Help...I can see inclusions in SI1s and some VS2s!!

[diamond_seeker]

So, was looking over some 2+ carat stones this past week. Could see inclusions in both SI1s and a VS2. Now, this WAS NOT from typical eye-clean range. I was eyeballing the stones very closely...probably much more closely than anyone else is gonna look...and my eyes are very sharp.

My initial thought was that I did not want to pay $20,000+ and be able to see anything...even from close range. But the price jump to VS1, for instance, is very large! So was wondering if anyone else has been in this boat..and if you purchased the stone where you could technically see an inclusion. Did it drive you crazy (were you searching for the inclusion whenever you looked at the stone) or once the purchase was made....did it not bother you at all?

Thanks for you advice and suggestions.

 

[yssie]

I did - purchase a stone that had an obvious inclusion that I (and most others) could see clearly from 10". And I stuck it under a prong and pat myself on the back for saving several thousand $$.

Is that a possibility for the stone in question, or would you be willing to wait for your rep to find you one?

 

[Gypsy]

If it's prongable (like Yssie's) that's one option. The other option is, if it is white and small and you can only see it REALLY close up. Think of it as a birthmark that confirms for you that your diamond is yours. Or contact your sales rep and tell them that you need a REALLY spectacularly clean SI and that you are willing to wait for it.

My thought is that Infinity and BGD do a good job of knowing all of their stones 'personalities' and might be able to steer you toward the right SI.

They both pre-grade thier stones before they send them off to official grading. So their may be a stone or two that came back with lower clarity than they expected, that is completely clean. I don't know if that makes sense. But I know that when I have talked to either vendor there have been times they've felt AGS was unduly harsh on a color or a clarity grading... and those stones are sometimes the best deals to be had, because they are priced at the lower grade, but really were graded harshly.

ETA: this is not a typical occurance. Both vendors would be out of business if it was. Usually in house grading has to be accurate because when they get the stones from the cutters they have to know what they are getting. So this isn't something you can count on. And occassionally there will be a stone that they grade lower in house, that comes back higher from a lab. So... there is a little subjectivity. I didn't want you to think that you can just call up and say, Hi! Do you have ny VS stones that were accidentally graded as SI's? It's not like that. You need to tell the vendor you have great eyesight and see if they have anything in stock they think will pass you scrutiny. But I can tell you... there is a chance none will. And you will either need to live with an inclusion or go to VS1.

 

[yennyfire]

Just keep looking. There are definitely VS2's out there with inclusions that you WILL NOT be able to see with your naked eye...probably some SI1's too, if you're willing to be patient.

 

[swingirl]

If you are the type of person that will be bothered by seeing an inclusion and will spend time hunting for it, you either need to go up in clarity or find a stone that has it's inclusions prongable. Some people don't mind seeing and knowing where the inclusions are, like finding Hitchcock in a movie. Others are terribly annoyed by seeing an inclusion and some people are bothered by just knowing one is there. It's why there are VVS1, VVS2, and VS1. But it does come at a price.

 

[captainmcgee]

I have done this. We purchased the stone for my e-ring with an inclusion I could see but I have eagle eyes. I haven't seen it in 2 weeks and can't even remember where it is and I think it will be covered with a prong. In the end the price jump was too much as the rest of the spec were perfect- 4.18ct, E, triple ex, 1.4 on HCA, best of all due to the grading it was in our budget. At the end of the day I decided that my eyes are a lot sharper than most as it is most definitely eye clean to everyone who has seen it and it is like as others have said a birthmark and I love it!

In saying that, who knows whether when I wear it everyday it will annoy me!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Were the diamonds in question graded by GIA or AGSL?

 

[luv2sparkle]

My advice would be to buy from a vendor who looks at the stone and can tell you if it is eye clean from all angles.
Be careful in the vendor you choose. There was one ps'er not to long ago who bought a stone from a vendor who said it was
eye clean and when she got it home it had a very visable inclusion. (I think it was Yenny)

I also can see inclusions very easily and I purchased a Vs2 from BGD and I cannot find the very tiny inclusions even with
a loop. Many times, BGD will not under the photo of the stone it's characteristic's-like 'eye clean from every angle'.

Quite a few vendors will do this for you. Just keep looking.

 

[diamond_seeker]

Dealing with an honest vendor. Stone was graded by AGSL, and i really don't think the prong thing will work with any of the stones i'm checking out.

I do have about 3 months or so to wait if needed, but...I'm really torn here.....as i hear that rough is gonna increase in $$$ and am worried that if i wait, not only will there be no guarantees i even get the stone i'm looking for...but then something like a VS1 will have officially moved out of my price range. And then I end up just paying about $2000 more for a similar VS2/SI1 stone!!

What do you guys think?

 

[Dreamer_D]

There are some VS2 where you can see inclusions, especially from the side as clarity is graded face up. There are also some people who think they are seeing inclusions when what they are seeing is dust on the pavilion, reflection of the girdle etc etc. Either could be the case here. I would not give up on VS2 until I had viewed about 5 - 10 examples.

 

[LGK]

There are some VS2 where you can see inclusions, especially from the side as clarity is graded face up. There are also some people who think they are seeing inclusions when what they are seeing is dust on the pavilion, reflection of the girdle etc etc. Either could be the case here. I would not give up on VS2 until I had viewed about 5 - 10 examples.

Yep, for sure. You really do find a large range of eye cleanliness within the same clarity grade. I have ridiculously good close up vision (I'm very, very nearsighted lol) and I have an SI1 that's eye clean from every angle. Different inclusions can be harder to see but cause the diamond to be graded harshly- my SI1 has a couple of feathers, as the grade making inclusions. A black inclusion can be a lot easier to spot though. A clear crystal inclusion, a feather that doesn't affect the stone's durability, or even twinning wisps in some cases can be great inclusions in terms of making the stone affordable with a lower clarity grade, but not being that easy to spot with the naked eye. (And some inclusions are just interesting- i have one antique diamodn with a small garnet crystal in it, it's clearly blood red and I personally love it, even though you can see it a little with the naked eye.)

Also, if you spotted the inclusion from the side, bear in mind that clarity is graded face up and so it is quite possible to find VS2s that you can see an inclusion in from the side.

If your'e looking for a round brilliant, I'd just keep looking for a bit if I were you, and possibly consider contacting a number of vendors. A lot of online vendors are really great at being your eyes for you, and letting you know quite honestly if a stone is genuinely eye clean and so forth. I have definitely been pleased going that route- I mean, no vendor wants the hassle of a return so it's in their best interests to just tell you if an inclusion is visible or not, and the reputable ones are usually really helpful with this.

There are enough round brilliants out there and it's easy enough to hunt down one with a great cut that it shouldn't be a problem to find a truly eye clean VS2/SI1 in three months time, especially if you have a number of vendors working with you.

If it's a fancy cut you might have a bit of a harder time finding one that matches all your preferences, though.

 

[Amys Bling]

There are some VS2 where you can see inclusions, especially from the side as clarity is graded face up. There are also some people who think they are seeing inclusions when what they are seeing is dust on the pavilion, reflection of the girdle etc etc. Either could be the case here. I would not give up on VS2 until I had viewed about 5 - 10 examples.

agree...... A clean diamond will look better too! I have noticed that when my diamond is dirty I think I can see inclusions, when actually is is dirt, and I think one is an inclusions, but once cleaned thoroughly--- disappeared!!!

 

[Envyme]

Well, I didn't read all of the other replies but I KNOW EXACTLY what you are saying. I have been experiencing the same exact thing. I finally discovered -for my situation what the heck was going on.

EGL Israel & EGL USA are both lenient (in what I have seen so far) as far as clarity & color goes. I have seen a few EGL USA stones graded VS2 that were exactly as you described...a tiny inclusion noticeable to someone who is really really really looking at it at a very certain angle. I noticed it and I didn't buy it. So, then I proceeded to look at 3 GIA graded VS2 & SI1 stones. Neither of them had inclusions that I could see. So, that tells me that I want a VS2 GIA or in some cases an SI1 OR a VS1 or higher in EGL USA. I prefer to stay with GIA though.

So, with that said I have discovered that although I will pay less (possibly) for a VS2 EGL it's really an SI1 or 2 to GIA standards. If I want an eye clean EGL stone I have to pay MORE to get the VS1 but in reality it's more of a VS2 GIA graded. If I bump up to a GIA graded stone in VS2 I pay about the same as I would at the down town jewelery mart compared to WF or other comparable sites. BUT I get the added bonus of the image CS, trade up, and return policy...sand I will know exactly what I am getting.

I might add I have eagle eyes too and yes an inclusion that is on the stone will bug the heck out of me and I would return the stone (I had that happen once). I am very particular about my "things" and I would rather go down in size or color then have a larger stone w/inclusions I can see from any view. That's just me though

 

[Stephan]

I brought a 3ct GIA-VS2 back to the seller.