"VVS1 D" gets printed on moissanite listings like it's one single grade. It isn't — it's two separate grades measuring two different things, and whether they're worth paying for depends on the size of the stone.
The two axes: color and clarity
Color is graded on the diamond scale: D, E, F are "colorless," G through J are "near colorless," and it warms from there. A D-color stone is the whitest grade there is — no hint of yellow or warmth, even next to another stone.
Clarity measures internal flaws (inclusions). VVS stands for "very, very slightly included." VVS1 is the cleaner half of that band — inclusions so small they're hard to find under 10x magnification. Below VVS sit VS1 and VS2, then SI. The full ladder is in our guide to moissanite color and clarity grades.
So is D color worth it?
Honest answer: in small stones, barely anyone can see the difference. In a tennis bracelet or a Cuban link set with 2–5mm stones, a G-color VVS stone and a D-color VVS1 stone look the same on the wrist in normal light. The difference shows up in two places: big center stones (2ct and up), where a large face-up area reveals warmth, and side-by-side comparisons under bright white light — the ring next to another ring test.
Where D + VVS1 genuinely earns its price:
- Large solitaire stones — an engagement ring center stone is stared at, up close, for years.
- Matched sets — a full tennis line reads as one ribbon of light; top grades keep every stone identical.
- Resale and paperwork — GRA certificates record the grades, and top grades hold their story better.
Where you can save without seeing it: earrings worn in hair, small-stone bracelets, and anything under about 1ct per stone. Put the money toward size or a second piece to stack instead.
What DB Diamonds sells
Our tennis and Cuban lines are graded VVS D because the suppliers we source from cut to that spec — you're not paying a premium tier markup for it here; the price is set by the stone size and the silver work. The Cuban link sets run the same grades. Every listing states its color and clarity up front, so you can compare line by line.
And if you're still deciding between moissanite and an actual diamond, the tester question everyone asks is answered here: Does Moissanite Pass a Diamond Tester?
0 comments