Within the realm of diamonds, the clarity scale runs from Flawless at the top to Heavily Included at the bottom. In a commitment to only deliver the best, HEIREST does not use diamonds with a clarity score below VS2: this ensures all our diamonds are optically flawless.
What clarity actually measures
Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions: internal characteristics like crystals, feathers, and clouds, as well as blemishes on the surface of the stone. All natural and most lab-grown diamonds have some form of inclusion, formed during the growth process.
The IGI scale runs from FL (Flawless) through VVS1 and VVS2, VS1 and VS2, SI1 and SI2, to I1, I2, and I3.
The concept that matters: eye-clean
The most useful question is not ‘what grade is this stone?’ It is: ‘can the inclusions be seen with the naked eye?’.
A stone that appears flawless to the naked eye, whatever a loupe reveals, is described as eye-clean. That is the standard that matters for a piece you are going to wear.
- IF and VVS: inclusions invisible even to trained gemologists under 10x magnification. The price difference between IF and VS2 is significant. The visual difference in a mounted ring, in normal light, is effectively zero.
- VS1 and VS2: inclusions minor and difficult to see even under magnification. Reliably eye-clean. VS2 is where you get full eye-clean performance without paying for improvements that require specialist equipment to appreciate.
- SI1: can be eye-clean, but is not guaranteed. The grade covers a wide range - some SI1 stones look clean, others do not, depending on where the inclusion sits. Each stone needs individual assessment.
- SI2 and below: inclusions often visible to the naked eye.
Why HEIREST sets VS2 as the floor
VS2 is the lowest grade at which eye-clean performance is reliable and consistent. Below that, you are making assessments stone by stone rather than working to a dependable standard.
Our minimum exists so that you do not need to think about this. Every HEIREST diamond is eye-clean. If you want to specify higher, you can. But you are not starting from a compromise.
