Why We Only Stock D/VVS1 Stones

Why D/VVS1 is our standard

A direct answer to a question we are asked often.

Most Heritage & Co. engagement rings are listed with a D colour, VVS1 clarity, Excellent cut centre stone, in both lab grown diamond and moissanite. It is our standard grade, not our only one. Some lab grown diamond designs, such as CLARITAS LUMINEUSE and CLARITAS MYSTÈRE, also offer F colour, VS2 clarity at a lower price, and for a bespoke order we can source other grades, or a natural mined diamond, to suit a budget.

So why make D/VVS1 the default? The reasoning matters more than the defence.

What D/VVS1 actually means

The four Cs for lab grown diamonds and moissanite follow the same grading framework as mined diamonds:

D colour. The highest grade on the IGI and GRA colour scale. Completely colourless when viewed face up against a white background. The scale runs D to Z. Most mass market rings sell in the G to I range.

VVS1 clarity. Very, very slightly included. The second highest clarity grade available. Inclusions require 10x magnification to identify. The scale runs Flawless, Internally Flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, then Included. Most mass market rings sell in the VS to SI range.

Excellent cut. Optimal light performance. The cut grade measures proportions, symmetry, and polish. Excellent is the top grade. A well cut diamond in a lower colour often outperforms a poorly cut diamond in a higher colour, because cut is the single biggest contributor to what a buyer actually sees.

F colour, VS2 clarity. F is still in the colourless range, one step below D and E. VS2 inclusions are typically not visible to the naked eye. It is the grade we offer on selected lab grown designs when the saving matters more to the buyer than the top grade.

The critique, taken seriously

The argument against D/VVS1 as a default runs like this: beyond G or H colour, the human eye cannot reliably tell the difference face up. Beyond VS2 clarity, the inclusions are invisible without magnification. So paying for D over G, or VVS1 over VS2, is paying for a spec you cannot see.

That is a fair point, and it is why we show a lower grade alongside the standard one where the saving is meaningful. With mined diamonds, top grades are genuinely rare and the price gap between grades is wide. With lab grown diamonds and moissanite it is much narrower, and on our own designs the difference is in plain view on the product page. A 1ct round CLARITAS LUMINEUSE in 10K gold is R20,000 in F/VS2 and R24,500 in D/VVS1 (prices checked 8 October 2026).

Why we recommend D/VVS1 by default

Certification confidence. IGI and GRA grade every stone individually, and the report states the grade. Over a thirty year ownership window, the customer who bought the top grade never wonders whether the grade was the right call.

Photographic consistency. D/VVS1 in Excellent cut photographs cleanly in any light. Lower colour or more included stones can read warm or cloudy in some lighting, which is a small thing but not a nothing thing when the ring will be photographed thousands of times across its life.

A simple, unambiguous grade. A certified stone with a top grade is straightforward to value, insure and replace.

Gift giving confidence. When the ring is a proposal, the buyer is not the wearer. Removing stone grade anxiety from that decision often matters more than the saving.

How we present the choice

Traditional jewellers often lead on lower grades and walk customers up a long ladder of options in a showroom. Online, without a gemologist in the room, a long ladder of grades causes weeks of second guessing. So we keep it short: D/VVS1 as standard, F/VS2 on selected lab grown designs where the saving is meaningful, and anything else, including mined diamonds, on request through a consultation. Whatever you choose, the grade is stated on the stone's original report and you approve a video of the actual stone before production.

What this means for pricing

A 1ct D/VVS1 IGI certified CLARITAS LUMINEUSE round solitaire is R24,500 in 10K, R28,000 in 14K and R33,500 in 18K gold. AETERNA moissanite engagement rings in D/VVS1 start from R19,500 in 10K solid gold. A mined diamond of the same grade typically costs several times more. Every product page shows the exact price for each carat, grade, metal and ring size.

The short version

D/VVS1 is our standard, not an upsell, and it is not the only option. Where a lower grade makes sense, we show it with its price and its report, so you can choose with the facts in front of you.

To compare prices across our range, see the engagement ring pricing page. If you want to speak to someone directly, WhatsApp us.