A Complete Guide to VS2 Diamond Clarity

Bottom Line Recommendation:

We recommend looking for a diamond with a VS1 to SI2 clarity grade. A beautiful VS2 or VS1 diamond will look identical to a flawless graded diamond, assuming all other grades and features are equal (yet will cost significantly less). 

If you’re looking at larger diamonds, any blemishes, and inclusions become easier to spot and may be visible to the naked eye. For diamonds greater than 2 carat, you may need to bump up to VS1 clarity or VVS grade for an eye-clean diamond. Whatever the clarity grade, it’s important to review each diamond closely to ensure that it doesn’t contain any blemishes or inclusions that you can see under normal viewing conditions.

For help evaluating diamonds for their clarity as well as assessing other important features, contact our diamond experts.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

How much does a VS2 diamond cost?
Should I focus on VS2 clarity when buying a diamond?
Is it possible to find a VS2 diamond that is not eye-clean?
What is the difference between VS1 and VS2 diamonds?
Where is the best place to buy a VS2 clarity diamond?

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These are both beautiful 2 Carat H color diamonds
One is VS2 clarity and costs $29,590
The other is VVS1 and costs $31,980
Can you tell which is which?

What is VS2 Clarity?

In order to understand what a VS2 diamond is, it’s important to know the basics of the diamond clarity chart. As the GIA laboratory puts it, “Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone”.

Almost all diamonds have some imperfections, as a result of the process by which they are formed. Diamonds are born from the combination of heat and pressure 80-120 miles deep in the Earth’s mantle and formed over billions of years. This inevitably leads to surface blemishes or internal inclusions, and it’s extremely rare for a diamond to emerge in perfect condition.

VS2 clarity means Very Slightly Included. Inclusions in VS2 diamonds, like in this 1.23ct I/VS2 round brilliant cut from Blue Nile, are small, and rarely able to be seen by the naked eye. A VS2 grade comes in around the middle of the overall grading scale for diamond clarity, but realistically indicates a high-quality diamond that is very close to looking flawless when viewed in normal conditions.

The GIA’s Diamond Clarity Grading Scale

The GIA grades clarity on the following scale:

• IF – Internally Flawless
• VVS1 – Very Very Small Inclusions 1
• VVS2 – Very Very Small Inclusions 2
• VS1 – Very Small Inclusions 1
• VS2 – Very Small Inclusions 2
• SI1 – Small Inclusions 1
• SI2 – Small Inclusions 2
• I1 – Inclusions 1
• I2 – Inclusions 2

VS2 diamond is the lower grade of VS clarity. VS2 inclusions are almost always easily noticed under 10x magnification (a standard jeweler’s loupe). In some cases, the inclusion is in a difficult-to-spot location. Most often, though, the inclusion is large enough to be spotted quickly under magnification. VS2 inclusions are rarely noticeable to the naked eye, especially in diamonds less than 2 carat.

VS2 may be on the high end of the clarity spectrum, but that does not mean you can buy one site unseen. Take a look at this VS2 diamond from Blue Nile. It seems like a phenomenal deal. After all, it is $1,000 cheaper than this diamond with the exact same specs. But if you look at the image, you will see that the first diamond has a garish inclusion in the center of the table while the second diamond looks clear and is obviously worth spending the extra cash on.

Tip: Find the Best-Priced “Eye-Clean” Diamond

While, in many cases, a VS2 clarity grade represents a clear diamond with few noticeable inclusions, it’s not recommended to focus on grades alone when judging a diamond for its clarity.

We believe your goal should be to find an “eye-clean” diamond for the best price possible (of course factoring in other features, such as cut quality and Carat weight).

“Eye-clean” means the diamond doesn’t have any inclusions or blemishes that are noticeable to the naked eye. Depending on the size and location of their inclusions, one VS2 diamond may appear eye-clean, while the inclusions on another may be a lot easier to notice.

Ringo™ Approved Eye-Clean Diamonds

Ringo is a patented artificial intelligence model we recently developed to help consumers assess if a diamond is eye-clean. Ringo can examine videos of diamonds to decide whether or not it passes as eye-clean, and will also filter for other parameters like cut quality, fluorescence, and whether it matches your desired setting style. 

If you want to select a diamond specifically for your personal needs (budget, shape, and setting style), check it out here. 

VS2 Diamond Price

The price of a VS2 diamond depends on many factors, such as the carat weight, cut quality, color grade, and the shape of the diamond. The value of diamonds is a complex thing.

VS2 clarity falls in a sweet spot with which you can often get very good value for money. Both VS1 and VS2 diamonds generally offer a combination of beauty and value, where it’s possible to find an eye-clean diamond without paying more than you need to.

It’s quite common for people to make the mistake of buying a diamond with a clarity grade too high to appreciate. Once it passes the threshold for being eye-clean, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between diamonds of higher or lower clarity grades.

Assuming all else is the same, an eye-clean VS2 diamond will look identical to a flawless graded diamond. Despite appearing almost exactly alike, there’s a big difference in price.

Is VS2 A Good Quality Diamond?

In most cases, a VS2 clarity grade will give you a high-quality diamond (at least, as its clarity is concerned). We recommend to people looking for diamonds graded either VS1 or VS2, as this is where you tend to be able to find a perfectly fine, eye-clean diamond without paying too much.

Not all VS2 diamonds are necessarily eye-clean, however, so it’s important to inspect them closely to be sure there are no clearly visible inclusions. Also, be aware that inclusions are easier to spot with larger diamonds, and with diamonds of certain shapes, such as asscher or emerald cuts.

In these cases, VS2 may be a little low. But for a regular-sized round brilliant diamond, the majority of the time this clarity grade is more than enough.

Take a look at these VS2 diamonds:

• A stunning 1.50 carat diamond in a pavé setting from Blue Nile
• A beautiful, eye-clean 1.51 carat diamond in a halo setting from Blue Nile
• A brilliant 0.8 carat diamond from James Allen would look stunning in a solitaire ring.

Each of these three diamonds is eye-clean at normal magnification and would make for a remarkable diamond ring or pendant.

Diamonds of 2 Carat Weight and Greater

Inclusions can be more visible to the naked eye in diamonds of a higher carat weight. The bigger the diamond, the more surface area there is to spot any imperfections.

While VS1 or VS2 is usually more than enough for diamonds up to 2 carats, the same grade may not be enough for high-carat diamonds. For example, with this 3.11 diamond with a VS1 clarity from James Allen, there is a dark inclusion on the diamond’s table that is easy to notice.

Another example, this 3.62 carat VS2 diamond also from James Allen features blemishes on the surface that can be seen without magnification.

When you’re looking at diamonds above 2 carat, such as the examples above, be open to looking at higher clarity grades too. And even though there is always a chance for a VS2 diamond to be eye-clean, you may need to move up to a VS1 or VVS2 clarity.

You still want to focus on picking out a diamond that’s eye-clean, regardless of the grade. It may be possible to find an eye-clean VS2 diamond even in that size.

Best Shapes for VS2 Diamonds

Some diamond shapes are better or worse than others at showing imperfections. This is important to know, as a VS2 clarity grade may be fine for one shape, but too low for another.

Step cuts, such as emerald cuts and asscher cuts (and baguette diamonds) are more likely to show any inclusions. These diamond shapes feature long, straight, parallel facets, and any marks show up quite clearly.

In comparison, brilliant cut diamonds, such as round, cushion, radiant, oval and pear shaped diamonds, generally hide inclusions well.

In general, you’ll be able to find an eye-clean brilliant cut diamond in the area of VS2, or sometimes even lower. However, for a step cut, such as an asscher or emerald diamond, you’ll often need to look higher, like VVS2 clarity.

Examples of Undesirable VS2 Diamonds

This inclusion plot from the GIA report shows a concentration of crystals in the same space.

The image above shows that VS2 clarity doesn’t always guarantee you’ll get an eye-clean diamond. Certain factors can affect whether or not it appears clear to the naked eye, including cut quality (imperfections are hidden easier with better light performance), the color of any inclusions, and the shape or nature of the flaws.

As discussed earlier, the shape and size of the diamond also play a large part. While we can easily spot the imperfection in the emerald diamond above, it’s possible the same flaw could be hidden in a round brilliant, or a smaller emerald.

Princess cut with dark inclusions under table facet.

Most importantly, no matter the clarity grade, be sure to review every diamond closely to be sure there are no noticeable imperfections. If you’d like assistance in selecting an eye-clean diamond, please contact our clarity experts.

Totally recommended. Quick responses, concrete and specific advice, something and someone you can rely on to make such an important decision.

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Gio

Apr 1, 2023

Diamonds Pro helped us pick a diamond, according to our budget and a few other criteria. We ended up buying a loose diamond from James Allen. We felt that we got very good value for money. The diamond was appraised by another jeweler where we live, confirming its characteristics and value. Finally, we had the diamond set in a ring by a local jeweler, and we’re very pleased with the result! Thank you Diamonds Pro 😊

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Mikeela Teaquila

Dec 26, 2022

Difference Between VS2 and VS1

The difference between a VS1 and VS2 diamond is extremely slight. It’s difficult for even a diamond expert to tell one from the other, let alone a regular person in normal viewing conditions.

Compare this VS2 diamond then this VS1 diamond, and see if you can notice anything that separates them. Without a magnification tool, it’s unlikely you’d be able to tell which is VS1 and which is VS2 clarity. Even then, you would need proper training in assessing diamond clarity to tell for sure.

The definition of a VS1 vs VS2 diamond gives some differences. VS2 clarity means that, under 10x magnification, inclusions are almost always easily noticeable. A VS1 grade, on the other hand, means that inclusions are only somewhat noticeable.

In essence, the difference is that inclusions in VS2 diamonds are slightly easier to detect using magnification tools. In both cases, however, the inclusions are slight and difficult to see with the naked eye.

In larger stones, like 3 carat, 4 carat and 5 carat diamonds, you can get some outliers wherein there are noticeable imperfections, visible to the naked eye, for both VS1 and VS2 diamonds.

Because the difference between VS1 and VS2 is slight, we recommend looking for eye-clean VS2 diamonds with a carat weight of 2 or below. You won’t sacrifice any of the beauty, but you’ll save some of your budget for other important factors like cut quality. For a higher carat stone, you may want to consider a VS1 diamond or even a VVS2 diamond to ensure you get one that’s eye-clean.

Where to Buy a VS2 Diamond

It’s essential to look closely at any diamond in order to evaluate its clarity, instead of going by the grading report alone. The report can tell you the nature of any inclusions, but the only way to know for sure if a diamond is eye-clean is to inspect it for yourself.

You’ll need to review high-quality images to see if there are any imperfections. We recommend buying diamonds online from James Allen and Blue Nile, who are currently the only vendors we recommend that offer imagery and inspection tools good enough to properly review diamond clarity.

With their advanced technology, you may be able to find a stunning SI2 diamond that saves you almost 20% or 30% over a mediocre VS2.

FAQs About VS2 Clarity Diamonds

In this section, we’ll answer some of the most common questions regarding VS2 clarity diamonds.

Need Help With A Decision? Contact Us Today

To someone with no experience in shopping for diamonds or evaluating the quality of a diamond, it can be quite stressful comparing one diamond to the next.

Our experts are happy to help you in your search for a beautiful, eye-clean VS2 diamond. We have years of experience evaluating diamonds and diamond clarity, having helped thousands of readers along their diamond buying journey.

Feel free to contact our experts, and we’ll help you pick out the perfect diamond for your budget.

Here are more specific clarity topics to browse:

• What is the best diamond clarity (on diamond clarity chart)?
• Is diamond color or diamond clarity more important?
• What are I2 diamonds and their average price?
• What are I1 diamonds and their average price?
• What are SI3 diamonds and their average price?
• What are SI2 diamonds and their average price?
• What are SI1 diamonds and their average price?
• What is VS diamond clarity?
• What are VS1 diamonds and their average price?
• What are VVS2 diamonds and their average price?
• What are VVS diamonds and their average price?
• What are VVS1 diamonds and their average price?
• What are internally flawless diamonds and their average price?
• What is the best clarity for lab-grown diamonds?
• Is diamond fluorescence under UV light good or bad?

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab created diamonds online.

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What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
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• Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile with an exclusive coupon code!

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What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
• Lifetime Warranty
• Free Shipping
• Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
• Provide insurance appraisal
• One free resizing within the first year of purchase
• High quality images of about half of their diamonds
• 24/7 Customer Service
• 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
• Best in class fulfillment

About the author

Mike Fried Mike Fried has over 25 years experience in the diamond industry working with Leo Schachter Diamonds, Moshe Namdar Diamonds, and joining The Diamond Pro in 2007. He is recognized as an industry expert and has been quoted in publications such as Us, People, Page Six, The Next Web and more.