Our default quote is F colour and VS1 clarity, and that's where most people should start. Spend on carat and cut rather than clarity you can't see: VS1 is eye clean, and only step cuts like emerald and Asscher need VVS2. Know the measurements, not just the carat, and ask to see the actual stone on video with its certificate.
By Karina Casmiro, co-founder, who sources every stone we set · Updated October 22, 2026
Clarity is the amount of inclusions. VS1 and above is eye clean. Emerald and Asscher cuts have long open facets where one inclusion can reflect through the whole stone, so for those VVS2 is worth it. 97% of our ring orders specify VS1 or better. More in where people overspend on colour and clarity.
D, E and F all read colourless, but watch lab stones graded F: we've seen G, H and I stones graded loosely into F, so a lab F can carry a slight tint. We check each one on video. Near colourless, G to J, looks warmer and costs less, and some clients pick it on purpose.
Carat is weight. How big a stone looks comes down to its ratio and face-up millimetres. The median centre stone on our ring orders is 3.0 carats, and 81% fall between 2 and 4. Ovals usually run 1.3 to 1.5 in ratio, movals 1.7 to 2.0. See carat vs ratio.
Ovals, pears, marquises and movals can show a dark bowtie across the middle where the centre facets leak light. We source bowtie-free stones and check every one on video. See the bowtie effect.
Every diamond of 1 carat and up comes with an IGI report: carat, colour, clarity, cut where it applies, measurements, and whether it's lab grown. A third party appraisal for insurance is $100 CAD. See what an IGI report tells you.
The same material, graded the same way. In our September 2026 listings a 2 carat lab grown diamond had a median price of $2,546 CAD and a comparable natural diamond $9,905. If resale matters to you, buy natural; if you want the biggest, whitest stone for the budget and plan to keep the ring, lab grown is the better value. See lab grown vs natural.
We can have one cut from rough to your spec, graded by IGI. Rare shapes and specialty cuts are on unique diamonds.
VS1 for most shapes. VVS2 only for step cuts like emerald and Asscher.
D to F is colourless, and our default quote is F. On a lab F we check the stone on video for a tint. G to J looks warmer and costs less.
On our ring orders the median centre stone is 3.0 carats, and 81% are between 2 and 4 carats.
Ask for video of the exact stone and its certificate. Stones of 1 carat and up come with an IGI report.
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