Both SI1 and SI2 Clarities are great Clarities to buy.
SI1 Clarity
SI Clarity is the second Clarity rating from the bottom of the chart.
The only Clarity rating that's lower is the I Clarity Diamonds. But since I Clarity makes up HALF the market, SI Clarity actually falls ABOVE the half way mark in availability. Crazy eh?
That just goes to show you how rare good Clarity Diamonds really are! Out of the SI Clarity, the SI1 Clarity is the best. It out beats SI2 for some very good reasons.
SI2 Clarity
SI2 Clarity is borderline with I Clarity Diamonds. With an SI2 Diamond, you can usually see inclusions in it with the naked eye. From the top view they get very hard to see, but from the side view most people can pick out the inclusions easily.
SI2 Diamonds always deserve the most scrutiny of all the clarities, because a lot of jewelers and certificate companies will call I1 Clarity Diamonds, SI2 Diamonds. They bump the rating up higher so the Diamond will be more profitable to sell. If you're looking at SI2 Clarity Diamonds, proceed with caution. Some are not what they seem!
Pass on SI2
If I was buying a Diamond, I would pass up SI2 Clarity Diamonds. Unless you actually buy one that's been Certified by the G.I.A., I would avoid them. Stick with SI1 Clarity Diamonds and you'll get a much nicer, cleaner looking Diamond.
With SI1 Clarity Diamonds, you won't see any inclusions with the naked eye. You won't see any from the top view OR the side view. You'll need a microscope or Jeweler's Loupe to see them. And since no one carries around a microscope, chances are good you'll never see the inclusions again other than the day you bought it. Goodbye Flaws!
Anything SI1 or higher has no visible inclusions.
VVS and VS Clarities are awesome! They are the better quality Diamonds. Anytime you have to scope something ten times just to see an imperfection, you know you're getting something good.
So why is SI1 Clarity the best to buy? Read on...
