I/VVS2 - terrible or acceptable combination?

[Quick Brown Fox]

Hi all, first post here after lurking for a few weeks. From everything that I''ve read and learned here and elsewhere, it seems the best course to focus more on a high color rating and stay more moderate in clarity. Yet there''s a stone I fell in love with that is precisely the opposite. It''s a Tiffany diamond (yes, I know, overpriced! - getting an employee discount through family which makes it less ridiculous). Here are the specs:

- .92 carat round diamond,
- dimensions 6.24 x 6.27 x 3.91,
- Tiffany grade of excellent in cut, symmetry and polish,
- I/VVS2,
- Tiffany setting.

My main concern is whether this color/clarity combination of I/VVS2 should set off alarm bells? It really presented well to my admittedly novice eyes. Have been to a few other brick and mortar stores to see some other possibilities and will also be looking at some loose stones today through a wholesaler in the NY diamond district, but any feedback on this particular stone based on the info provided would be much appreciated.

 

[jet2ks]

There is no such thing as an unacceptable combination--cutters can''t control how nature grew the stones. VVS clarity usually carries a price premium, and many people would not want to pay that premium with an I color, but it all depends on the price. If the diamond is priced competively with other I color stones, then why not? If they are wanting quite a bit more than a I VS2, for instance, I personally wouldn''t want to pay the difference for something I can''t see.

To give any more help with the diamond, as far as cut, we would have to know much more about the stone.

 

[serenitydiamonds]

It''s really a personal preference. If you love the diamond, that is the most important, anything anyone else says is secondary.

--Joshua

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 12/28/2009 9:36:09 AM
Author: serenitydiamonds
It's really a personal preference. If you love the diamond, that is the most important, anything anyone else says is secondary.

--Joshua

I agree - I've seen some I stones that look quite white but only you can judge what it looks like with the naked eye. And as jet2ks says, only IF the price is right. You'd need the vision of Superman to see inclusions in a VVS so is it worth it?

 

[Collee]

There is no color/clarity golden rule or acceptable combination. The first focus should be the cut. If there are other stones in your approx price range, do an IRL comparison and then decide on which stone appeals to you the most. Focus on what you see and not what you read (color and clarity).

 

[Round Halo Lover]

Date: 12/28/2009 8:31:21 AM
Author: jet2ks
There is no such thing as an unacceptable combination--cutters can''t control how nature grew the stones. VVS clarity usually carries a price premium, and many people would not want to pay that premium with an I color, but it all depends on the price. If the diamond is priced competively with other I color stones, then why not? If they are wanting quite a bit more than a I VS2, for instance, I personally wouldn''t want to pay the difference for something I can''t see.

To give any more help with the diamond, as far as cut, we would have to know much more about the stone.

+1

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Given your parameters, only you can decide what variables are important to you. As for my "opinion" I color and VVS2 clarity are both desirable traits in a diamond as well as the combo.

cheers--Sharon

 

[FB.]

Generally speaking, most people wanting lower colours will be wanting biggest stone for their money. But higher clarity will add to the price, making the stone less apealing to those where size and/or budget are important.
Think about it; you want a 1ct "near colourless" "eye clean" for as few $$$$ as possible. I'd probably lean towards I colour and SI1 clarity.

Therefore, I believe that I/VVS2 is a poor combination. But if the stone is optically something special, then I'd give it consideration. But I'd also consider that I could buy a stone of lower clarity (yet still be eye clean) that looked just as good, for less $$$$, or I could upgrade the colour or size.

Frankly, for jewellery purposes, any clarity higher than VS2 (in a round diamond) is a waste because it is usually beyond what the human eye can see - with F/VS2 being the "white/eye clean" "sweet spot" that very few people could distinguish from a D flawless.

 

[Allison D.]

QBF, the I/VVS combo isn''t reason for alarm bells at all.

Because diamonds aren''t ''made to order'', shoppers need to consider what''s in inventory and what most closely aligns with their desired parameters. Sometimes that means you end up with a higher color or higher clarity than you originally intended, and there''s no harm in that.

It''s true that you may be paying a premium for VVS clarity, but you''ve said you love the way the stone looks in person and I''d presume you''re okay with the price of the stone. As long as that''s true, no reason for concern.

 

[neatfreak]

Personally I would rather pay for color than clarity, yes. But if this stone speaks to you there is nothing wrong with getting it even if it is an unorthodox combo!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

As you know you''re paying extra for the VVS2 when you can go much lower in clarity and find just a gorgeous eye-clean stone, but, that said, if you love the stone, then it''s probably the one for you

 

[Stephan]

Great post, Allison!
I agree 100%!

 

[kenny]

Both color and clarity are important to me so I'd probably pass on a stone with grades that are very different.

 

[Quick Brown Fox]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the problem, to the extent there is one, is the premium I''d be paying for the VVS2. On the other hand, the Tiffany markup is so high that even with the employee discount, it''s still an overpriced ring, so if I''m willing to make that bargain for the "cachet" of the Tiffany brand, maybe it''s silly for me to get too worked up over the clarity grading. They don''t have great stock right now so VS1 and VS2''s aren''t to be had there, so they say. Thanks again for the feedback and guess I just have to make up my mind!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Actually I/VVS may be a great grade for you
If we''re looking at D color, there''s a far larger difference between VS1, and VVS2, in terms of price....likely as high as 30%
Once we get down to I color, you''re paying only a very small percentage more than for a VS1- likely around 5%
So you''re getting VVS- which is clearly desirable to many diamond lovers, yet paying little for the upgrade.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/28/2009 12:37:12 PM
Author: neatfreak
Personally I would rather pay for color than clarity, yes. But if this stone speaks to you there is nothing wrong with getting it even if it is an unorthodox combo!

Ditto.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/28/2009 3:52:14 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/28/2009 12:37:12 PM
Author: neatfreak
Personally I would rather pay for color than clarity, yes. But if this stone speaks to you there is nothing wrong with getting it even if it is an unorthodox combo!

Ditto.

Thritto. Colour and clarity combos are for the most part out of man''s hands so it wouldn''t bother me to have a wide variance but its up to the individual buyer concerning their preferences.

 

[Stephan]

Date: 12/28/2009 3:38:21 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Actually I/VVS may be a great grade for you
If we''re looking at D color, there''s a far larger difference between VS1, and VVS2, in terms of price....likely as high as 30%
Once we get down to I color, you''re paying only a very small percentage more than for a VS1- likely around 5%
So you''re getting VVS- which is clearly desirable to many diamond lovers, yet paying little for the upgrade.

Hi David,
Great post. I love lower colors, and I prefer to avoid VS2-SI and buy higher clarity.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/29/2009 7:21:33 AM
Author: QueenMum

Date: 12/28/2009 3:38:21 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Actually I/VVS may be a great grade for you
If we''re looking at D color, there''s a far larger difference between VS1, and VVS2, in terms of price....likely as high as 30%
Once we get down to I color, you''re paying only a very small percentage more than for a VS1- likely around 5%
So you''re getting VVS- which is clearly desirable to many diamond lovers, yet paying little for the upgrade.

Hi David,
Great post. I love lower colors, and I prefer to avoid VS2-SI and buy higher clarity.

I did not know this and it is very interesting!

 

[haagen_dazs]

Date: 12/29/2009 7:21:33 AM

Great post. I love lower colors, and I prefer to avoid VS2-SI and buy higher clarity.

same here
i rather make sure that the inclusions are not visible and will not threaten the integrity of the diamond structure

 

[jstarfireb]

I have an I/VVS2 diamond. I found that I color was the most budget-friendly of my options, and as David mentioned, there really wasn''t much of a price premium (I was also looking at VS1-VS2 stones, but wasn''t quite ready to accept SI clarity at that time). I chose that particular diamond based more on the light return than the clarity, but was pretty much locked into I color or lower unless I sacrificed size. It was a great choice for me with the budget we had, but I do plan to upgrade the color at some point.

 

[PK42]

I have an I/VVS2, incidentally a Tiffany too, and I have to say it is completely gorgeous (but then again I might be slightly biased

)