Eye-Clean Lab-Grown Diamonds: How to Choose a Color and Clarity You Can Actually See

Updated October 23, 2026

The short answer: "Eye-clean" means no inclusions visible to the unaided eye when the diamond is viewed face-up from about 6 to 12 inches. It isn't a grade, and IGI says labs don't make that judgment. As a rule of thumb, IGI's published guidance is that round brilliants graded VS2 or higher are reliably eye-clean, while step cuts (emerald, Asscher) and rounds over 3 carats should be checked one stone at a time. For color, D, E and F are colorless and G and H are near colorless; the differences between neighboring grades are subtle face-up. So decide where your own line is, then use the report's clarity plot and the 360° video to confirm the individual stone, rather than paying for grades you can't see.

We sell loose laboratory-grown diamonds, each with an IGI or GIA grading report. The grading definitions below come from GIA, IGI and the FTC. The catalog figures come from the reports on the white stones we listed on October 23, 2026.

What "eye-clean" means, and what it doesn't

Clarity grades are assigned under 10× magnification. GIA's standard is that clarity, polish and symmetry grading "can only be finalized using a 10x loupe," and GIA notes that many clarity characteristics "will likely not be visible to the naked eye." That gap between what a grader sees at 10× and what you see at arm's length is exactly what "eye-clean" tries to describe.

IGI's article on the subject is direct about it: traditional 4Cs grading "was not designed to assess whether a person can see its inclusions," and "IGI and other laboratories don't make an eye-clean judgement." It then cites a consensus definition from a survey of gemologists:

Eye-clean: no inclusions visible to the unaided eye when viewed from the face-up position in daylight-equivalent or fluorescent lighting, between 6 and 12 inches from the eye, using 20/20 vision.

Three practical things follow from that definition:

  • It's face-up only. Looking through the side (the pavilion) of a loose stone can show things you'll never see once it's set.
  • It depends on the viewer. IGI points out that eyesight varies. Some people with sharper close-up vision notice more, and age-related farsightedness makes small inclusions harder to see.
  • It's not on the report. You won't find "eye-clean" on an IGI or GIA document. If a listing uses the phrase, it's the seller's judgment, so check it yourself.

Clarity grades vs. what you can see

GIA's clarity scale has 11 grades, all judged at 10×:

Grade GIA description (at 10×) What that usually means face-up
FL, IF No inclusions visible (IF may have surface blemishes) Nothing to see
VVS1, VVS2 Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see Nothing to see without magnification
VS1, VS2 Inclusions observed with effort, characterized as minor Rounds: reliably eye-clean per IGI. Step cuts and large stones: check the stone
SI1, SI2 Inclusions are noticeable Some are eye-clean, some aren't. Always check
I1, I2, I3 Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency, brilliance and durability Often visible

The right-hand column applies IGI's eye-clean guidance; it isn't a lab grade. GIA says the clarity grade weighs "the number, size, relief, nature, and location" of each characteristic. That's why two stones with the same grade can look different. A tiny crystal tucked near the girdle (the outer edge) is easy to hide under a prong. A dark pinpoint right under the table (the large top facet) sits where your eye lands first. IGI adds that the nature of an inclusion matters too: a pinpoint is benign, while a feather (a small fracture) can lower a grade beyond its visibility if it could affect durability.

The FTC's Jewelry Guides set a hard line on one word. Under 16 CFR 23.13, a diamond can't be called "flawless" if it shows any inclusions or blemishes when examined at 10× by a skilled grader, and "perfect" requires a flawless stone that is also not of inferior color or make. Eye-clean and flawless are not the same thing.

What our catalog looks like by color and clarity

To show where real stones fall, we tallied the color and clarity grades on the reports of every white laboratory-grown diamond in our catalog on October 23, 2026: 12,914 stones.

Color \ Clarity IF VVS1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SI1 SI2
D 23 369 2,122 1,832 349 16 0
E 16 289 1,943 1,964 397 24 1
F 15 168 1,036 1,349 176 6 0
G 15 11 276 354 77 7 0
H 0 0 27 46 6 0 0

What stands out:

  • Almost everything is VS2 or higher. 12,860 of the 12,914 white stones (99.6%) are graded VS2 or better. Only 54 are SI1 or SI2, and none are in the I range. VS1 (43%) and VVS2 (42%) are the two most common grades.
  • Most stones are colorless. 93.7% are D, E or F. G and H together are 6.3% of the white stones.
  • Video coverage is similar across grades. About 79% of white stones have a 360° video, and the share is close to that for VVS2, VS1 and VS2 stones alike, so choosing a VS2 doesn't mean giving up the video.

The practical meaning: within our white collection, clarity is rarely the thing that will make a stone look worse. The more useful questions are where the inclusions sit in the specific stone, and how much color difference you can see between D and G.

These are snapshot counts. Inventory changes daily, so treat them as a picture of the range, not a count of what's available today.

Where to draw the clarity line, by shape and size

IGI's eye-clean guidance gives three cases. Here's how they map onto what to look for:

Stone IGI's eye-clean guidance What to do
Round brilliant, under 3 ct VS2 and higher are reliably eye-clean VS2 is a reasonable floor. Check the video for anything under the table
Emerald, Asscher (step cuts) VS2 should be checked case by case Look at VS2 stones closely on video, or move up to VS1 or VVS if you'd rather not check
Round brilliant, over 3 ct VS2 should be checked case by case Bigger facets make inclusions bigger. Check the plot and video for each stone

Why step cuts are different. Brilliant cuts (round, oval, pear, cushion, radiant) break light into many small flashes that help hide small inclusions. Step cuts have long, open facets and a large table that act like a window. Our emerald and Asscher guide covers this in detail. In our catalog, 15% of white emerald cuts are graded VS2, a higher share than any other major shape, so it's the shape where reading the plot and watching the video matter most.

Why size matters. Clarity grades are relative to the stone. A characteristic that's minor at 10× in a 1 carat stone is physically larger in a 4 carat stone of the same grade. We have 4,754 white stones at 3 carats or more, and 386 of them are VS2. Those are the ones to inspect individually.

Fancy shapes in between. IGI's guidance names rounds and step cuts. Ovals, pears, marquises, hearts, cushions and radiants are brilliant-style cuts, so they usually behave more like rounds, but their outlines and bow-ties vary. Treat VS2 as "probably fine, confirm on video."

How to check a stone for eye-cleanliness on its report and video

You can't hold a loose stone at 12 inches before you buy it online, but the report and the video get you most of the way.

  1. Start with the report, not the listing. Look up the report number on the lab's site and confirm the clarity grade. Our walkthrough on how to read an IGI lab-grown diamond report shows where every line sits.
  2. Read the clarity plot, if the report has one. The plot marks the type and location of each characteristic. Note whether the marks are near the edge or in the middle of the table.
  3. Read the comments. Look for notes such as "clouds not shown" or "additional clarity characteristics not shown." Cloudy areas don't appear as dots on the plot but can affect how bright a stone looks.
  4. Watch the 360° video face-up first. Pause when the stone faces you straight on. That's the eye-clean view.
  5. Remember the video is magnified. Diamond videos are typically shot much larger than life, so seeing a tiny speck on screen doesn't mean you'll see it at arm's length. The question is whether it's dark, central and obvious even when the stone is small on your screen.
  6. Compare two stones side by side. If you're torn between a VS1 and a VS2, open both videos. A well-placed VS2 can look cleaner than a VS1 with a mark under the table.

Color: what you can see face-up

GIA grades color by comparing a stone to masterstones under controlled lighting and records it on the D-to-Z scale, "from D for colorless to Z for light" yellow, brown or gray. IGI groups D, E and F as colorless and G through J as near colorless. Our white collection runs from D to H, so every stone in it sits in one of those two bands.

What the labs say about seeing color:

  • GIA notes that color distinctions are subtle, even though they can "drastically alter diamond quality and price."
  • IGI's 4Cs page says subtle color differences "may not always be visible to the untrained eye," and that slight differences in color or clarity "may be less noticeable than differences in cut quality."

How that plays out in practice:

  • Setting metal. White gold and platinum surround the stone with a cool, neutral color, which makes any warmth easier to notice. Yellow and rose gold reflect warm tones into the stone, so a near-colorless grade is less likely to stand out.
  • Shape. Brilliant cuts tend to mask a little color. Step cuts show more, because their open facets give you a clearer look into the body of the stone.
  • Viewing angle. Color is graded with the stone face-down, which is not how you'll see it. Face-up, a G or H stone's body color is harder to spot than the grade suggests.
  • Side-by-side comparison. The easiest time to see a one-grade difference is next to another stone. Once a diamond is set and worn alone, that reference point is gone.

A word on marketing language: the FTC's Jewelry Guides (16 CFR 23.15) say "blue white" can't be used for any diamond that shows any color other than blue or bluish in north daylight. If a white diamond is described with color adjectives rather than a report grade, ask for the grade.

Putting color and clarity together

There's no single correct combination; it depends on what matters to you. These are common starting points, all within the D-to-H, VS2-and-up range our white stones fall in:

Your priority Color to start with Clarity to start with What to check
Icy look in white gold or platinum D to F VS2 for rounds, VS1 or higher for step cuts Video face-up for central inclusions
Warm metal (yellow or rose gold) G or H are worth comparing VS2 for rounds Compare G and F videos side by side
Emerald or Asscher cut D to G VS1 or higher, or a VS2 you've inspected Clarity plot plus the full video
Large stone (3 ct and up) D to G VS1, or a VS2 you've inspected Plot location and the comments
Studs or a pair Match the two grades Both eye-clean See our stud earrings guide

Cut matters as much as either grade. IGI calls cut "often considered the most influential" of the 4Cs for how a diamond looks. For rounds, start with the report's cut grade. Our 4Cs guide for lab-grown diamonds explains how cut, color, clarity and carat interact.

A note on GIA reports

Since October 1, 2025, GIA's laboratory-grown diamond reports describe eligible colorless and near-colorless stones as "Premium" or "Standard" rather than printing separate color and clarity letters. Older GIA lab-grown reports, and IGI reports, still carry the full letter grades. If a stone has a newer GIA report, use the video even more. Our GIA vs IGI guide explains the change.

Checklist: choosing an eye-clean lab-grown diamond

  1. Pick the shape first. Rounds and other brilliants are more forgiving on clarity than emerald and Asscher cuts.
  2. Set your clarity floor: VS2 for rounds under 3 ct; VS1, or a VS2 you've inspected, for step cuts and large stones.
  3. Set your color range based on metal and shape: D to F for a cool white look, or include G and H if the setting is warm or you'd rather put the budget into size or cut.
  4. Verify the report number on the lab's site.
  5. Read the clarity plot and comments.
  6. Watch the 360° video face-up, and compare it with one or two alternatives.
  7. Keep the report number for your jeweler and your records.

Browse white laboratory-grown diamonds, round, oval or emerald stones, or see every stone.

Frequently asked questions

What does eye-clean mean for a lab-grown diamond? It means no inclusions visible to the unaided eye when the diamond is viewed face-up from about 6 to 12 inches, in daylight-equivalent light, with normal vision. It's the same definition used for mined diamonds. IGI notes that labs don't make an eye-clean judgment, so it never appears on a grading report.

Is a VS2 lab-grown diamond eye-clean? For round brilliants under 3 carats, usually yes: IGI's guidance is that VS2 and higher rounds are reliably eye-clean. For emerald and Asscher cuts, and for rounds over 3 carats, IGI says VS2 stones should be checked case by case. Use the clarity plot and the 360° video.

Is VVS worth it over VS1 in a lab-grown diamond? At normal viewing distance, both VVS and VS1 stones typically look clean. VVS inclusions are, in GIA's words, difficult for a skilled grader to see at 10×. Choose VVS if you want that rarity on paper or if you're buying a step cut and don't want to inspect for clarity. Otherwise, a VS1 you've checked on video looks the same face-up.

Can you see the difference between D and G color? Next to each other under good light, many people can see some difference. Set alone, especially in yellow or rose gold or in a brilliant cut, it's much harder. IGI notes that subtle color differences may not be visible to the untrained eye. Compare videos side by side if you're unsure.

Do lab-grown diamonds have inclusions? Yes. Laboratory-grown diamonds form with their own growth-related characteristics and are graded on the same clarity scale, at 10× magnification. Under the FTC's definition in 16 CFR 23.12, a laboratory-grown diamond is a diamond, and it must be disclosed as laboratory-grown (16 CFR 23.25).

Sources

Reviewed October 23, 2026 against the sources above. Inventory changes daily, so verify the report number and watch the current video for any stone you consider.

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