Engagement rings and gifts of jewelry are meant to display the strength of one’s love. For this reason, if you are on the market for a diamond piece, you are probably looking at those of the highest quality. But with so many different kinds and types of diamonds, the process of finding the perfect one can be challenging!
VVS Diamonds are some of the most expensive diamonds one can buy. Flawless to the naked eye, a round 1 ct VVS diamond averages $5,500. For a 2 ct diamond of the same quality, the price jumps to $23,447. The only diamond of higher values are those with grades of “Flawless” and “Internally Flawless”.
While the “Flawless” and “Internally Flawless” grades are technically of a higher quality than the VVS grade, they appear the same to the naked eye. For this reason, it makes sense to purchase the VVS grade when selecting your engagement set. This buying guide will walk you through the different types of VVS diamonds to help you select the right ring at the right price point.
Everything You Need to Know about VVS Diamonds
Standing for very, very, slightly included, VVS diamonds have only a tiny number of microscopic imperfections. In fact, there are so few inclusions in these diamonds, they become almost invisible even under 10x magnification.
Beyond its limited inclusions, you might be wondering how to identify a VVS and tell it apart from other diamonds of similar quality.
What is a VVS Diamond?
There are two types of VVS Diamond: VVS1 and VVS2, with VVS1 being of a higher quality. The ranking of diamond quality from highest to fourth highest goes: Flawless, Internally Flawless, VVS1, and VVS2.
On the lower end high quality diamonds, you have very slightly included 1 and very slightly included 2. These fifth and sixth highest diamond rankings may be the right choice for a lower priced engagement ring.
No matter which grade of VVS diamond you select, your gem will show no signs of imperfection to the naked eye and will have no impact on the shape of the stone.
While the inclusions do technically exist, your ring will be as good as perfect and functionally as flawless as the highest quality pieces.
That said, there are some key differences between VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds that may be worth noting. Relating to their minor inclusions, VVS1 diamonds have al most all of their miniscule imperfections located near the bottom of the stone. On the other hand, VVS2’s inclusions are located toward the top or crown of the diamond.
These inclusions will have no functional impact on the beauty of the diamond as they are always inconsequential, minor imperfections such as pinpoints, clouds, internal graining, or feathers.
At the end of the day, because there are no functional problems posed by these inclusions and may because they are entirely invisible to the naked eye, it may not actually matter much to you whether you have a VVS1 or VVS2 diamond. Your stone will still dazzle with apparent perfection!
How Much Are VVS Diamonds?
VVS diamonds are quite a bit less expensive than the flawless and internally flawless grades while still offering the appearance of perfection. For this reason, they are a great purchase if you are only buying for the functional beauty of the piece and not for its actual lack of inclusions.
For a VVS1 1 carat diamond, you can expect to pay on average $5,500. A flawless diamond of the same grade will go for around $9,000. This makes the VVS1 a much more practical purchase when it is exclusively for appearance.
Below the VVS rankings is the VS (very slightly included) grade, which can go for as low as $2,000 at the otherwise same qualities as the VVS diamonds. While these are not functionally the same as there are more inclusions in the VS ranking, for the untrained eye, these diamonds offer a near perfection for a much lower price point.
Now that you know the ranking system of high quality diamonds, you may be wondering about the benefits and drawbacks to making such a big purchase.
Pros and Cons of VVS Diamonds
VVS diamonds offer an almost unmatched perfection. With a flawless appearance to the naked eye and almost indiscernible inclusions under a microscope, there are plenty of reasons to purchase these stunning gems.
Before making such a big purchase, however, you should be aware of the many pros and cons surrounding this expensive, but high quality stone.
Symbolic or Personal Preference
Engagement rings are meant to symbolize your love and commitment to your partner. For this reason, you may desire a piece that can symbolize your hope for the perfect future together. The flawless relationship.
VVS diamonds can offer this metaphor of perfection at a much lower price point than the flawless graded stones.
Beyond symbolism, you should consider the personal preference of the person receiving the ring. If they are someone who values perfection in their daily life, they will likely appreciate having such a high quality stone.
More Choices for Rare Sizes, Shapes, or Colors
Because VVS allows for a few inclusions, there are more available stone sizes, shapes, and colors in this category than there are in the Flawless and Internally Flawless grades.
This is a major benefit if you are looking for a stone in a particular size, shape, or color rather than purchasing whichever Flawless grade diamond is available at the time.
VVS Diamonds Are Almost Flawless
These diamonds are completely perfect to the naked eye. While they are not free of inclusions, these imperfections are only visible when viewing the stones under a 10x magnification setting.
For this reason, if you are looking for a flawless stone at a reasonable price, you may want to consider these stones over the higher grades. Remember, there is no visible difference between these diamonds and the Flawless grade when it is only your eye viewing them.
Lower Clarity Diamonds Be “Eye-Flawless”
The VVS diamond is the perfect diamond to purchase when looking for the eye-flawless stone; however, it is not the only imperfect diamond grade that appears perfect to the naked eye.
VS, or very slightly included, diamond grades can have pieces that are visibly flawless when it is only your eyes viewing them, or the eyes of untrained professionals.
For this reason, if you are only seeking a diamond that is apparently flawless, you may want to consider the VS grade as well.
VVS Diamond Price
These diamonds, while much less expensive than the Flawless and Internally Flawless grades, are still quite pricy! A 1 carat VVS diamond averages $5,500, while a VS diamond can be purchase for around $2,000.
If you are looking for a diamond that is affordable while also appearing visibly perfect, you may want to consider the slightly lower quality VS diamond.
Further, if you are going for the metaphor of perfect, these diamonds can offer the same beautiful message at a much more reasonable price point.
VVS Diamonds as an Investment
If you are purchasing a diamond as an investment piece, you should know that diamonds are generally only worth their visible perfection and aren’t guaranteed to retain their initial purchase value.
In other words, your return greatly diminishes from a very slightly included rating to the flawless grade. This is because purchasers are usually more interested in what they can visibly see rather than the microscopic quality of the stone.
When looking to jewelry as an investment, you should consider higher-returning items, such as gold. Diamonds may sometimes have a higher return price, but gold better withstands inflation and is the safer investment option.
Because diamonds are not good investment pieces, you should never consider purchasing one with the aim of receiving back more than you paid. Instead, you should look for the stones that speak to your personal style and preferences.
What Should You Look for When Buying a VVS Diamond?
As with all diamonds, the VVS stones are graded based on the 4cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat.
You should note that while all 4 of these items matter to the overall price of the stone, it is best to take personal style and preference into account when purchasing a diamond since these are not guaranteed investments and, as jewelry, will likely be worn quite often.
Color
The first measurement used to grade diamonds is color. Going from a scale of “D” (colorless) all the way to “Z” (light), diamonds of the colorless ranking are given the highest value. This is in part due to the rare nature of a colorless diamond.
For a D graded 1.9 carat VVS diamond, you can expect to pay $30,000.
Carat
This is the measurement used to determine the weight and size of a diamond. One carat is equal to 1/5 gram and the higher the carat size, the more the diamond will be worth (in addition to its scoring on the other Cs).
You should know that the price of VVS diamonds jumps dramatically the higher the carat size. For instance, a round 1 ct VVS diamond averages $5,500, while a 2 ct of the same quality rises in price to $23,447.
Cut
The cut is one of the most important of the Cs as it will play a major role in the overall appearance of the diamond. The more precise the cut, the more flawless the diamond will appear. You should look for the highest quality cuts when looking for a captivating stone.
Clarity
Clarity measures the inclusions and blemishes that are present on a diamond. While VSS diamonds have very few inclusions, they are technically not perfect and will have a lower clarity score than a flawless or internally flawless stone.
When looking to make the purchase, you should ask yourself if technical perfection matters or if visual perfection is what you are really after. If it is the latter, you may want to consider the VVS or VS diamonds as the visually perfect stone choice.
Now that you know the different values placed into ranking these diamonds, you are probably wondering what to look for when it comes time to make the purchase.
How to Pick Between the Two VVS Diamonds
VVS diamonds are visibly perfect, which means you will not be able to discern any of the inclusions with your naked eye.
Depending upon your reasons for purchasing these diamonds, you should look for either the most perfect of the two (the VVS1), or the one that features the cut and color that will most suit your personal preferences.
What are VVS1 Diamonds?
Very, very slightly included type 1 diamonds, or VVS1, are the highest quality of the VVS diamonds. These diamonds most often have inclusions that are only visible under 10x magnification.
Further, these inclusions are primarily located at the bottom of the stone, which means they are usually hidden beneath the setting of the diamond.
Regardless of location of these inclusions, because they are invisible to the naked eye and of an inconsequential quality, these imperfections have absolutely no impact on the function, shape, or beauty of the piece.
What are VVS2 Diamonds?
Very, very slightly included type 2 diamonds, or VVS2 stones are of the fourth highest quality of diamond. The only higher rankings are VVS1, Internally Flawless, and Flawless.
The primary difference between a VVS1 and VVS2 is the location of the imperfections. While both VVS diamonds have imperfections that are only visible under magnification, VVS2’s flaws are usually located at the top or the crown of the diamond.
Despite these inclusions being more prominent, the reality is that they do not matter at all as they are not visible to the naked eye and have no impact on the appearance or functionality of the stone.
Because there is no functional difference between VVS diamonds and Flawless diamonds, you may find that the lower priced VVS diamond is a suitable alternative to its higher priced counterparts.
Additionally, you may be curious about the slightly lower quality diamonds and whether they would also be a suitable alternative.
Difference Between VVS and VS Clarity
While there are technically more inclusions in the VS jewel that impact its clarity score, the untrained naked eye will not be able to detect these imperfections. This eye-flawless perfection makes the VS diamond an excellent lower cost alternative to the VVS stone.
Because of these additional imperfections in the VVS and VS ratings, flawless grades are going to necessarily have higher clarity scores. But this may not actually matter to the wearer as they offer the same visible level of flawlessness.
For a stone that offers the same “perfect” appearance as VVS diamonds at a much lower price point, the VS diamond is a great alternative to the VVS and Flawless grades.
VVS Diamonds Clarity Chart
As you can see in the clarity chart below, the VVS1 to VS2 inclusions do differ slightly, but not meaningfully.
VVS1 inclusions are of the same kind as VVS2, but in a different location with pinpoint and feather imperfections.
In VS1 and VS2 graded diamonds, these inclusions can include crystal, pinpoint, natural, and feather, but are still not visible to the untrained eye.
Because the only real inclusions that matter are those that you can see, VS diamonds generally lack meaningful imperfections.
If you are ready to purchase one of these eye-flawless diamonds, you may be wondering where to go or if you will need to head to a special jeweler. Read on for some of our recommendations.
Where Can You Buy VVS Diamonds?
You can purchase a VVS diamond at any store that retails diamond jewelry. While these stones are rarer than the lower quality pieces, that does not mean they are impossible or difficult to find.
If you are ready to purchase one of these nearly flawless stones, you should have no trouble finding the right piece at almost any retailer.
Ask a Professional
If you are purchasing one of these stones for its high quality, be sure to ask a professional you trust to look over the diamond first.
While your eye will not be able to spot any imperfections, a trained diamond jeweler can look at the stone under magnification to make sure you getting what you are paying for.
When looking at the stone under magnification, they will also check for the other value markers of your diamond, including its cut and color.
Remember that while certain cuts and colors will fetch higher prices, its real value lies in your personal preferences.
Final Thoughts
When purchasing a diamond, you should take your personal preferences into account. Diamonds are rated based on cut, color, clarity, and carat, but it is ultimately up to you to determine which design and diamond grade is right for you.
Because there are almost no discernible differences from the highest rating to the VS ratings, you may want to consider the diamond that speaks to you the most. However, for the most perfect of diamonds in this category, you cannot compete with the VVS1.
Finally, remember that these diamonds should not serve as investment pieces as their real value comes from the sentiment and personal meaning and not for what they will retail in the coming years.
Our Team of 10 includes jewelry experts, antique Buyers & Sellers, baseball card collectors, and other appraisal experts.
