What grade of diamond should I buy?

For diamonds over 2 carats, a clarity grade of VS2 or higher is the safest bet for avoiding any signs of visible inclusions. In diamonds between 1 and 2 carats, clarity grades of SI1 or better will not have inclusions easily visible to the naked eye.

What is the best grade of diamond to buy?

Flawless is the top grade in the GIA Clarity Grading System. Diamonds graded Flawless don't have visible inclusions or blemishes when examined under 10-power (10X) magnification by a skilled and experienced grader. As clarity increases, and if all other value factors are equal, diamond price per carat also increases.

Is VS1 or VS2 better?

A VS1 diamond has no visible inclusions and under 10x magnification, the inclusions are almost unidentifiable. These diamonds make up the top 5 percent of all gem-quality stones. VS2 diamonds will only have eye-visible inclusions 5 percent or less of the time, which are more common in stones over 1 carat.

What is a good quality of diamond?

What is the Best Diamond Clarity Grade? The highest clarity grade for a diamond is FL, or flawless. The GIA only ever grades a diamond as flawless when it has no inclusions or blemishes that can be seen by a skill grader, even if it's viewed under 10x magnification.

Is I or G better for diamonds?

Only a tiny percentage of diamonds receive this grade, making D color stones both very rare and very expensive. E and F are also in the colorless part of the scale. G, on the other hand, is the highest grade in the near-colorless range, which also includes H, I and J.

How to Choose a Diamond: Four-Minute GIA Diamond Grading Guide by GIA

Is D color diamond good?

The GIA grades diamonds for color using a scale that runs from D to Z. D is the highest grade, indicating that a diamond has nearly no color and appears colorless both when viewed with the naked eye and under magnification.

Is J color diamond good?

As we explained above, J color diamonds are the lowest color grade that's still considered near colorless by the GIA. Both of these diamonds are from James Allen. Aside from their color, they're identical in terms of quality — 1.00 carat, VS2, excellent cut round brilliant cut diamonds.

How do I pick the right diamond?

Is VS2 diamond good?

Diamonds with a VS2 clarity grade offer you the best balance of beauty and affordability. We think they are the best diamond value. Buying a diamond that has a lower clarity grade but still no eye-visible inclusions will leave more money in your budget to buy a larger, more beautifully cut diamond.

Is a 1 carat diamond a good size?

While this may seem small, a 1 carat diamond is absolutely big enough to draw attention. Size and carat weight should be a consideration for your ring, but you should also focus on choosing a well-cut diamond.

Is VVS better than VS1?

VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) diamonds are a grade better than VS (Very Slightly Included) diamonds. VS diamonds (both VS1 and VS2) contain a small number of inclusions when the diamond is viewed under 10x magnification.

What is better VS2 or SI1?

Theoretically, the difference between SI1 and VS2 diamonds is that SI1 diamonds are more included than VS2 diamonds. But sometimes an SI1 can be a better choice than a VS2 diamond, because the inclusions are less noticeable or they're in a place that's hidden by your setting or the prongs holding it.

Is VS better than VS2?

A VS1 diamond has slightly fewer and smaller inclusions than a VS2 diamond. In other words, a VS1 diamond is slightly better than a VS2 diamond.

Are VVS diamonds the best?

Just shy of the Flawless and Internally Flawless grades, VVS diamonds are basically flawless with a few pinpoints thrown in in nondescript locations. They are one of the highest and most expensive diamond clarity grades.

Is VS1 clarity good?

A VS1 diamond is a high clarity grade with no visible inclusions and only small, hard-to-identify inclusions under 10x magnification. These diamonds represent the top 5 percent of all gem-quality stones. The most common VS1 inclusions are crystal (white or black), feather, indented natural, knot, or needle.

What clarity diamond is best value?

Bottom Line: VS2 clarity diamonds offer the best value. VS2 diamonds have small inclusions, but are usually not visible to the naked eye. It will look like a flawless diamond. VS2 diamonds can cost as much as 15% less than Flawless clarity grades.

What's better VS1 or SI1?

VS1 Diamonds are More Expensive

Buyers are willing to pay a premium for diamonds that score higher across the four Cs of color, carat, cut, and clarity. VS1 diamonds have better clarity than ones graded SI1, so they're more expensive.

Is H color good enough diamond?

H Color Diamond (Near Colorless)

H color diamonds are an excellent value with a faint yellow hue that is difficult to detect unless compared side by side with other diamonds of a higher color grade. Typically, only a trained eye can see the difference between H and G color grades.

Is H color diamond too yellow?

H color diamonds are part of the “near-colorless” area of the GIA's color scale. This means that they appear almost totally colorless when they're viewed with the naked eye, but could show a slight yellow tint when they're viewed under magnification by an expert gemologist.

What is most important when buying a diamond?

Out of the 4 C's of diamonds, the cut of the diamond is the most important. This is followed by color, clarity, and carat weight.

How many carats is a good diamond?

A sweet spot in the compromise between size and price, diamonds around the 0.70-ct mark make great engagement ring stones. A diamond budget of about $2,000 can get you a fine diamond at this weight.

What's more important clarity or color?

The color grade is more important than the clarity grade because cushion-cut diamonds tend to retain a lot of color. If you don't want any hints of color, look for a cushion cut diamond with a color grade of H or above.

Is H or J better diamond color?

Containing noticeable color only when compared to higher color grades, G or H color diamonds provide an excellent value. Whereas an I or J-color diamond typically appears colorless to the untrained eye yet contains slightly detectable color.

Is s12 clarity good?

Diamond clarity is based on the number, size, relief, nature, and position of inclusions. SI2 clarity diamonds have noticeable inclusions that are very easy for a diamond grader to see using 10x magnification. We think if your diamond is bigger than a half-carat in size you'll have no trouble seeing them either.

What letter diamond is the best?

Understanding the diamond color scale

In the letter-grade diamond color scale, D (colorless) is the highest and best grade, and Z is the lowest. Diamond used to be graded like gemstones on a range that included AAA, AA, A, and B, so the new scale started at D to avoid confusion.