VVS1 vs. VVS2 Diamonds: Is the Difference Worth the Price?

If you've made it to the VVS tier of the diamond clarity scale, you're already looking at stones that are, by any practical measure, perfect. The question most buyers at this level are actually asking isn't about quality or flaws, it’s about the investment. Is VVS1 worth the premium over VVS2? And is either worth it over a VS1 or VS2? Below we compare VVS1 vs VVS2, break down the price and what it actually gets you, and help you pick the right grade to include in your jewelry box.

The Diamond Clarity Scale

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades diamond clarity on an 11-point scale, from Flawless (FL) at the top to Included (I3) at the bottom. VVS, or Very Very Slightly Included, sits just below the two highest grades.

• FL and IF: No inclusions visible under 10x magnification. These are the rarest and most expensive grades. For most buyers, the premium over VVS is significant and yields no visible return in the ring.
• VVS1 and VVS2: Inclusions so minute they are nearly impossible to find even under magnification. Completely eye-clean.
• VS1 and VS2: Inclusions difficult to see under magnification and invisible to the naked eye in most cases.
• SI1 and SI2: Inclusions easier to detect under magnification and occasionally visible in certain stone shapes.

VVS1 vs. VVS2 Diamonds Compared

The two grades are separated by one small variable: where the inclusion sits and how easily a trained grader can locate it under a loupe. Everything else is virtually the same.

What That Price Premium Actually Buys

Here's what VVS1 gets you over VVS2: inclusions that are marginally harder to find under a loupe, and a higher number on a grading certificate.

Neither grade shows anything to the naked eye. A skilled gemologist with 10x magnification and time to search could tell them apart, but no one else can. But what you can see is the price difference.

On a 1-carat natural diamond, that grading distinction typically costs between $500 and $2,000 more for VVS1 if you’re shopping with a traditional retailer. On a 2-carat stone, the gap widens even more. But if you step down from VVS2 to VS1, you save another $1,000–$2,000 on a 1-carat stone with no visible difference in the ring.

At Milano, however, VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds start at nearly $3,500 below the market average. The difference between grades is even smaller, with roughly a $7–$53 difference between a VVS1 and a VVS2. This makes Milano the most affordable way to get a near-flawless diamond at a fraction of other retailers’ prices.

That said, no matter where you shop, there are other ways to get more sparkle for your money. We recommend investing in cut quality instead of clarity. A well-cut VS1 will outshine a poorly cut VVS1 in any lighting condition. The bottom line? Clarity above VS1 rarely affects how a diamond looks. Cut always does.

How to Pick the Right Grade for You

You're buying for investment or resale. VVS1 makes sense here. Higher clarity grades are documented and verifiable, and they tend to hold their position better on the secondary market. If the diamond is being treated as an asset, the grading certificate carries weight.

You want the best-looking diamond for your budget. VVS2 should be the ceiling of practical clarity spending. The premium between VVS2 and VVS1 buys you a marginally better grading report, not a more beautiful ring. That same budget applied to cut or carat weight will have a visible impact.

You want eye-clean without the VVS price. VS1 or VS2 will look identical to a VVS stone in a ring for practically every buyer. Any savings made here can be redirected toward the factors that actually show.

You're buying lab-grown. Because lab-grown diamonds are more affordable than natural diamonds, this is where you can bump up a grade without a huge jump in price. Again, a VS1 or VS2 are perfectly beautiful options, but if exceptional flawlessness under magnification is important to you, you can go up to a VVS1 or VVS2 without overspending.

Find Your Clear Winner at Milano

At some point in a diamond search, the specs stop being numbers and start being a ring. That's the moment worth getting right. Milano's ring builder lets you filter by clarity grade and compare VVS1 and VVS2 stones side by side, with real pricing and full specs for each stone, so you can see exactly what the difference costs at the carat weight and cut you're working with.

Because Milano manufactures directly, without the wholesale layer most retailers carry, you're paying for the diamond rather than the supply chain around it. Every stone is GIA or IGI-certified, meaning the grade on the page is independently verified. When you find a diamond that catches light beautifully, fits the budget, and leaves room for the setting and design you want, you'll know exactly what you're getting and why it's worth it.

Browse certified diamonds by clarity at Milano