What does VVS diamond mean?

“VVS” is a grade that refers to the clarity of a diamond. Clarity is measured by the amount of inclusions — small fissures within the diamond — or blemishes — chips on the diamond’s exterior — when viewed under ten times magnification. Clarity grades include Flawless (F), Internally Flawless (IF), Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS), Very Slightly Included (VS), Slightly Included (SI), and Included (I). A Flawless diamond would be completely free of any inclusions of blemishes under magnification while an Included diamond would have several visible inclusions and imperfections when viewed with both the naked eye and under magnification. The closer to Flawless that a diamond sits on the grading scale greatly raises its value. Additionally, the more inclusions a stone has might impact its durability.

How do other grades compare, such as VS or SI?

While F and IF diamonds do exist, they are rarely seen by jewelers. If you want a diamond with a higher value, it depends on where it stands on the clarity scale. VVS diamonds might have a higher value than ones with a VS or SI grading, but the grading scale is also measured by cut, color, and carat weight. VS or SI graded diamonds are still high quality stones, having inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye in almost all cases. When comparing other grades to determine value, it’s important to consider how they’re graded in the other facets of the GIA grading system as well as clarity.

What’s the difference between carat weight and CTTW?

CTTW stands for carat (CT) and total weight (TW), and it measures the total weight of all the diamonds together in a single piece of jewelry. CTTW only considers the weight of diamonds in a piece, and carat weight refers to the weight of an individual diamond. The price of a piece depends on which parts of the CTTW come from the main stone and which come from the accenting stones. Regarding diamond earrings, the CTTW refers to the total of both earrings.