth best grade: VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included 2)

Fifth best grade: VS1 (Very Slightly Included 1)

Sixth best grade: VS2 (Very Slightly Included 2)

Seventh best grade: SI1 (Slightly Included 1)

Eighth best grade: SI2 (Slightly Included 2)

Ninth best grade: I1 (Included 1)

Tenth best grade: I2 (Included 2)

Eleventh best grade: I3 (worst grade)

If you see the ranking of diamonds, you will observe that VS1 and VS2 lie exactly in the middle of the grade scale. This means these diamonds do have inclusions, but they are very minimal and hardly noticeable under 10x magnification, which means the diamond will appear clear when viewed with a naked eye from a distance.

Diamonds with FL and IF diamonds will appear flawless and perfectly free from imperfections when viewed under 10x magnification, while the VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds will have very small blemishes. As you will move down the grade scale, the imperfections will increase.

The diamond’s cut quality, shape, and size also play a huge role in its clarity. Some VS2 clarity diamonds, such as Emerald Diamond, have visible imperfections on them. 

We have now seen what the clarity of a diamond refers to and what is the meaning of different clarities of diamonds. Now we will move to assess the differences between VS1 and VS2 diamonds.

VS1 vs. VS2

How Do Their Qualities Differ?

We have seen that vs1 and vs2 diamonds have few imperfections, which are only visible under 10x magnification. But you need to understand what the differences are between these two. One important thing to note here is that good diamond clarity grades do not define its flaws and are completely invisible when viewed from the naked eye. Diamond grading information is not anyhow related to how ‘eye-clean’ it is.

Feature	VS1	VS2
Inclusions	They have fewer blemishes and inclusions on them as compared to VS2. The inclusions are minor and are barely noticeable under 10x magnification. A diamond that has flaws in its less visible corners gets a VS1 clarity grade.	The inclusions in VS2 diamonds are more visible. Even if the amount and size of blemishes are the same on both VS1 and VS2 diamonds, the flaws in VS2 will be more prominent. That is because the flaws in VS2 tend to appear in more visible places.

It is generally observed that VS1 and VS2 diamonds are eyes clean because they are free from visible blemishes. However, you should closely inspect VS1 and VS2 clarity diamonds while buying because certain diamonds, such as an emerald-cut or Asscher cut diamonds have visible spots on them. It is not hard to spot blemishes on diamonds; you can easily find them as soon as you see the gemstone.

Differences in Pricing

The best part about VS1 and VS2 diamonds is that they are very economical and offer great value for money. They are eye-clean, have minimal blemishes and inclusions, and have minor spots, but cost very less than the high clarity diamonds. Some of the VS1 and VS2 are free from blemishes to the extent that it becomes hard to differentiate between them and a diamond with the highest clarity grade.

A VS2 diamond will typically cost around 25% less than a VS1 diamond because its imperfections are sometimes visible to the naked eyes.

Experts highly recommend going for VS1 and VS2 diamonds, as they are an excellent combination of quality and value; hence, these are perfect for engagement rings or bracelets and pendants.

If you are looking for good quality, clear, sparkly, and brilliant diamonds to purchase, we recommend you go for VS1 and VS2 clarity diamonds!

What Is Their Value from An Investment’s Point of View?

They might not completely be flawless, but they surely are extremely rare! VS1 and VS2 display phenomenal light play simply because they don’t have any chips or other structural problems embodied. Due to these factors, a VS diamond’s value will almost never depreciate.

Now imagine you are in a jewelry shop, and the jeweler has displayed two diamonds in front of you. Both of them have the same cut, color, and carat weight. One has a VS1 clarity grade, while the other has VS2. You have to figure out which one is the best and offers the highest value for its price. Firstly, you will keep both the diamonds side by side and compare them.

Closely observe the diamonds and then make your decision. It would be best if you went for the VS1 diamond when you have the budget. Usually, VS1 diamonds are pricier than VS2 diamonds because of their clarity. A second scenario would be when the VS1 diamond has a weight greater than 1 carat and large facets, or the diamond is emerald cut or Asscher cut diamond. In this case, you should prefer the VS1 diamond over VS2.

It would be best to go with VS2 diamond instead of VS1 when the jewelry item of VS1 grade does not fit your budget. Do not expand your budget! It is highly discouraged to do so. VS2 quality diamonds are beautiful and very respectable, and it is something that’s very rare, so you should be proud to own them. It is also a good investment since its value is known to appreciate over time. Its value might be lower than that of VS1, but don’t let that demotivate you.

When you have a small, VS2 graded diamond in front of you that has no visible inclusions, but it! Smaller diamonds perfectly hide the imperfections since they have a lot of facets. It will be a smart choice to buy the VS2 graded diamond, as it would be literally the same as the VS1 diamond since both of them won’t have any visible blemishes on them, but you will get the VS2 diamond at a much lower cost. You will save money by making this choice.

The Weight Affects the Clarity

Did you know that inclusions are more visible in diamonds with a high carat weight?

Yes, inclusions are more visible in diamonds that are greater than 1 carat. Some VS1 diamonds are greater than 2 carats, and they have a visible dark inclusion on the side. Some high-carat weight diamonds have imperfections that do not even require magnification to be seen.

It is usually recommended to look for higher clarity grade diamonds when looking for diamonds that have a high carat weight. VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1) or VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included 2) clarity diamonds that are greater than 3 carats will be perfectly eye-clean.

Alternative Options: Lab Grown VS And VS2 Diamonds

When we read ‘lab-created diamond,’ we immediately think of these diamonds as low-graded and replicas. However, this is not the case. Lab-created diamonds are just like mined diamonds. They are real too but are grown in a controlled environment. These are great, budget-friendly alternatives as you can get them for a much lower cost plus, they have almost no negative impact on the environment.

Unlike mined diamonds, lab-created diamonds do not require heavy machinery, hard labor, or transportation to obtain the gemstones. Rather, they are made in a laboratory for a period of a few days. These diamonds also have a certificate for their attestation that includes the 4Cs.

These diamonds are a steal because you can get a bigger diamond at a smaller price.

Which One Should You Go For? VS1 or VS2

As mentioned earlier, both of them are excellent options for purchase. VS1 diamonds are clearer since they have imperfections on the less visible sides. One factor that a buyer is interested in while purchasing a diamond is how ‘eye-clean’ it is. It is very unlikely that a person would be interested in buying a diamond with spots and marks. So, when purchasing the diamond, make sure it is visibly clean. Step cut diamonds, such as emerald cut and Asscher cut, are preferable VS1 diamonds because these have open and large facets that hide the inclusions. It doesn’t matter if it’s a VS1 or VS2; it should be clean and clear when viewed with a naked eye!

Finally, a very important piece of advice we will give you, in the end, is not to get too caught up in looking up a diamond’s clarity and other 3Cs. If you like something, get it! The 4Cs define the value of a diamond; however, if a diamond looks appealing to you and you really like it, don’t worry about the grade and cut! Purchase it if you have the budget to do so. A diamond’s beauty is NOT defined by its 4Cs. Even inclusions provide beauty and uniqueness to a diamond.

If you are buying a diamond engagement ring, you should only consider if the person who will wear it will like it or not? Will it suit their style or not? If you can honestly say that they will love it, go for it as it will be the best thing you can get them! There won’t be a better diamond than that one.

FAQs on VS1 and VS2 Clarity

Q) Is there a big difference between VS1 and VS2?

Ans. VS1 and VS2 diamonds are one of the highly-rated diamonds with respect to quality. The only difference between VS1 and VS2 clarity diamonds is that VS2 diamonds have inclusions visible to the naked eye, which is only visible in large diamonds. Small VS2 clarity diamonds don’t even have visible inclusions.

Q) Which diamond clarity is better, VS1 or VS2?

Ans. If you are looking for a perfectly clean diamond, VS1 would be better since it has lesser inclusions and blemishes. So VS1 has an advantage over VS2.

Q) Is VS2 clarity good enough for a diamond?

Ans. It is good when it has no visible blemishes. Usually, VS2 diamonds greater than 1 carat have some visible inclusions on them, so you should avoid buying those diamonds with visible imperfections.

Q) Are VS1 diamonds eye clean?

Ans. Yes, VS1 clarity diamonds are eye-clean. You cannot see any imperfections on them with a naked eye.

Q) Do VS2 diamonds sparkle?

Ans. Yes, VS2 diamonds camouflage their inclusions in the facets and return their brilliant sparkle.

Q) Can you see VS1 inclusions?

Ans. No, you can not see inclusions on a VS1 clarity diamond. These are eye-clean diamonds.

Q) What does G VS1 diamond mean?

Ans. It is a diamond on which no inclusions can be seen at all.

Q) What is a GVS2 diamond?

Ans. It is a diamond that has minor inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification.