Education - Page 5 Of 5 - The Diamond Gurus

Are you are looking for a diamond ring but you don't know what the SI clarity grade is? An SI Clarity Grade Diamond is an excellent choice if you want to get a beautiful diamond without spending too much money on it. The pricing on these diamonds makes them very popular with people who do not really care about identifying inclusions within their gemstones, or those who simply cannot afford expensive clear ones that have no imperfections at all. Keep reading to learn more about SI Clarity Grade Diamonds and if they are the right choice for you. What Does Diamond Clarity SI Mean? Diamond clarity grade SI stands for Slightly Included. The definition of a SI diamond is that it will have inclusions that are visible only to the trained eye. So they are not considered eye clean. These diamonds are perfect for people who do not care about identifying inclusions. SI clarity grade diamonds may have visible inclusions but they are considered to be insignificant even from a short distance. These diamonds can appear as flawless and beautiful to those who do not use magnification devices to view the inclusions. Diamonds with the SI clarity grade are often considered to be an excellent choice for people who want a diamond with imperfections that they will not really notice. The other clarity grades higher than SI are: The FL grade (the flawless grade) The IF grade (internally flawless) The VVS grade (very, very, slightly included) The VS grade (very slightly included) What Does SI Mean In Diamonds? The clarity grade SI is the lowest category on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) clarity scale. This means that it has inclusions that are visible to the naked eye even without 10x magnification devices and will appear as flaws or blemishes. The only way you can identify an SI clarity diamond is if you know what to look for. The most common inclusions which are visible at the naked eye level are: • Pinpoints – tiny black dots about 0.02 millimeters in size, caused by defects on the growth line of a diamond. Pinpoints can be seen from a very close distance and even without magnification • Black pinpoints – these are similar to pinpoints except that they are red in color. These inclusions are caused by air pockets that were trapped during the diamond's formation process. You can easily identify these diamond flaws as black pinpoints because they will sparkle and shine at you when light hits them, although most of them appear dark even with direct viewing from a short distance. The best way to identify black pinpoints is by using a loupe which will make these dots appear red. Is An SI Diamond Good? Now you might be wondering, "Is an SI grade good enough for me?" SI clarity diamonds are perfect for those who don't want to spend a lot of money and still get a diamond that's been made well. It's not as expensive as a perfect diamond with no inclusions but has some flaws that will show up when you look at it closely. Let's say you want an engagement ring but you're afraid to spend too much on it because you haven't been able to save a lot. An SI clarity diamond is a great option for you because it won't look like you chose something that's cheap. An SI clarity diamond looks almost the same as a flawless diamond once it's set. SI Clarity Appearance Many people want diamonds that are very clear and have no flaws or imperfections, but actually, these flaws don't affect the appearance of the diamond at all. In fact, SI clarity diamonds look almost the same as those that are of higher grades in clarity. What does this mean? It means if an SI diamond looks very good to you and your partner, then you should go for it even though there are some flaws in its structure. The only time that these flaws will affect the appearance of the diamond is when you look at it up close. Even then, they won't affect the overall beauty of your ring because they will only be visible to those who use magnification devices. SI Clarity and Its Effects on Carat Weight It's very normal for people to think that an SI diamond with a higher carat weight will be of better quality than a stone that has a lower carat weight. This idea is very untrue. In fact, the size of an SI diamond will have nothing to do with its appearance and only affect its price. The 2 Types of SI Diamond Clarity: SI1 and SI2 So, you want to know the difference between SI1 and SI2 clarity? Well, there are two types of SI clarity: SI1 and SI2. They are both different, but how? Well, SI1 is a little bit better and has higher clarity than SI2. It's not that much better but it is a lot clearer than SI1. A deeper look at the SI1 and SI2 diamonds Looking at the SI1 Clarity diamonds, there are small inclusions that can be spotted, not easy with the naked eyes but with a magnification lens from 10X or higher. In some cases, these flaws can be seen with the naked eyes, but most of the time, barely noticeable. Now with SI2 clarity diamonds, they lower clarity. SI2 diamonds have more noticeable inclusions that are visible even to the naked eye. Differences in Clarity Between SI1 and SI2 Diamonds The major difference between the clarity in SI1 and SI2 diamonds lies in how visible the inclusions are to the eye. Inclusions in SI2 diamond stones are much more noticeable than those in SI1 stones. This higher visibility is based on the fact that there are bigger and more inclusions in an SI2 diamond that you are able to see. The SI2 diamond inclusions are visible under magnification glasses and sometimes under the naked eyes. You can commonly see the inclusions in the SI2 diamonds close to the lower edge of the diamond, which means that it looks clean when looked at from the top of the diamond. It is still possible that you see these flaws from the side of the diamond as well, even without the use of a magnifier. The Choice Between SI1 and SI2 Diamonds The way I see it, the obvious choice should be the SI1 diamonds as they are much cleaner than the SI2s. However, sometimes the choice comes down to the balance of how affordable they are because not all diamonds are created equal. I don't have a problem with SI2 diamonds, but they are not the diamond of my choice. To me, clarity should be a number one priority because once you get into the inclusions that can actually be seen with your naked eye, the less value your diamond has. Is There SI3 Clarity? There is no SI3 or any other SI3 clarity grade on the GIA diamond grading scales. However, it is used by E.G.L. (European Gemological Laboratory) grading system, which is the main reason why it is not in popular use here in the US. This is why many people say that there is no such thing as SI3 diamonds. However, if you take a look through any online diamond retailer’s inventory then you will notice many different diamond rings which are graded as being SI3. This discrepancy comes down to the fact of whether or not they are graded by GIA. The SI3 clarity diamonds are the ones with a really high level of inclusions. This means that you are looking at a diamond that is very low quality and it will less expensive to purchase than an SI1 or SI2 diamond because they are the worst of worst. These diamonds also have huge flaws that can be seen without the use of a microscope, so much so that they can be seen with the naked eye. This diamond is not even close to becoming something that you would want in your future engagement ring. VS Diamond versus SI Diamonds: Which Should You Choose? VS (Very Slightly Included) diamonds are a little bit better than SI (Slightly Included) diamonds. Basically, VS diamonds seem a tad bit cleaner than SI because they have fewer inclusions than SI. However, they are not all that much different when it comes to how noticeable the inclusions are in them. You would only notice them when you have magnification lenses of 10X or more. The only real difference between the two is in terms of quality. The SI diamonds are not all that good and you should take a close look at them before making an investment, but if there is no other choice then it is doable as well. What’s Better: VS2 or SI1? These two are right next to each other on the diamond clarity scale, but how different are they really? The only difference between the two is that a VS2 diamond has a higher level of clarity. This means that it will be cleaner than an SI1 diamond and it will have fewer inclusions too. Although there are not many differences between SI1 and VS2 diamonds, SI1 has a few more flaws than VS2. Similar to what I had just said earlier, there are much more inclusions on VS2s compared to SI1 grade stones so that is why most people would rather have SI1s over VS2 diamonds because they want to go for a much cleaner option. In terms of pricing, they are very close to the same price point. A VS2 can be about $500 more than an SI1. Overall, there really is nothing too special about VS2 diamonds as compared to SI1s. If you need to make a decision about which one would be better for your future engagement ring, then I would recommend that you stick with the VS diamonds. This is because they have a marginally better quality than the SI stones. However, don't feel like you need to get a VS1 or VS2 diamond if your budget can’t accommodate it. SI Clarity Diamonds are perfect if you don't care about inclusions or just want a good quality diamond without paying too much. How Much Is A 1 Carat SI1 Diamond Worth? A good quality 1 carat SI1 Diamond retails in the neighborhood of $4300 according to jamesallen.com. The price of an SI1 Clarity grade diamond will depend on the size and cut. The more popular the cut grade and/or shape, the higher the price of the diamond. - An SI1 Brilliant Cut is priced around $4300. This round brilliant cut weighs 1.00 carat and is rated an SI1 by GIA or AGS Laboratories. - An SI1 Princess Cut Diamond (square) weighing 1.00 carats will retail for $4800. This is the same price as a .90 carat Princess Cut Square SI1 Clarity Diamond. - An SI1 Radiant cut also weighing 1.00 carats retails for around $3200. The beauty of this diamond is accentuated by its cut, which makes it more brilliant. Moreover, the prices of radiant cut diamonds are often less than those for round brilliant cuts. This is because they weigh less but have more depth to them, so they can look larger than other size stones in comparable weights. - An SI1 Asscher cut weighing 1.00 carats retails for $3400 dollars at James Allen. This diamond is shaped like an octagon. - An SI1 Pear Cut Diamond weighing 1.00 carats retails for $3600. The shape of this diamond resembles that of a drop of water, but it is considered more delicate and beautiful than the emerald cut or Asscher cut diamonds. The final price of a diamond is determined by its cut, clarity, and color. 10 Tips on How To Buy SI Clarity Diamonds I want to share with you some tips that I have for buying SI clarity diamonds. Tip 1: Don't be afraid to ask for help - most people who sell SI clarity diamonds will actually want to educate you on the product. This is part of their job, after all. If they don't want to talk, there's probably a reason. Tip 2: Consider stones that are anywhere from SI1-SI2 in clarity, if you're on a budget. These prices are much more reasonable and give you a lot of options, without being too compromising in quality. Tip 3: Be careful when buying more than one diamond at a time! Diamonds can have very small differences between them, and sometimes these differences hide in the clarity grading. If you're looking for an exact match, consider buying one at a time from your retailer. Tip 4: Consider VS2 diamonds if you want fewer inclusions than those of their SI1 counterparts. This way you can save some money due to the lower price tag but still have a very clear diamond. Tip 5: Look for SI2 and SI1 diamonds if you want very similar quality as VS2 diamonds but are on a really tight budget. These two grades of clarity have larger inclusions than their counterpart, but they're still small enough to be considered invisible to the naked eye. Tip 6: Consider a diamond with inclusions that fall into the eye-visible range if you want a lot of value for your money, and don't plan to resell the diamond later. These inclusions aren't terribly noticeable, but they do make diamonds less valuable than their non-SI counterparts which have no blemishes or imperfections at all. Tip 7: SI1 diamonds are more valuable and higher quality than those with SI2 clarity. However, these two grades of diamond often have inclusions that fall into the eye-visible range. Tip 8: Know that clarity grading is only one way to measure a diamond's value, and it's not the most important factor in diamond quality. Be sure to read our guide on Buying a Diamond and What to Look For. Tip 9: Consider taking your time to look for the best deals on SI diamonds. I recommend checking jamesallen.com and bluenile.com to find the best deals. Tip 10: Know that getting an SI-clarity diamond will not make you appear cheap. In fact, it's quite the opposite; these diamonds are very desirable and can be sold for a higher price than lower grades! Is An SI Diamond Right For Me? Finding a diamond that is affordable and beautiful can be hard. SI Clarity Grade Diamonds are perfect for people who want an imperfection-free diamond but don't want to pay the price. These diamonds have inclusions, but they're not visible to the naked eye. They're perfect for someone who wants a ring without paying too much or someone who doesn't care about identifying inclusions at all. Where to Buy an SI Clarity Grade Diamond If you’re in the market for an SI-clarity diamond, I recommend checking out JamesAllen.com and Bluenile.com first to find a good deal on these diamonds that are perfect if you don't want to spend too much or have no preference about identifying imperfections at all. Related questions about SI Clarity Grade Diamonds Are SI Diamonds Real Or Fake? SI clarity grade diamonds are real. It can be hard to tell the difference between fake and real diamonds, but there is a way to tell. The first way to tell if they're fake is by the price. You might see an SI diamond with a lower price than other similar stones, but that doesn't mean it's less valuable. They may just have different quality levels because of the process used in manufacturing them. We have a few resources for you to check out if you think your diamond might be a fake: What Types of Fake Diamonds Are There? What Are The Best Faux Diamonds That Look Real? Will Diamonds Test as real diamonds on a Diamond Tester? Yes, SI diamonds will test as real on a diamond tester because they are real diamonds. They are not the highest grade of diamonds due to their inclusions, but they are indeed real. A diamond tester is a device used to determine whether it is a diamond or not, and also to find out its clarity. The SI diamonds will show up on the tester because they are in fact real. We have a few resources for you to check out if you would like to learn more about diamond testers: How Do Diamond Testers Work and Is a Jewelry Diamond Tester Accurate? Top 5 Diamond Testers to Make Sure Your Diamonds are Real