VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1) is the third-highest of the eleven diamond clarity grades. Its inclusions are so small that a trained grader struggles to find them under 10x magnification, and nobody can see them with the naked eye. The catch is that a VS1 diamond, two grades lower, is also clean to the naked eye. In a lab-grown diamond the step from VS1 to VVS1 adds a few percent to the price and changes what is printed on the certificate, not what you see on the finger.
VVS1 at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Very, Very Slightly Included 1 |
| Position on the scale | 3rd of 11 grades, below Flawless and Internally Flawless, above VVS2 |
| Under a 10x loupe | Inclusions are extremely difficult to find, often only from the pavilion (underside) |
| To the naked eye | Identical to Internally Flawless, VVS2 and VS1 |
| Typical inclusions in lab-grown | One or two pinpoints, a tiny needle or a faint cloud |
| Price vs VS1 (lab-grown) | A few percent more for the same color, cut and carat |
| Who it suits | Buyers who want the grade on the report; large emerald cuts; anyone matching an heirloom stone |
What does VVS1 mean?
VVS stands for Very, Very Slightly Included. Every natural or lab-grown diamond is graded for clarity by looking for inclusions (features inside the stone, such as pinpoints, crystals, feathers and clouds) and blemishes (marks on the surface) under 10x magnification. The Gemological Institute of America, whose clarity scale every major lab uses, defines the VVS grades as inclusions so slight that they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x.
The grader weighs five things: the number of inclusions, their size, their position, their nature (a feather versus a cloud, say) and their relief, which is how much they stand out against the diamond around them. A VVS1 stone typically has one or two pinpoints so small and so well hidden that the grader has to hunt for them, and often only finds them by turning the diamond over and looking through the pavilion.
The "1" matters. VVS1 sits above VVS2. In a VVS2 the inclusions are still tiny, but a grader can usually find them face-up through the crown with the loupe. In a VVS1 they are harder still. Both are far beyond what a human eye can resolve at any normal viewing distance.
Where VVS1 sits on the diamond clarity scale
The diamond clarity scale, cleanest on the left
Visible to the naked eye?
Clairamor stocks IF through VS2, the five grades to the left of the line where anything can show.
| Grade | What the grader sees at 10x | What you see unaided |
|---|---|---|
| FL (Flawless) | No inclusions and no blemishes | Nothing |
| IF (Internally Flawless) | No inclusions; minor surface blemishes only | Nothing |
| VVS1 | Inclusions extremely difficult to find, usually from the pavilion | Nothing |
| VVS2 | Inclusions very difficult to find, sometimes face-up | Nothing |
| VS1 | Minor inclusions, found with effort | Nothing |
| VS2 | Minor inclusions, found with less effort | Nothing in almost every stone; check large emerald cuts |
| SI1 | Inclusions noticeable | Sometimes a small mark |
| SI2 | Inclusions easily noticeable | Often visible |
| I1, I2, I3 | Inclusions obvious, may affect transparency and sparkle | Visible |
Clairamor's diamond picker only lists stones from IF through VS2, so every diamond you can put in one of our rings sits in the top half of this scale. Read more about how clarity fits with color, cut and carat in our guide to the 4Cs.
VVS1 vs VS1: what is actually different
This is the comparison most people are really asking about, because VS1 is where value shoppers land and VVS1 is where the "I want the best I can justify" shoppers land. Here is what separates them.
| VVS1 | VS1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades apart | 3rd of 11 | 5th of 11 |
| Under 10x | Extremely hard to find; often pavilion-only | Found with effort; small and usually off-center |
| Naked eye, arm's length | Clean | Clean |
| Naked eye, 6 inches, bright light | Clean | Clean |
| Effect on sparkle | None | None |
| Lab-grown price, same color and cut | A few percent higher | Baseline |
| Where the money goes further | The certificate | A bigger stone, a better color or the setting |
The claim you will read elsewhere, that VS1 inclusions "may be visible to the naked eye", is not true of VS1. VS1 is eye-clean in every shape and size sold as an engagement ring stone. The grade where you start checking is VS2, and even there it takes a large stone, a step cut and a dark inclusion under the table for anything to show. Our guide to VS clarity goes deeper on VS1 and VS2.
So the honest answer to "is VVS1 better than VS1?" is: on paper, yes, by two grades; in the ring, no one can tell, including a jeweler without a loupe.
VVS1 vs VVS2
VVS1 and VVS2 share the same definition and differ by degree. A VVS2 diamond's inclusions are very difficult to see under 10x and can usually be located face-up. A VVS1 diamond's inclusions are extremely difficult to see and are often only found through the pavilion, or sit as a single pinpoint near the girdle. To the naked eye the two grades are the same stone.
In mined diamonds the gap between VVS1 and VVS2 can be a meaningful price step, because both grades are rare. In lab-grown diamonds, where high clarity is common, the step is small. In Clairamor's own inventory on September 23, 2026, a 1.0 ct D-color VS1 round listed at $667 to $680 and a 1.01 ct D-color VVS2 at $687; at 2 ct, E-color VS1 rounds listed at $1,183 to $1,198 and an E-color VVS2 at $1,201. Two clarity grades apart, same color, a difference of $3 to $20. VVS1 sits one step above VVS2 and adds a similar few percent again.
How much does a VVS1 lab-grown diamond cost?
Clarity is the smallest of the three levers that set a lab-grown diamond's price. Carat weight moves it most, then color and cut quality, then clarity. The table below shows Clairamor's lab-grown diamond price ranges by shape and carat as of September 2026; within each range the low end is roughly a VS1, G-color, very good cut and the high end roughly a VVS1, D-color, excellent cut, so the clarity grade accounts for only part of the spread.
| Shape | 1.00 ct | 2.00 ct | 3.00 ct | 4.00 ct | 5.00 ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | $750–$785 | $1,300–$2,000 | $2,050–$3,100 | $2,400–$7,000 | $3,400–$12,000 |
| Oval | $700–$775 | $1,300–$1,650 | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,800–$5,000 | $3,800–$9,500 |
| Emerald | $700–$750 | $1,200–$1,800 | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,600–$5,000 | $2,800–$7,150 |
| Radiant | $650–$760 | $1,250–$1,550 | $2,200–$3,500 | $2,650–$5,600 | $3,300–$6,400 |
| Cushion | $750–$800 | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,900–$2,950 | $2,900–$4,750 | $3,300–$7,000 |
| Pear | $700–$750 | $1,200–$1,500 | $2,400–$2,800 | $2,400–$5,500 | $3,000–$9,200 |
| Marquise | $750–$850 | $1,800–$2,600 | $2,200–$5,000 | $2,900–$6,000 | $3,300–$9,500 |
| Moval | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,800–$2,250 | $3,500–$4,400 | $5,700–$7,700 | $5,300–$10,000 |
Two things follow from the table. First, at 1 carat the whole spread from VS1/G to VVS1/D is under $150 for every shape except moval, and at 2 carats it is $300 to $800 with clarity only a slice of that, so choosing VVS1 over VS1 will not change which ring you can afford. Second, at 3 carats and up the spread widens, and that is where paying for clarity you cannot see starts to cost real money that could have gone into carat weight instead. Run your own numbers in our diamond price calculator or the lab-grown diamond pricing guide.
Is VVS1 worth it?
For an engagement ring, our answer is that VS1 is enough for everyone. Every stone Clairamor sells is eye-clean, and once a diamond is eye-clean, a higher clarity grade does not make it sparkle more, look whiter, face up larger or wear better. Cut does the first, color the second, carat the third, and the setting the fourth.
There are still three good reasons to choose VVS1:
- You want the grade. Some people like knowing the report says VVS1, and with lab-grown pricing the cost of that is small. That is a legitimate preference, and our picker lists VVS1 and IF stones alongside the VS grades.
- A large emerald cut. Step cuts have big, open facets that act like windows. From 3 carats up, a VVS grade removes any chance of a faint inclusion catching your eye when you look straight into the table. Browse our emerald cut engagement rings to see how much stone is on show.
- Matching a stone you already own. If you are pairing a new diamond with an heirloom VVS stone in a two-stone or three-stone ring, matching the grade keeps the appraisal tidy.
If none of those apply, put the difference into the next carat size, a D or E color, or a platinum setting. Those are changes you will see every day.
VVS1 in lab-grown vs mined diamonds
Clarity grading is identical for lab-grown and mined diamonds. IGI, GIA, GCAL and HRD all use the same eleven-grade scale, the same 10x standard and the same five factors. What differs is how common each grade is. Mined VVS1 diamonds are rare, which is why the grade carries a big premium in natural stones. Lab-grown diamonds are grown in controlled conditions, and a large share of CVD and HPHT production comes out at VS1 or better, so VVS1 is a normal grade on our shelves rather than an exceptional one.
The inclusions differ too. A lab-grown diamond's clarity characteristics are usually pinpoints, small feathers, tiny needles or faint clouds. HPHT-grown stones can occasionally carry a small metallic flux inclusion, which graders identify easily and which, at VVS or VS, is far too small to see. None of this changes the wearing life of the stone: a diamond is a diamond, and a VS1 lab-grown diamond will outlast the ring it sits in. See lab-grown vs natural diamonds for the full comparison.
How to read clarity on the grading report
Every Clairamor diamond comes with an independent grading report from GIA, IGI or HRD. The clarity grade sits in the grading results block, usually under "Clarity Grade". Below it, larger stones have a clarity plot: a diagram of the diamond with symbols marking each inclusion and blemish. On a VVS1 report the plot is close to empty, typically a single pinpoint or needle symbol. The report also lists the laser inscription on the girdle, which you can match to the stone with a loupe.
Two reading tips. First, the plot shows position, not size: a mark drawn under the table on a VS1 report can still be invisible to the eye. Second, a report is a snapshot from one lab. GIA and IGI both grade to the same scale, but if you are comparing two stones, compare reports from the same lab. Our guide to diamond certification companies explains what each lab does and how to verify a report number online.
Where Clairamor fits
Clairamor sells lab-grown diamond engagement rings as a setting plus a stone you choose. Every diamond in our picker is IF through VS2 and D through G in color, with GIA, IGI or HRD reports, so clarity is never a risk you are managing. Pick the shape, then the carat weight that fits the hand and the budget, then let clarity be the last decision.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a VVS1 diamond?
A VVS1 diamond has a clarity grade of Very, Very Slightly Included 1, the third-highest of eleven grades. Its inclusions are so small that a skilled grader has difficulty finding them under 10x magnification, and they are invisible to the naked eye.
Is VVS1 better than VS1?
On the grading report, yes: VVS1 is two grades higher. In the ring, no: both grades are eye-clean and sparkle identically. For a lab-grown diamond the price difference is a few percent, so VVS1 is a reasonable choice if you want the grade, but it is not a visible upgrade.
What is the difference between VVS1 and VVS2?
Both grades have inclusions that are very difficult to see under 10x. In a VVS1 they are extremely hard to find and often visible only from the pavilion; in a VVS2 a grader can usually locate them face-up. Neither is visible without magnification.
Is VVS1 clarity good?
Yes. VVS1 is a top-tier clarity grade, above VVS2, VS1 and VS2 and below only Flawless and Internally Flawless. Any diamond graded VVS1 by GIA, IGI, GCAL or HRD is exceptionally clean.
How much more does a VVS1 diamond cost than a VS1?
For lab-grown diamonds of the same carat, color and cut, VVS1 usually costs a few percent more than VS1. In Clairamor's inventory on September 23, 2026, same-color VS1 and VVS2 rounds at 1 and 2 carats were $3 to $20 apart. In mined diamonds the same step can cost far more because VVS grades are rare.
Can you see inclusions in a VVS1 diamond?
Not with the naked eye, and usually not with a standard 10x jeweler's loupe unless you know exactly where to look. Graders often find VVS1 inclusions only by examining the stone through the pavilion under controlled lighting.
Is VVS1 or Internally Flawless better?
Internally Flawless is the higher grade: it has no inclusions at all under 10x, only possible surface blemishes. VVS1 has at least one inclusion, though an extremely small one. To the eye they are identical.
Do lab-grown diamonds come in VVS1?
Yes, and VVS1 is a common grade for lab-grown diamonds because controlled growth produces many stones at VS1 clarity or better. Clairamor's picker lists lab-grown diamonds from Internally Flawless through VS2.
What does VVS1 mean on a GIA or IGI report?
It means the lab's graders found inclusions that met GIA's definition for the VVS range, difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x, and judged them to be at the less visible end of that range. Larger stones will show the inclusion's position on the report's clarity plot.
Is VS1 good enough for an engagement ring?
Yes. VS1 diamonds are eye-clean in every shape and size, and the grade makes no difference to sparkle. Choosing VS1 over VVS1 frees up budget for a larger stone, a higher color grade or a better setting, all of which are visible.
Related reading
- SI diamonds: are Slightly Included diamonds worth buying?
- VS1 vs VS2 diamond clarity: what VS means, what you can see and what it costs
- Diamond color scale: D to Z chart, what you can see and what each grade costs
- How to buy a lab-grown diamond
