Diamond SI1 Clarity
ByDiamond SI1
If you’re out there looking for the best diamond for your money, then please contact me, and let me know your budget and what you’re looking for.  I’ll sift through hundreds of thousands of diamonds online and help you find the perfect stone for you and your budget. Unlike the other sites, I’m not looking to sell you anything – my advice is objective and in your best interest.  You have nothing to lose.
(I would like to thank James Allen for the use of the pictures in this article)
Small Black Inclusion on Side and Pinpoint in Table - Click to Enlarge
Now that we got our general diamond clarity review out of the way, lets review each clarity grade individually. Â We will start with the Diamond SI1 Clarity grade.
Below are a few sample photos of what a Diamond SI1 looks like. Â As you can see, there’s quite a range of how any given clarity grade can look. Â In just these three examples, there is a very large range of quality and value. Â On the one hand, you have a diamond that aside from a small black circle all the way at the girdle is almost completely free of blemishes. Â On the other hand, you have the second diamond below that is so poor that the Diamond SI1 grade will almost certainly be visible to the naked eye.
This discrepancy only serves to strengthen the point I make in my Diamond Clarity article that what is written on the certificate in the clarity grade is useful only to give you a general idea of how your diamond will look. Â To really know what’s going on inside your diamond, you need to see it for yourself. Â This is why I constantly tell people to buy from James Allen, since with their virtual loupe tool, you can examine a diamond’s inclusions before you buy. Â Within the clarity grades from diamond VS2 and down, there can be a very wide range of qualities within each clarity grade.
Center Black Inclusion that Badly Reflects around the Girdle - Click to Enlarge
Small Cloud of Black Pinpoints in the Table - Click to Enlarge
If you’re out there looking for the best diamond for your money, then please contact me, and let me know your budget and what you’re looking for. Â I’ll sift through hundreds of thousands of diamonds online and help you find the perfect stone for you and your budget. Â I’m not looking to sell you anything, so you can trust me.
Can you review the attached link and offer any suggestions as to whether this would be a good deal or not? I am not looking to spend alot of money but don’t want to get ripped off either.
http://www.worldjewels.com/_e/Engagement_Rings/product/cs-002/2_00_Carat_Diamond_Pink_Sapphire_Engagement_Ring_Wedding_Set.htm
No way to tell anything about this. No Certs.
Hi Ira,
What would you pick between a F VS2 and a G VVS1, both excellent cut by Cartier? And priced similarly.
Thanks,
Sammy
I wouldn’t pick either – especially if they’re carrying the massive Cartier premium!
Hi,
I was wondering if I could get your opinion on a diamond that I saw online. The website is members-only, but here is the description:
-Piranesi round diamond and platinum split shank ring
-Original Price: $48k
-Sale Price: $24,500
-Total Weight: 2.09 carats
-Description: Platinum and round cut diamond split shank ring with pave diamond border details
-Color: D
-Clarity: SI1
-Diameter: 0.25 inches
-GIA certificate included.
The color is great, but I’m not sure about the SI1 clarity. I know it’s difficult without the link or picture, but if you have any input, I’d appreciate it. I can also email an attachment of the picture if necessary.
Is it certified by GIA or AGS? If not, avoid. Plus, this whole “Original price: 48K, Sales price: 24.5K” business is very very sketchy. It’s BS, and I always like to avoid sites that try to BS you. Nobody can afford to discount a diamond that much. And the fact that they’re listing the diameter of the diamond as “1/4 inches” is very odd as well. It implies that there’s no certification because if there were, they would list the exact diameter in millimeters.
Hi,
Your website has helped me alot in understanding diamonds,I have a question , which is more important clarity or color ,I would usually choose a G/H in colour SI1 clarity. I am choosing between H/I colour and SI1 clarity, will there be much differnce to the naked eye.
Many thanks
Color is more important than clarity. Clarity is only a problem if the inclusions are eye visible. So an eye clean SI2 looks exactly a flawless stone. But a D color diamond will look whiter than a J color diamond.
Hi,
I am looking for G, VS1, 2 x approx 0.8 ct cushion cut.Would like to get GIA certificate. Do you have suggestions? Also, what are the differences between antique cut cushion cut and modern cut diamond? I have an eye for I, SI1-2 antique cushion cut diamond earrings in ebay but do not know whether this is goos quality or not?
Hi Nat. Have you seen my article on Cushion Cut Diamonds? If not, you should take a look!
Hi Era,
your website helped me alot in understanding diamonds,I have a question , which is more important clarity or color ,I am chosing between VS2 H color & SI1 G color given that the other factors (cut, symmetry, proportion ,etc) are more or less the same
Thanks alot
Hi Mariam. H VS2 and G SI1 are so close that you won’t be able to tell the difference with your eye (assuming the SI1 is decent). So I would just go with whichever stone looks the best to you (because of variations in cut). If they look the same, then just go with the cheaper one.
Hello Ira,
I found your comments on this page extremely helpful. Would you mind having a look at the following ring: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002VY29JI/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=jewelry&psc=1
I am looking for 0.5 carat and thought this was an extremely good offer. However, I am a bit concerned about the clarity.
Thanks in advance.
Phil
Hi Philipp. I took a look at this ring, and I’m very skeptical. It says it’s certified, but it doesn’t specify what kind of certificate. That means it’s almost certainly some kind of 3rd rate cert that’s less than worthless – it’s a definite sign that what you’re buying is a far lower quality than what they’re saying.
Hi Ira,
LOVE the website! Has helped me greatly in my E.R. buying process. What do you think about a diamond that has the following specs (from the GIA report)?
Price: $9,542
Carat weight: 1.30
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: SI1
Depth %: 60.4%
Table %: 56%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Girdle: Thin to Medium
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 7.08 x 7.14 x 4.30 mm
Comments:
Additional clouds are not shown.
Surface graining is not shown.
The comments part really scares me. Could this affect if the diamond is eye clean? I’ve seen some SI1′s in person but haven’t noticed anything without 10x. I’ve never seen a stone with those comments, however. (Looking for the best stone between 1.25 and 1.3ct)
Thanks so much!
Walter
Hi Walter. I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad choice because of those comments. I’m more concerned that the SI1 will be an ugly spot that is noticeable. Without a pic, there isn’t any way to be 100% sure. This stone, for example, is definitely eye clean:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1398262.asp
Whereas this stone, which is also an SI1, will probably not be eye clean:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1372876.asp