Starting with a 1.00 carat Diamond of G color and SI1 Clarity, if you move up to a VS1 grade you will pay approximately an extra $1000 per carat . Move up to VVS1, the increase will be approximately $700 per carat . Improve the clarity to IF and the increase will be approximately $700 per carat . If you are interested in saving some money but still want an eye-clean diamond, our recommendation is that you look at diamonds in the SI1 range.

This is where you can save big, without it being noticeable on the diamond. Most brilliant cut diamonds that are within the SI1 and SI2 range not lower appear clean to the unaided eye. If however you are afraid that your future in-laws own a diamond loupe, then jump to  diamonds in the VS1 and VS2 ranges.  Diamonds that are in the VVS range or higher are much more expensive and not at all necessary. Please note- if you are buying a diamond with a step cut such as emeralds or  asschers we highly recommend that you stay at least in the VS range  because inclusions are much more noticeable in diamonds with step cuts. If you're willing to compromise on  clarity in order to be able to afford a  bigger carat, we still recommend that you don't go below an I1 because this can cause you a possible  durability problem. Lastly, inclusions are usually more noticeable in bigger diamonds that have larger tables. For example, when comparing two diamonds side-by-side, one .33 pointer with the same clarity grade as another diamond weighing a few times as much the diamonds imperfections will be more apparent in the heavier diamond. As a tip the best selling diamonds in retail stores are diamonds in the SI clarity grade.