If you’re looking to buy diamonds, you’ve probably already understood the basics of thediamond clarity scale. You might have come across the termsVS andSI clarity diamonds. And like the majority of people, you must’ve wondered what they are.
So, in this blog, we’ll tell you all about VS and SI diamonds and how to understand diamond grades. Whether you’re buyinglab diamondsornatural diamonds, this guide will help you make informed purchase decisions.
What is VS diamond?
VS means Very Slightly Included. These are diamonds that have very slight inclusions. Inclusions are flaws. InVS diamonds, the flaws are miniscule and hard to notice by the naked eye.
What is an SI diamond?
SI means Slightly Included. These are diamonds that have slight inclusions. These diamonds have more flaws than VS diamonds. SI diamonds, too, look flawless to the naked eye. Let’s visually understand the diamond clarity scale table.
Why is diamond clarity important?
When assessing diamond quality, the most important factors to be considered are:cut, color, carat, and clarity. While all four of these aspects are important, clarity plays a key role in the performance of diamonds, and hence, should be one of the main deciding factors.
Both VS andSI diamondshave flaws that are not visible to the naked eye, and hence, they are considered good to buy. The flaws of these two types of diamonds can be visible only with 10x magnifying equipment.
Going belowSI grade diamondis best avoided. Because diamonds below this grade might have visible flaws. Because you might end up with a diamond that may get damaged soon.
It’s important to understand diamond clarity because:
Clarity impacts the diamond's performance.
Clarity grade may affect the durability of the diamond.
See AlsoJ Color Diamonds: Good or Bad?It affects the price of the diamond.
Other factors to consider when buying diamonds
Apart from clarity,diamond cutanddiamond shapesare also key factors to consider when buying gemstones. Let’s understand some factors that impact diamond grading.
Size of the Diamond: Thesize of the diamondis one of the first aspects that customers consider when choosing a diamond. This is something they decide before starting their diamond-selection process. At times, the price of the diamond may also impact the size they choose. For example,lab-grown diamondsare cheaper than natural diamonds.
Number of Inclusions: Thenumber of inclusionsor flaws in a diamond also impact its clarity and durability, and hence, is an important factor to consider. For example, if there are more inclusions, the diamond has a higher risk of breaking.
Position of Inclusions: Theposition of inclusionsalso has an effect on the performance, durability, and clarity of diamonds. For example, if the inclusions are at the center of the table, it could reflect on all parts of the diamond and impact the clarity grade as you can see on thediamond clarity chart.
Relief of the Diamond: Another factor is therelief of the diamond. It is the distinctness of the flaws when viewed within the diamonds. The bigger the relief, the bigger its effect on the clarity grade.
Nature of Inclusions:Thenature of inclusionsrefers to the depth of the flaws. For example, blemishes may only impact the surface of the diamond, whereas cracks may go deeper inside the diamond. Hence, the nature of the inclusions is an important factor to consider as it affects the durability of the diamond.
What diamond should you buy — VI or SI?
BothVI and SI diamondsare good quality diamonds. These diamonds have inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye and are cheaper than diamonds that are higher on the diamond clarity scale such asVVS1 and VVS2.
The advantage of choosing VI and SI diamonds is that you’d be paying much less for diamonds that look just like VVS1 and VVS2. And if that’s the case, why should you pay more? Therefore, it’s perfectly safe and alright to buy both VI and SI diamonds.
