Clarity Grade of Your Engagement Ring - Diamond Jewelry Forums

These polls are fun -

My original engagement ring (18 years ago) was VS2 (G color). Recent upgrade for 17th wedding anniversary, SI2 (E color). With age my preferences have changed -- I like a larger rock, very white, and if I can't see any flaws with my naked, almost-40 eyes, it's good for me!

These polls are fun -

I like a larger rock, very white, and if I can't see any flaws with my naked, almost-40 eyes, it's good for me!

I also tend to think that buyers are more bullish on color than clarity...esp when it comes to 'availability'. As Diane noted, she would have been happy with VS1 or VS2, but this stone happened along and it was everything she wanted in every other way. Same with us. We were looking more SI1 or similar to try to get a larger stone, but did want something like an F or G in color (this was last November...wow how time flies!!), but the E SI1 that our jeweler showed us had a black carbon spot I didn't like. The other option was this stone, a G VS, which looked just as white and much more clean inside. We tried shopping online but we weren't happy at the time with not really being able to see the stones in person (and the vendors we were working with didnt have pix up etc), nor did we want to drop the color to anything low (what we perceived as low..which has changed!). So we got the G VS. But 20/20 hindsight, a nice H or I SI1 would have been great..and look just as good I am sure, and we could have gotten a bigger stone. I love my VS because it is so incredibly clean (a very very clean VS plot and I cant even find the inclusions with a loupe even when my jeweler points them out)...so it's a tradeoff I guess. But sometimes you just end up with the clarity that suits you fine, when all the OTHER factors (c's) are right.

Mine is VS2 Regina's is si-1...

Mine's an SI2......and that wasn't what I was going for initially. I was pretty focused on getting an SI1.....but I had the good sense to listen to Brian at WF and trust his eyes. He compared my stone to an SI1 and found it cleaner!

He was right......and my appraiser agreed. The benefit: I got a stone that likely should have been an SI1 for the price break of an SI2, and it's COMPLETELY eye-clean. Hell, I KNOW where the inclusions are, and I still have a tough time finding them with a loupe!

It just goes to show how important it is to keep an open mind in the buying process.

P: 10/9/2003 7:55:23 PM
fire&ice Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,827 Last Post: 3/30/2009 Member Since: 7/22/2002	Again, over bought on clarity as well. My 20 year anniv. stone is an SI grade.
Posted: 10/9/2003 7:55:23 PM

P: 10/9/2003 11:29:05 PM
derekinla Cut Rock Total Posts: 467 Last Post: 6/16/2005 Member Since: 9/8/2003	quite a few VVS PS'ers out there! interesting.......... Derek in Los Angeles
Posted: 10/9/2003 11:29:05 PM

P: 10/10/2003 12:20:32 AM
diane5006 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 641 Last Post: 10/11/2009 Member Since: 4/8/2003	Interesting thread... So I have a VVS2...that being said I would have been happy with VS1/2 but I have a fancy cut not a round...so I had limited choices...not many stones to choose from...I could have waited I guess...but I am very happy with the choice...I LOVE my diamond... diane
Posted: 10/10/2003 12:20:32 AM

P: 10/10/2003 9:20:10 AM
DiamondLil Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,405 Last Post: 6/1/2006 Member Since: 6/8/2003	These polls are fun - My original engagement ring (18 years ago) was VS2 (G color). Recent upgrade for 17th wedding anniversary, SI2 (E color). With age my preferences have changed -- I like a larger rock, very white, and if I can't see any flaws with my naked, almost-40 eyes, it's good for me! Diamondlil DiamondLil ________________ "Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs."
Posted: 10/10/2003 9:20:10 AM

P: 10/10/2003 9:26:07 AM
fire&ice Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,827 Last Post: 3/30/2009 Member Since: 7/22/2002	---------------- On 10/10/2003 9:20:10 AM diamondlil wrote: These polls are fun - I like a larger rock, very white, and if I can't see any flaws with my naked, almost-40 eyes, it's good for me! Diamondlil ---------------- So true! It only get worse! The diamond gets smaller & the flaws are not existent.
Posted: 10/10/2003 9:26:07 AM

P: 10/14/2003 4:37:56 PM
derekinla Cut Rock Total Posts: 467 Last Post: 6/16/2005 Member Since: 9/8/2003	The bellshape curve with this poll is a bit flatter in the middle than with the color grade poll results. Seems like VS1 to SI1 captures more than 50% of the PS'ers' out there. Derek in Los Angeles
Posted: 10/14/2003 4:37:56 PM

P: 10/14/2003 5:53:29 PM
winyan Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,144 Last Post: 11/1/2006 Member Since: 5/9/2003	Actually my engagement ring is only .23 (the original that is) and I doubt stats were provided almost 30 years ago. My new (old) ring was a real buy...an OMC, graded at G in color, and VVS1 in clarity. .97 too, no less. win "... (Corporations) have all the benefits of voters, without the guidance of a conscience. ... Corporations they will bring this country down." Theodore Roosevelt 1904
Posted: 10/14/2003 5:53:29 PM

P: 10/15/2003 8:31:47 PM
Mara Ideal Rock Total Posts: 27,911 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 10/30/2002	I also tend to think that buyers are more bullish on color than clarity...esp when it comes to 'availability'. As Diane noted, she would have been happy with VS1 or VS2, but this stone happened along and it was everything she wanted in every other way. Same with us. We were looking more SI1 or similar to try to get a larger stone, but did want something like an F or G in color (this was last November...wow how time flies!!), but the E SI1 that our jeweler showed us had a black carbon spot I didn't like. The other option was this stone, a G VS, which looked just as white and much more clean inside. We tried shopping online but we weren't happy at the time with not really being able to see the stones in person (and the vendors we were working with didnt have pix up etc), nor did we want to drop the color to anything low (what we perceived as low..which has changed!). So we got the G VS. But 20/20 hindsight, a nice H or I SI1 would have been great..and look just as good I am sure, and we could have gotten a bigger stone. I love my VS because it is so incredibly clean (a very very clean VS plot and I cant even find the inclusions with a loupe even when my jeweler points them out)...so it's a tradeoff I guess. But sometimes you just end up with the clarity that suits you fine, when all the OTHER factors (c's) are right. ________________________________ "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." -Albert Einstein
Posted: 10/15/2003 8:31:47 PM

P: 10/23/2003 11:29:52 PM
indigo Rough Rock Total Posts: 60 Last Post: 6/7/2005 Member Since: 7/23/2001	I didn't set out to get a VS1 stone, but I happily ended up with one. I was willing to go to SI1 as long as the cut was good. I found a diamond with the AGS ideal 0 cut that scored .6 on the Holloway. Color is I, and the price was $300 below my budget limit. Now I just have to find a ring to put it in. BTW, I was very happy with Blue Nile. I spent two weeks trying to find a diamond with Whiteflash and then found one with Blue Nile in 2 days. Customer service was great, and I received it at my door 20 hours after payment. One more observation... my AGS cert is printed on some sort of paper that has little flecks of fiber in it. Against that background, I can barely guess where the inclusions are even supposed to be on the picture.
Posted: 10/23/2003 11:29:52 PM

P: 11/28/2003 12:12:10 PM
derekinla Cut Rock Total Posts: 467 Last Post: 6/16/2005 Member Since: 9/8/2003	Bump Derek in Los Angeles
Posted: 11/28/2003 12:12:10 PM

P: 11/29/2003 4:51:26 AM
tomatoe Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,316 Last Post: 11/29/2008 Member Since: 10/26/2003	so happens the regent i am getting is a vvs2, once again, not much choice with regents. i dont mind getting a vs2 or eye clean si1 to get a bigger stone.
Posted: 11/29/2003 4:51:26 AM

P: 11/29/2003 9:01:50 AM
Jax172 Cut Rock Total Posts: 247 Last Post: 4/28/2008 Member Since: 3/11/2002	Mine is G VVS2 We were looking for a F VS1, but after waiting several months and none becoming available in our size/cut we wanted we took the closest thing we could find. Down a grade in color and up one in clarity. I wanted a white, eye clean diamond and that is what I got so I am completely happy. I had a mental hang up when it came to clarity. Just "needed" to have a grade that began with V instead of S. Why, I don't know. Just a silly thing. But now, for any further diamonds we may buy, I am all about the "If I can't see it, it doesn't matter" way of thinking.
Posted: 11/29/2003 9:01:50 AM

P: 12/2/2003 10:14:43 PM
Colored Gemstone Nut Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,267 Last Post: 10/1/2009 Member Since: 11/21/2002	Mine is VS2 Regina's is si-1... Josh Rioux Haines, Alaska The Colored Gemstone Nut
Posted: 12/2/2003 10:14:43 PM

P: 1/6/2004 3:31:49 PM
derekinla Cut Rock Total Posts: 467 Last Post: 6/16/2005 Member Since: 9/8/2003	bump Derek in Los Angeles
Posted: 1/6/2004 3:31:49 PM

P: 1/6/2004 6:20:19 PM
aljdewey Ideal Rock Total Posts: 8,236 Last Post: 2/11/2008 Member Since: 11/25/2002	Mine's an SI2......and that wasn't what I was going for initially. I was pretty focused on getting an SI1.....but I had the good sense to listen to Brian at WF and trust his eyes. He compared my stone to an SI1 and found it cleaner! He was right......and my appraiser agreed. The benefit: I got a stone that likely should have been an SI1 for the price break of an SI2, and it's COMPLETELY eye-clean. Hell, I KNOW where the inclusions are, and I still have a tough time finding them with a loupe! It just goes to show how important it is to keep an open mind in the buying process. _____________________ Note: Chainsaw Not Sold Separately.
Posted: 1/6/2004 6:20:19 PM

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P: 1/27/2004 2:52:27 AM
Kamuelamom Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,808 Last Post: 10/20/2006 Member Since: 4/18/2003	---------------- On 1/6/2004 6:20:19 PM aljdewey wrote: Mine's an SI2......and that wasn't what I was going for initially. I was pretty focused on getting an SI1.....but I had the good sense to listen to Brian at WF and trust his eyes. He compared my stone to an SI1 and found it cleaner! He was right......and my appraiser agreed. The benefit: I got a stone that likely should have been an SI1 for the price break of an SI2, and it's COMPLETELY eye-clean. Hell, I KNOW where the inclusions are, and I still have a tough time finding them with a loupe! It just goes to show how important it is to keep an open mind in the buying process. ---------------- Aljdewey I totally agree with this. When we originally began looking, I was certain I had to have something with a V in it, but the more we learned, I realized that it was all a psychological factor. My grounded husband kindly brought me to this realization. Good thing since I bet we saved some money too. Also, I'd have gone for this one SI2 we were looking at, but the feather was large and right underneath and practically across the whole table. Like yours, my stone has inclusions but till this day I cannot find them with my 10x loupe.
Posted: 1/27/2004 2:52:27 AM