Is SI1 clarity good enough?
For most shapes, an SI1 clarity diamond will be an excellent choice. However, emerald and asscher-cut diamonds make clarity features much more visible. We recommend choosing a VS clarity diamond for these shapes. Emerald-cut diamonds, like this one, act like a series of mirrors reflecting flaws throughout the stone.
“SI” stands for “Slightly Included,” while “1” means “to the first degree.” So, these diamonds feature inclusions a jeweler's loupe can uncover at 10x magnification. Inclusions are slight imperfections or blemishes on the stone. With SI1 clarity diamonds, the inclusions are usually invisible to the naked eye.
Although the inclusions could be seen with ease using a 10X magnification loupe, SI1 diamonds will usually appear flawless to the naked eye of a casual observer. In fact, SI1 graded diamonds are great for people on a budget as they don't have to compromise on cut quality to get a larger stone.
The GIA clarity grading system contains 11 grades; the top grade is Flawless (FL), extremely rare diamonds that contain no visible blemishes or inclusions at a 10X magnification. An SI1 clarity is six places below this and defined as a diamond with inclusions that are noticeable at a 10X magnification.
This makes SI diamonds an excellent choice for jewelry consumers who are on a budget. While they may have blemishes, they'll shine just as brightly to the naked eye.
But you may want to upgrade to VS1 for diamonds that are larger than two carats or emerald cut diamonds and Asscher cut diamonds that have broad facets that show inclusions more easily. If you are buying a round brilliant diamond, finding an eye-clean SI1 diamond may be a good choice for you.
SI stands for "Slightly Included," but that doesn't mean it's a bad grade. SI diamonds will often give you the most bang for your buck. Of the lower clarity grades, we recommend these. Like all diamonds, even flawless ones, SI diamonds have imperfections.
Like VS2 diamonds, most SI1 clarity diamonds are flawless to the eye. But SI1 clarity diamonds are more likely to contain larger, noticeable flaws. If you're not the type to shop around and ensure your diamond will be eye-clean, stick to a VS2 clarity diamond.
The best diamond clarity rating is Flawless (FL). These are the rarest diamonds in the world; less than 0.05% of all diamonds are Flawless or Internally Flawless.
One of the best reasons for buying SI diamonds is their low prices. They can be 40–50% less expensive than other flawless diamonds. The price of an SI clarity diamond is determined by many additional factors. SI2 diamonds can be even cheaper than SI1 diamonds.
Is SI1 clarity good for cushion cut?
Eye-visible clarity imperfections can ruin the appearance of a cushion-cut diamond. However, the brilliance of a cushion will hide imperfections well. For the best price point, stick to VS2 and SI1 clarity grades.
VS (very slightly included) and SI (slightly included). VS diamonds are of the highest quality, as they have very few inclusions or blemishes and are usually only visible under 10x magnification. SI diamonds have slightly more inclusions or blemishes, but they are still considered to be high quality.
Clarity issues are the main reasons why a diamond can look cloudy. This is fundamentally due to the nature/severity of the inclusions and things tend to get worse as you go lower in clarity grades (e.g. SI1 and below).
The color grade is more important than the clarity grade because cushion-cut diamonds tend to retain a lot of color. If you don't want any hints of color, look for a cushion cut diamond with a color grade of H or above.
SI1 clarity indicates that a diamond has some small inclusions that are more easily noticeable under 10x magnification, but are difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye. More often than not these diamonds still exhibit inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.
Average cost for a well cut round brilliant diamond SI1-VS2 clarity and F-G-H color (the most popular qualities) ranges from around $10,00-$17,000 depending on the specifics for the individual stone. Cut plays an important role in Value, and Diamond Certificates matter more and more.
Obviously, diamonds with a lower clarity grade, like SI, "Slightly Included," will be more budget-friendly than a VS diamond. So, if you want to get the biggest diamond that appears flawless to the naked eye, consider a diamond with an SI1 or even SI2 clarity. Compare these four diamonds.
1. ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND. By far the most popular cut is the Round Brilliant, with it's fifty-seven perfectly aligned facets it's brilliance really does out-shine the others. Total internal reflection is the key here; light travels through the stone giving optimum sparkle and scintillation.
As for general consumers, they will not be able to see the flaws. VS clarity grade diamonds are very popular because of its lower price tag when compared to VVS diamonds, and its high quality when compared to SI diamonds whose flaws are easily seen in some cases.
In terms of clarity, the most popular range for a diamond engagement ring is the VS1-VS2 diamond. Color is also a factor to consider when thinking about clarity. For example, it will be much easier to spot imperfections in a very clear white diamond than in a yellow diamond.
Are lab SI diamonds real?
Lab Diamonds are Real
They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle. Lab grown diamonds offer an exceptional value when compared with the same quality rare, earth mined diamonds.
Very Slightly Included & Slightly Included Diamonds
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) diamonds have very small flaws that are nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye. Some examples of VS diamond imperfections may include black carbon spots, crystals, and feathers.
SI stands for "Slightly Included." Just below SI1 and above I diamonds, SI2 clarity diamonds are on the lower end of the clarity scale. However, that doesn't mean you should avoid them. These diamonds offer an affordable price point, and their flaws are often not visible to the naked eye.
H color diamonds are an excellent value with a faint yellow hue that is difficult to detect unless compared side by side with other diamonds of a higher color grade. Typically, only a trained eye can see the difference between H and G color grades. Fifteen percent of customers choose an H color diamond.
When VS1 and VS2 diamonds are compared, it is often found that VS1 diamonds have lesser and more minor inclusions. In comparison to VS2, the inclusions in VS1 are harder to detect. This is because VS2 diamonds have inclusions that are more visible than VS1 diamonds.
We guarantee that all diamonds supplied by Costco Wholesale have a clarity to be "VS2" or better and color to be "I" or better as outlined by the industry standard in the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading guide. Costco only sells diamond cut grades that range from Very Good to Excellent.
I1, I2, and I3 Diamond Clarity
I1 clarity have the least amount of eye-visible inclusions, whereas I2 diamonds have very visible inclusions. I3 diamonds are the lowest clarity grade possible prior to industrial drill bit use.
Does Clarity Matter in Diamonds? As long as clarity is not visible with the naked eye, it does not matter much in comparison to other characteristics of a diamond (4C's). Generally, clarity starts mattering a lot when it is too low and diamonds with clarity graded below SI1 and SI2 are likely to have visible flaws.
Carat-per-carat, emerald and Asscher cuts are the least expensive. Because they are step-cut, there is less waste when these diamonds are cut off of the rough stone, which is going to cost the same no matter how it gets cut.
Moissanite gemstones are one of the most affordable diamond alternatives. While characteristics like color, shape, and size can largely impact the price point of moissanites, a 1 ct. or 6.5mm equivalent can range from around $400 – $1,000.
Which cushion cut sparkles most?
If a cushion cut diamond has too high of a depth percentage or table percentage, it will sparkle poorly. To avoid this, we recommend choosing a cushion cut diamond with a depth percentage under 70% and a table percentage under 70%.
Cushion cut diamonds look slightly smaller than some other shapes. Cushion cuts also 'face up' smaller than some other shapes of diamond, which means that they look slightly smaller when viewed from the top. This is because as they are cut deeper carry more of their weight under the 'girdle' of the stone ie.
| Excellent | Fair | |
|---|---|---|
| Table % | 61-67 | 54-55 or 72-73 |
| Depth % | 61-67 | 54-55.9 or 71.1-73 |
| Girdle | Very Thin to Slightly Thick | Very Thin to Very Thick |
Out of the 4 C's of diamonds, the cut of the diamond is the most important. This is followed by color, clarity, and carat weight.
You see, sparkle is all about light reflection. And the way a diamond is cut affects how light goes in and out of the diamond. Poorly cut diamonds don't reflect as much light, and so they have a duller sparkle.
The fewer inclusions and blemishes a diamond has, the better it will reflect light. This means the higher the clarity, the better the sparkle.
When light enters an ideally-cut diamond, the light bounces around its internal facets, bends, and exits through the top of the diamond. This is known as refraction. Refraction creates a sparkle in a diamond as a result of light bouncing around the inside, which hits your eye when the stone is in motion.
That's why cut is the most important of the 4Cs—if a diamond is poorly cut, no clarity grating, color grading, or carat weight will make up for it. The diamond will look dull and glassy. When a diamond is cut to the proper proportions and symmetry, it will return light out of its top.
Like VS2 diamonds, most SI1 clarity diamonds are flawless to the eye. But SI1 clarity diamonds are more likely to contain larger, noticeable flaws. If you're not the type to shop around and ensure your diamond will be eye-clean, stick to a VS2 clarity diamond.
For diamonds over 2 carats, a clarity grade of VS2 or higher is the safest bet for avoiding any signs of visible inclusions. In diamonds between 1 and 2 carats, clarity grades of SI1 or better will not have inclusions easily visible to the naked eye.
Is it OK to buy SI2 diamond?
SI stands for "Slightly Included." Just below SI1 and above I diamonds, SI2 clarity diamonds are on the lower end of the clarity scale. However, that doesn't mean you should avoid them. These diamonds offer an affordable price point, and their flaws are often not visible to the naked eye.
On the diamond clarity scale, SI grades are closer to the bottom with only I (Included) grades lower. The SI range is broken down into two grades: SI1 and SI2. The difference between these two is in the amount, size, and how noticeable the inclusions are when viewed, with SI1 being the better grade.
Clarity is more important in shapes like emerald, princess, and asscher. Colour is important for cushion, radiant, pear and oval. Generally speaking, as long as you choose an eye-clean diamond, your diamond will still look beautiful in terms of clarity.
I3 diamond clarity represents the lowest diamond clarity grade available.