So, what are VVS diamonds? VVS stands for "very very slightly included," one of the highest grades on the diamond clarity scale. It means any tiny internal marks in the stone are so small that even a trained grader has trouble finding them under 10x magnification. To the naked eye, a VVS stone looks perfectly clean.
The longer answer matters if you shop for iced out pieces, because "VVS" gets used in lyrics and product titles in ways that don't always match what the grade means.
What Are VVS Diamonds, Technically?
Almost every diamond forms with small imperfections. Inside the stone they are called inclusions, such as tiny crystals or small cracks called feathers. On the surface they are called blemishes. Clarity grading judges their size, number and position, and how easy they are to spot.
The standard VVS diamonds definition comes from the clarity scale used by major gem labs. A grader looks at the stone face up under a 10x loupe. If the inclusions are minute and extremely difficult to see at that magnification, the stone lands in the VVS range.
VVS1 vs VVS2
The VVS grade is split into two levels:
- VVS1 is the cleaner of the two. Inclusions are so faint that a grader often can only find them by turning the stone over and looking through the bottom (the pavilion).
- VVS2 has slightly more visible inclusions, though they are still extremely hard to locate even at 10x.
You will never see the difference between VVS1 and VVS2 when a stone is on your neck.
The VVS Diamonds Chart: Full Clarity Scale
Here is the complete clarity scale as a simple VVS diamonds chart, with what each grade looks like with and without magnification.
| Grade | Full name | Under 10x magnification | To the naked eye |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | No inclusions or blemishes visible | Clean |
| IF | Internally Flawless | No inclusions, only minor surface blemishes | Clean |
| VVS1 | Very Very Slightly Included 1 | Inclusions extremely difficult to see, often only from below | Clean |
| VVS2 | Very Very Slightly Included 2 | Inclusions very difficult to see | Clean |
| VS1 | Very Slightly Included 1 | Minor inclusions, difficult to see | Clean |
| VS2 | Very Slightly Included 2 | Minor inclusions, somewhat easier to see | Almost always clean |
| SI1 | Slightly Included 1 | Noticeable inclusions | Usually clean, depends on the stone |
| SI2 | Slightly Included 2 | Easily noticeable inclusions | Sometimes visible, especially in larger stones |
| I1 to I3 | Included | Obvious inclusions | Often visible; can dull sparkle or affect durability |
Notice the last column. Everything from FL down to VS2 looks the same to a normal person. The grades only start to separate visually around SI2, and even then it depends on stone size.
VS vs VVS Diamonds: The Plain Difference
The VS vs VVS diamonds question comes up constantly, and the honest answer is that the difference lives under a loupe.
A VS stone has small inclusions a grader can find at 10x without much effort. A VVS stone has inclusions a grader has to hunt for. Pull the loupe away and both look clean. On a ring with one large center stone, some buyers value that gap. On a chain with hundreds of small stones, nobody can tell the grades apart without lab equipment.
The bigger practical difference is cost. You pay more for VVS because it is rarer, not because it sparkles more.
VVS Diamonds Meaning in Hip Hop
When a rapper says his chain is "VVS," he is usually not quoting a grading report. In hip hop, the VVS diamonds meaning has drifted into slang for stones that are extremely clear, bright and flashy. It is shorthand for "these are the good ones, they light up under the camera flash."
That slang use isn't wrong, exactly. It just isn't technical. A lot of jewelry sold online as "VVS" has never been through a lab. Sellers use the word because buyers search for it.
So when you see VVS in a product title, read it as a claim about appearance unless the seller backs it up with a grading report from a recognized lab for that specific stone.
Are VVS Diamonds Real?
Yes, VVS is a real clarity grade, and VVS diamonds are real diamonds when a lab has graded them that way. The grade applies to natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds equally. A lab grown diamond is chemically and physically a diamond, and it gets graded on the same scale.
Where people get confused is that "VVS" now shows up on other stones too:
- Lab grown diamonds are graded with the same clarity system as mined diamonds. Many come out of the growing process very clean, so VVS and VS grades are common.
- Moissanite is a different mineral (silicon carbide), not a diamond. Sellers and some labs describe moissanite clarity using the same VVS and VS terms because shoppers already know them. The word describes how clean the stone is, not what the stone is.
- Cubic zirconia and zircon are sometimes labeled "VVS" in marketing as well. Treat that as a description of clarity at best.
The takeaway: "VVS" tells you about inclusions. It never tells you whether the stone is a diamond. If you want to understand the difference between the two most common stones in iced out jewelry, our breakdown of moissanite vs diamond covers hardness, sparkle and price differences. And since "VVS moissanite" often gets passed off as diamond, it helps to know whether moissanite passes a diamond tester.
How Much Are VVS Diamonds?
Prices move constantly, so here is how VVS pricing works in relative terms.
For natural diamonds, VVS sits near the top of the clarity scale, so it costs noticeably more than VS or SI stones of the same size, color and cut. The premium grows with carat weight, because large clean stones are rare.
Lab grown diamonds follow the same pattern within their own market, but the whole market sits well below natural diamonds. A VVS lab grown stone typically costs a fraction of a natural one with the same grades.
Moissanite is cheaper again, and because most moissanite is made very clean, a "VVS" label adds little or nothing to the price compared to other moissanite.
So the answer to "how much are VVS diamonds" depends on which stone you mean. The grade matters most on big natural diamonds and least on small stones in a chain.
What Actually Matters for Iced Out Jewelry
On a tennis chain or iced out pendant, each stone is small, often a few millimeters or less. At that size, clarity differences above SI are basically invisible. Other things decide whether a piece looks expensive.
Cut
Cut controls how light bounces inside the stone and comes back out. A well cut stone with VS clarity will outshine a poorly cut VVS stone every time. On small stones, cut is the main reason one chain sparkles and another looks glassy.
Color
A faint yellow or brown tint is easier to see than an inclusion, especially when dozens of stones sit side by side and set against white metal. Consistent, colorless or near-colorless stones make a piece read as icy.
Setting and metal
Stones that sit level, evenly spaced and tight in their prongs look far more expensive than crooked or loose ones. The base metal matters too: plated brass can wear through and discolor, while solid 925 sterling silver holds up.
Knowing what the stone is
Before worrying about a VVS label, find out what material you are buying. A seller who clearly says "moissanite," "lab grown diamond" or "zircon" is giving you more useful information than one who only says "VVS."
How Glowory Handles Stones
Glowory makes every piece in solid 925 sterling silver at our own workshop in Surat, India, and our stones are set by hand. We use moissanite, lab grown diamond and zircon, and we name the stone type on every product page so you know exactly what you are getting. We don't put clarity grades in our titles as a sales hook.
If you want to see how these stones look in practice, browse our 925 silver iced out chains and pendants. For rings, compare our lab grown diamond rings for men with our moissanite diamond rings for men. Buyers in the States can find shipping details on our page for hip hop jewelry shipped to the USA.
So, what are VVS diamonds in the end? A real and useful grade that, on iced out jewelry, is often more slogan than spec. Ask what the stone is, check the cut and setting, and judge the piece by how it looks.
FAQ
What does VVS stand for?
VVS means "very very slightly included." It is a clarity grade for stones whose inclusions are extremely hard to see under 10x magnification. It comes in two levels, VVS1 and VVS2.
Can you see the difference between VS and VVS?
Not with the naked eye. Both look clean when worn. The difference only shows up under a loupe.
Is moissanite VVS?
Moissanite is often described with VVS or VS clarity because the same terms are borrowed from diamond grading. That describes how clean the stone is. It does not make moissanite a diamond.
Are VVS diamonds worth it for a chain?
On a chain covered in small stones, paying extra for a VVS grade rarely changes how the piece looks. Cut, color consistency and a secure setting make a bigger visible difference.
Does "VVS" in a product title mean the stone is certified?
No. Unless the seller provides a grading report from a recognized lab for that specific stone, "VVS" in a listing is a description of appearance, not a verified grade.