when buying a lab-grown diamond, you'll encounter designations like vs1, vvs2, or si . These are grades of clarity . Also called "clarity" . And indicate how free a diamond is from natural imperfections . In this blog post, we explain what these terms mean and the clarity grades louèn diamonds selects .
what is clarity ?
every diamond, whether natural or lab-grown, contains microscopic inclusions or imperfections . Clarity refers to the quantity, size, and visibility of these imperfections . The fewer impurities, the rarer and more valuable the stone .
what do the gradations mean ?
fl / if
flawless / internally flawless . No inclusions whatsoever, even under 10x magnification . Extremely rare .
vvs1 / vvs2
very very slightly included . Minimal inclusions, barely visible under magnification . Very high quality .
vs1 / vs2
very slightly included . Small inclusions visible under magnification, but usually invisible to the naked eye .
si1 / si2
slightly included . Inclusions are visible under magnification and sometimes to the naked eye . Still a good choice for many jewelry pieces .
which clarity does louèn diamonds choose ?
we select only diamonds with a clarity of vs2 or better . This means that any imperfections are invisible to the naked eye, and the stone appears clear and sparkling . Clarity is always documented in the certification report .
“at louèn, we combine clarity with an excellent cut for maximum brilliance . ”
clarity vs . Color: what do you see faster ?
many people think small inclusions are immediately visible, but in practice, color is more noticeable than clarity . That's why at louèn, we always combine good clarity with a high color grade and cut quality .
which factor most influences appearance ?
cut (grinding)
🔝 most important factor . Determines how light is reflected and thus how the diamond sparkles .
color (color)
visible with lower scores . A colorless diamond appears brighter and fresher .
clarity (purity)
inclusions are usually invisible to the naked eye at vs or better . They have less impact than cut and color .
carat (weight)
affects size and price . Says nothing about appearance or brilliance .
want to learn more about diamond quality ? Also read our blogs about color and quality .
