What does VS2 really mean, please help!

[Rob79]

I have my ring, it is AMAZING, but When I look straight into the girlde I see something, not sure what it is, it is GIA certified stone and is VS2 clarity. As far as I understand VS2 means it is hard even under 10x magnification to see any kind of inclusions but I can see this with my eye, maybe a reflection, or maybe magnified from girdle, I am not sure, what exactly does VS2 mean to the experts, maybe it just means you can not see from the top looking down, which you can;t but I am pretty darn sure it means you can''t see any inclusions of any kind, that is why I went with VS quality and not SI. Please post your ideas and such I will post a picture and put an arrow to the inclusion that I am seeing. Please help.

 

[Patty]

I think that you are pointing to the reflection of the girdle that you can see from the side. You can see this on all diamonds. It's nothing to worry about.

 

[Rob79]

I will try and get better pictures of it today, It is visible from 12" away to me and is getting quite concerning. If some experts like Rhino, Cut Nut, etc could comment on this that would be great, but I will get those pictures posted up here so you can see. Thanks

 

[DiamondExpert]

Many inclusions can be visible from the pavilion which are not visible face up...this is common. Clarity calls are made basically from the face up position even though the stone is examined from all angles during grading.

From your pic it is impossible to tell if it's an inclusion or reflection, but either way you need to focus on the face up appearance...who besides you looks at the stone sideways anyway?

 

[Rob79]

Lets see if I have this right, GIA grades the clarity from the faceup view and from bottom up only for clarity grades? If they cannot see the inclusions from face up or face down then they do no include them in the clarity grade? So anyone that has a VS quality stone it is normal to see these inclusions when looking through the pavilion or side of the diamond with no magnification?

 

[valeria101]

The clarity grade is made by the face-up look - full stop

Not the sides, not the back...

The diagrams on the cert should help one see those inclusions, but the "bottonm up" view is not indicative of the clarity grade (so the culet up diagram of an SI2 can be completely clean, in theory, and some are).

If you did expect to see nothing in the stone all the way arround (which does not correspond to any clarity grade), the one way to go is see the stone before it went into the mounting. This could happen anywhere VS2 up, I suppose, depending on where and what those specs are.

Btw, does the mark you see on the girdle correspond to anything on the cert?

 

[Rob79]

The cert is a GIA Dossier, does not include plotting, under 1ct stone. It is an amazing diamond from face up. So much sparkle and fire. I was not aware that clarity grading was done from face up only though, thanks for explaining this. I had done pretty extensive research into this and thought that any inclusions visable by naked eye no matter how you were viewing the diamond would be I-SI clarity. But obviously I was incorrect, and am glad to have this clarified for others to. Thanks again. If anyone else has anything to add, please do so.

 

[valeria101]

I hope the little spec does not detract from the other good things...

I should say it wouldn't me. It's not all bad to see some reminder that the precisely shaped sparkling thing has actually started life as a stone one may not pick up from among others

However this is not my stone, so my opinion is not very important. I am amazed that the dor could be photographed so easily. Is it something right on the girdle ( = so you can feel it with the tip of the nail) ? was it always there ? It just so happens that yet another ring got posted here for an unusual black line that became apparent after the stone was set. That story has not been concluded, but one suggestion went that given the thing seems so obvious and perhaps superficial it could be some stain.

Now, that could be the extremely lucky shot of the very inclusion that gave the VS grade (perhaps a small segment of rough girdle?)... but maybe not.

 

[Rob79]

I think I was wrong before, the spot is not visable through the girdle but the pavilion when looking up into the diamond. The spot is not visable from the top so I don;t think it will bother me, it was just concerning when I thought NO inclusions should be able to be seen with my eyes no matter how I looked at it, but as you clarified I was not correct in this assumption. Thanks again for you knowledge.

 

[DiamondExpert]

Rob;

I hope you have not got an incorrect impression about clarity grading from my comment.

I said GENERALLY the clarity grade call is made from the face up position.

However, this is not always the case. For example, a stone may have inclusions which are not visible at 10X face up, but that does not mean the clarity grade will be Internally Flawless.

Conversely, there may be major pavilion inclusions affecting the clarity grade which don't look so bad face up, but which may meet the surface, affect durability, etc., thus requiring a lower clarity grade.

The stone is looked at from all angles.

 

[Rob79]

Well this flaw, if that is what it is, is clearly visable without magnification through the side (Pavilion) but not at all through the top, does this sound like a stone that would be graded VS2? Or do you think GIA could of missed this? I beleive I am understanding your explanations correctly. Thanks

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

It is quite likely the dot you see is the vS2 inclusion.
The grading is done face up, and part of the diamond polishers skill is to minimise the effect of inclusions from this position. It might be that looking down on the inclusion it appears as a fine white line, but from the side through the flat polished girdle it appears as a small black disc.

If it annoys you too much then can you set it in a bezel setting? Or turn the stone where it is harder for you to see it?
Or take the stone back to where you bought it and ask for them to exchange it?

 

[tinatark]

Rob, I think it's the girdle reflection you're seeing. My vs1 had what I thought was the same inclusion you're talking about, when I had it re-set my jeweler showed me that it was the reflection. If it is GIA cert, your certificate will show the inclusions that make it vs2. I can't see mine, even with the *roadmap*!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Sorry, it is not a girdle or culet reflection.
Check if you like - you would see the same in all 4 directions if the stone is square.

 

[Rob79]

Thanks for some more opinions, I can see the inclusion in all 4 sides, through the pavilion, looking at the same angle each side. Would this mean that it is a refelction possibly then Cut Nut? I am starting t think it is the inclusion that gave it the VS2 grade as some has already said, It does not bother me enough to change the diamond, as I love the ring, and so does my fiance. Once I go get it apprasied again for insurance reasons I will find out then for sure. Thanks again, if anyone else has something to add please do.