VI3 Clarity Rating Is there such a thing?

[jpolcek]

Hello,
A jeweler told me the ring he was showing me was VI3 clarity?
Is there such a thing as a clarity rating of VI3?

 

[Hest88]

There might be, but it's not terminology any of the major labs use.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I don't believe there is a VI3 rating. Was this a department store jeweler? They sometimes use strange rating systems that I wouldn't be suprised if they made up just for their store to confuse people (like The Bon Macy's has given me odd terminology before and when I questioned them, they were even more confused that I was about what all the terms meant

).

lol

Michelle

 

[pinkangel]

I've never heard of it, but that dosen't mean that it dosen't exist. I don't think any of the major gem grading labs use that designation.

Did they mean SI3 maybe?

 

[valeria101]

I keep seeing these "VI" instead of "SI" here and there (even written down online), but I am not sure where this name comes from. I would simply ask: what clarity is this is GIA terms, if certification is not required for the item...

 

[jpolcek]

I may be mistaken, he could have said VI3? I don't see mention of VI3 much either.

One other question, VI1 better than VI2 or is the other way around?

 

[valeria101]

Given that VI stands for SI, than VI1 is the best of them all, VI2 worse and VI3 worst. In line with the definition of the SI grades: these should mean that inclusions are readily visible under 10X and, as experience says, probably visible without magnification. The chance to get a stone without eye visible inclusions decreases from VI1 to VI3...

Would it be too much to ask that you post one more note with the jeweler's explanation on what these VI grades are and why are they used instead of the standard system? Perhaps the second part of the question is a good one to ask the jeweler yourself: when sellers decide to go for a less than mainstream grading system, it is not for buyer's benefit (although it may make little difference, from one case to the next). Just a thought, of course...