VS2 Clarity Diamonds: What the Grade Really Means

What does VS2 clarity mean?

Clarity describes the tiny internal features (inclusions) and surface marks (blemishes) that almost every diamond carries. It is one of the four Cs of diamond grading, alongside cut, colour and carat weight. VS2 stands for Very Slightly Included, second level. It sits sixth on GIA's 11-grade scale, below VS1 and above SI1.

GIA defines the VS grades as having inclusions that are observed with effort under 10× magnification but can be described as minor. The difference between the two VS levels is how much effort it takes. In VS1, the grade just above, a grader has to hunt; in VS2 the inclusions are found a little more readily, though they are still small. Below VS2, the SI (Slightly Included) grades have inclusions that are noticeable at 10×, and at the included grades I1 to I3 they are obvious and can affect brilliance or durability. At the very top, Flawless and Internally Flawless stones show nothing internal at 10×.

A grader weighs five factors before settling on a grade: the size, number, position, nature (type) and relief (how much the inclusion contrasts with the diamond around it). That is why two VS2 diamonds can look quite different under a loupe: one might have a single tiny dark crystal, the other a few faint white pinpoints. Our walk-through of the full clarity scale from FL to I3 explains every grade in the same way.

Is VS2 clarity eye-clean?

Eye-clean means you cannot see any inclusion with the naked eye when the diamond is face-up at a normal viewing distance of about 25–30 cm. That is the test that matters day to day, and VS2 passes it in the great majority of stones. Here is how it usually plays out by cut style and size:

• Round brilliants up to about 2 ct: almost always eye-clean. The 57 or 58 facets break light into small flashes that camouflage minor inclusions.
• Brilliant fancy shapes (oval, pear, cushion, princess, radiant, marquise, heart): very nearly always eye-clean, especially under about 1.5 ct.
• Step cuts (emerald, Asscher, baguette): usually eye-clean under about 1 ct. Above that, the long open facets act like a window, so check each stone.
• Very large stones (3 ct and over): look at every stone individually, whatever the shape.

Why the caveats? GIA does not set a fixed millimetre size for each clarity grade. Grading is judged relative to the stone, so an inclusion that earns VS2 in a 3 ct diamond can be physically larger than one that earns VS2 in a 0.50 ct diamond. Bigger stones also have bigger facets, which make anything inside easier to spot.

Tilted or face-down, you may occasionally catch a VS2 inclusion through the pavilion (the lower half of the diamond), particularly a white crystal or a small feather. That matters far less than it sounds, because nobody looks at a set diamond from underneath.

What inclusions are typical in a VS2 diamond?

Most VS2 clarity inclusions fall into a handful of types. The grade-setting inclusion, the one that decided the grade, is usually listed first in the report's key to symbols.

Position matters as much as type. A small crystal directly under the table (the large flat top facet) is the most visible spot in any diamond. The same crystal out near the girdle (the thin outer edge) can disappear completely once the stone is set. A good VS2 has its main inclusion off to the side, low in relief and white or colourless.

A clarity grade describes the stone as it is now. Some lower-clarity diamonds are treated by laser drilling and fracture filling to make inclusions less visible. GIA will grade a laser-drilled diamond and note the drill hole on the report, but it does not grade fracture-filled diamonds at all. Treatment is uncommon at VS2, since it is mostly used to improve the look of lower grades, but it must always be disclosed.

Coloured gems work differently. Inclusions in emeralds are expected, and a lightly included emerald is considered fine quality; diamonds are graded far more strictly. If any term here is new, our glossary of jewellery terms defines each inclusion type.

How does VS2 compare with VS1, SI1 and the grades either side?

This is the question most buyers are really asking: what do you gain by going up a grade, and what do you risk by going down? The table assumes the same carat weight, colour and cut quality.

Between VS1 and VS2 the difference is almost entirely under magnification; face-up, at arm's length, it is very rare to tell them apart. Going further up, to the VVS2 grade or VVS1 diamonds, buys you a stone that even an experienced grader struggles to fault, but it looks the same on the hand. Our article on whether VVS is worth the extra money weighs that up honestly.

Going down is where you need to look more carefully. Many SI1 rounds are eye-clean, but not all, and by SI2 diamonds a visible inclusion becomes a real possibility. VS2 is the lowest grade where you can be confident of an eye-clean brilliant without inspecting the stone closely. For a side-by-side look at the two VS grades, see our VS1 and VS2 comparison with photos.

Which diamond shapes suit VS2 clarity?

Facet style decides how well a shape hides inclusions. Brilliant cuts use many triangular and kite-shaped facets that scatter light and break up anything inside. Step cuts use long, parallel facets like a staircase, giving a clear, open look that also shows what is inside.

Colour and clarity decisions overlap, especially in fancy shapes that show warmth in their corners or points. Our guide to colour and clarity pairings for each shape sets out sensible combinations, and for the most demanding step cut, read how clarity behaves in Asscher cuts.

Does the metal or setting change how a VS2 diamond looks?

The metal itself does not change clarity. Yellow and rose gold affect how warm a diamond's colour looks, but an inclusion looks the same in 18 carat yellow gold as in platinum. What does change things is the setting design and where the inclusion sits.

• Claws: four or six claws cover small areas at the edge. An inclusion right at the girdle can sit under a claw and vanish, which is a common way to make a VS2 look perfectly clean.
• Bezel: a rim of metal around the whole girdle hides edge inclusions all the way round and protects the stone.
• Halo: a ring of small diamonds draws the eye outward, so minor inclusions in the centre stone become even less noticeable.
• Feathers at the girdle: the one caution. A jeweller should not place a claw directly on a feather that reaches the surface, because setting pressure can extend it. A bezel or a claw positioned beside it is the safer approach.

Dark inclusions are the type to think about. In a brilliant cut, facets can reflect a dark crystal several times, so a single point appears as a small cluster. A white or clear inclusion of the same size usually disappears into the sparkle.

How much does a VS2 diamond cost in Australia?

Clarity moves price less than carat weight or colour, but it still matters. The ranges below are approximate Australian retail prices for a round brilliant in G–H colour with an excellent or very good cut, loose and with an independent grading report. They move with the market, so treat them as a guide only.

Inside those ranges, cut quality, fluorescence and the exact colour grade all push the price up or down. The clarity step is the smaller lever: moving from VS2 to VS1 typically adds somewhere around 5–15% to a natural stone, while the step from VS2 down to SI1 is often larger. For lab-grown diamonds the gaps between clarity grades are much narrower in dollar terms, because the whole price scale is lower.

Fancy shapes such as ovals, pears and cushions usually cost less per carat than a round of the same weight, colour and clarity, so a VS2 oval will normally sit below the round figures above.

Are lab-grown VS2 diamonds different from natural ones?

Laboratory-grown diamonds are real diamond, with the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) and refractive index (2.42) as natural diamond. Labs such as IGI grade them on the same clarity scale, so a lab-grown VS2 meets the same visibility standard as a natural VS2. GIA now uses broader quality descriptions for lab-grown diamonds rather than individual clarity grades.

The inclusions themselves differ. Natural diamonds tend to show crystals, feathers, clouds and twinning wisps formed deep in the earth. Lab-grown diamonds made by HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) can contain small metallic flux inclusions, while CVD (chemical vapour deposition) stones may show tiny dark pinpoints or graphite specks. At VS2 these are all minor. Our guide to what clarity is typical in lab-grown diamonds explains why so many lab-grown stones are graded VS or higher.

Choosing between them is about rarity, budget and personal preference, not quality of appearance. A natural VS2 is rarer and costs much more; a lab-grown VS2 lets the same budget go to a larger stone or a higher colour grade. Both look identical face-up, and both should come with an independent report that states clearly whether the diamond is natural or laboratory-grown.

When is VS2 clarity the smart pick?

VS2 works for most people buying a brilliant-cut diamond because it reliably looks clean without paying for perfection nobody can see. As a rule of thumb:

• Choose VS2 when: you want a round or brilliant fancy shape up to about 2 ct, you want confidence it is eye-clean without close inspection, and you would rather spend on cut, colour or size.
• Consider VS1 or higher when: you are buying an emerald or Asscher cut above about 1.5 ct, a very large brilliant over 3 ct, or you simply want a stone that also looks clean under a loupe.
• Consider SI1 when: you are buying a round under about 1 ct and can inspect the stone or a sharp 360° video yourself.

If you are torn between clarity and colour, colour is usually more noticeable face-up in white metals. Our guide on trading clarity against colour shows where each dollar makes the most visible difference.

How to check a VS2 diamond before you buy: step by step

1. Confirm the report. Check the grading lab, the report number (often laser-inscribed on the girdle), whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown, and any treatment comments.
2. Read the plot and key to symbols. Note the grade-setting inclusion, listed first, and where it sits: under the table, or out towards the girdle.
3. Look at the type. White crystals, pinpoints and needles are the easiest to live with; dark crystals under the table and feathers reaching the surface deserve a closer look.
4. View it face-up at 25–30 cm. In person or on a clear 360° video, check that nothing catches your eye without magnification.
5. Match it to the shape and size. For step cuts above about 1 ct, or any stone over 3 ct, inspect more carefully or compare with a VS1.
6. Plan the setting. Ask whether a claw or bezel can cover an edge inclusion, and make sure no claw will sit on a surface-reaching feather.