Clarity in Melee Diamonds
In melee diamonds, it is practically not possible to certify each individual stone like a large solitaire diamond.
Because of their small size, individual grading of melee diamonds (such as GIA or IGI certification) is not practical; the cost of certification would be higher than the value of the stone, and therefore they are sorted and graded in bulk parcels instead of being certified individually.
In melee parcels:
Some stones may be Very Clean (VVS)
Some may be Slightly Included (SI)
Based on the overall ratio, the parcel is graded as:
1. VVS
2. VVS–VS mix
3. VS
4. VS–SI mix
So the clarity mentioned refers to the average clarity of the total carat weight, not each single stone. For example:
If a 1.00 carat parcel contains:
60% VS stones
40% SI stones
The parcel may be sold as VS–SI quality.