What Is VVS Moissanite? D-Color & VVS1 Explained

If you have shopped for moissanite, you have probably seen the term “VVS” - and often “D-color VVS1”. Here is what those grades actually mean, where they come from, and why they matter when you are buying moissanite jewelry.

What does VVS stand for?

VVS means Very, Very Slightly Included. It is a clarity grade borrowed from the diamond world, describing how few tiny internal marks (inclusions) a stone has. The clarity scale runs from Flawless (FL) at the top, down through VVS, VS, SI and I. A VVS stone has inclusions so small they are extremely hard to see even under 10x magnification - which means to your eye, it looks perfectly clean.

What about “D-color”?

Color is graded separately, on a scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (noticeably tinted). D-color is the very top - icy white with no yellow or grey. Together, “D-color VVS” describes a stone that is both colorless and very clean: the look most people picture when they think “diamond.”

Why VVS and color matter for moissanite

Because moissanite is lab-created, quality is consistent - good moissanite is typically near-colorless and eye-clean, which is why it can be offered at high clarity and color grades. When a stone is D-color and VVS, you get maximum white brilliance with no distracting tint or visible marks. That is what gives moissanite its bright, icy sparkle.

Does moissanite sparkle differently from diamond?

Yes - and many people prefer it. Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamond, so it throws more colorful flashes of light (jewelers call this “fire”). In bright light you will see rainbow sparkle alongside the white brilliance. It is a genuine gemstone with its own optical personality, not an imitation.

How to read a moissanite listing

• Color (D-Z): D-F is colorless; aim here for the whitest look.
• Clarity (FL-I): VVS or VS both look clean to the eye.
• Cut: a well-cut stone sparkles more than a poorly cut higher-grade one.
• Setting: we set our stones in real .925 sterling silver, which keeps the piece bright and durable.

Where you will see it in our collection

You will find high-clarity lab moissanite across our range - from cluster earrings and tennis chains to tennis bracelets and rings. Curious how it holds up to a jeweler's test? Read does moissanite pass a diamond tester.

Frequently asked questions

Is VVS moissanite worth it? VVS gives you an eye-clean stone with no visible inclusions - a clean, high-end look for a fraction of a diamond's price.

What is the difference between VVS1 and VVS2? Both are “very very slightly included”; VVS1 has marginally fewer or tinier inclusions than VVS2. Both appear flawless to the naked eye.

Is D-color better than VVS? They measure different things - D is about color (colorless), VVS is about clarity (very clean). D-color VVS means both.

Explore the full range in our moissanite collection, set in .925 sterling silver with free insured shipping.