If you keep up with celebrity lifestyles, one thing stands out about most of them. And that is their love for the finer things in life.
For example, take a look at the red carpet events. You will notice that many celebrities deck themselves in the finest jewelry. There is a wide array of diamond bracelets, diamond earrings, and diamond necklaces. But one thing many people may not know is that some of them hire the pieces for the night. Or, brands use the stars for marketing their jewelry.
But there is a segment within the entertainment industry that is quite different. And that is the rappers. A seemingly ostentatious show of wealth often comes in the form of what younger generations refer to as bling.
Rappers, unlike many red-carpet celebrities, do not rent jewelry. What you see them wearing is theirs. A look at how much money they spend on accessories will have you shaking your head in wonderment. And it is not always about gold chains and rings.
Diamonds are a status symbol for rappers. That means they will go for flawless or VVS diamonds. While the former is clear for anyone who knows about diamonds, what do the VVS diamonds mean? We'll answer this question, as well as go into further exploration of the rapper community's love for high-quality diamonds.
Understanding the Rapper Mentality of Diamonds
The 1980s were a significant time for hip-hop culture. Indeed, it was the beginning of a culture that took the world by storm and remains relevant to date. Suddenly a new type of music, art, and fashion came to be.
From this came unique expressions or elements like break dancing, rapping, DJing, and graffiti. But hip-hop also had a deeper meaning behind it. Beyond creative expression, it provided a platform for discussing critical societal issues.
But also noteworthy was the emergence of the bling culture. Looking at the background of many rappers shows that money came from humble backgrounds. Further exploration would show that, indeed, many were quite poor. For this group of young creatives, music was an escape from mundane, everyday living. There was the possibility of achieving great success.
And what better way to showcase their success than by demonstrating their new status and wealth? And that came in the form of expensive, high-end jewelry. For many, the go-to choice was gold chains and diamond-encrusted pieces. This meant huge diamond necklaces, diamond studs, diamond bracelets, and even diamond grills.
For the rappers, the more expensive the diamonds, the better. Remember, the showcasing of wealth has to come with a hefty price tag. And VVS diamonds most definitely fit the mold.
Look at the following diamond jewelry price tags on some of the best rappers.
Drake's Owl chain diamond pendant had 343 diamonds and cost $120,000. He currently owns a $10 million diamond necklace.
The Ratatouille diamond pendant featured white diamonds and was worth $250,000
The $500,000 crunk chain belonging to Lil Jon entered the Guinness book of records in 2007 as the most expensive chain. It had a total of 3756 and weighed a whopping 51 pounds.
Pharrell Williams hit the one-million mark with the NERD chain comprising precious stones and diamonds.
And, the rappers don't mind spending on their ladies as well. Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian with a $4 million diamond engagement ring. Jay-Z reportedly paid $5 million for Beyoncé's Emerald cut diamond engagement ring.
So what is the big deal about VVS diamonds?
VVS Diamonds Meaning
VVS diamonds are high-quality, rare, and have outstanding brilliance and sparkle. Even for the trained eye and with 10X magnification, it is still difficult to see the flaws. That is what rappers look for when buying diamonds.
But what does VVS mean in terms of determining diamond quality?
There are four main components in determining the value of diamonds. You will often find references to these as the 4Cs. These are standard systems for evaluating and grading diamond qualities. They are:
Cut looks at the shape and polishing of the diamonds. Great precision is necessary to achieve the highest brilliance and sparkle. Also, the diamond cutter must be careful not to damage the diamonds by chipping or scratching.
Clarity is the absence of inclusions or flaws in the internal structure of the diamond. There are different grades, including VVS diamonds, which we will explore in depth within the article.
Color can affect the quality of diamonds because it impacts their brilliance and sparkle. Colorless diamonds are high quality because they allow light through or are better able to reflect it. But you mustn't confuse this with the rare naturally colored diamonds. You will find a wide range, including blue, green, red, yellow, etc.
Carat is the diamond weight which translates to 1 carat equal to 0.2 grams. So the more carats, the more valuable the diamond.
To understand the point of clarity, it helps to understand the diamond formation process.
Natural diamonds
The formation of natural diamonds occurs in the earth's crust. High temperature and pressure cause carbon atoms to crystallize into diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds
The process of creating lab grown diamonds mimics what happens in the earth's crust. There are two methods manufacturers use. These are high-pressure, high-temperature synthesis, and chemical vapor deposition. In both cases, high temperature and pressure conditions break down carbon gasses to form diamonds.
How Inclusions Come Up
During the diamond formation, foreign material can attach to the diamonds. The diamond will cool and enclose the material, making it a part of its structure. The types of inclusions are mineral crystals, bubbles, and even other diamond fragments.
With natural diamonds, it is easy to see how this may happen. After all, there are so many other elements within the earth's crust.
But you will also find inclusions in VVS lab diamonds. Despite cleaner and more controlled environments within a lab setting, impurities can still find their way into the diamonds.
So, are VVS diamonds real? Yes, the minor inclusions do not make the VVS diamonds fake. The same applies to VVS lab diamonds.
At this point, it is also essential to distinguish between inclusions and blemishes. Inclusion is in the internal structure of the diamond. And as we stated, it is the result of a foreign object finding its way into the diamonds during the formation process.
A blemish, on the other hand, is a surface-level type of damage. The diamond cutter may, for example, scratch or chip the stone during the cutting process. That is why great precision is critical or it could impact the overall brilliance and quality of the rocks.
GIA Grading on Inclusions
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has developed a scale for measuring diamond clarity. It is, however, important to note that the untrained eye may not be able to see the inclusions.
Only trained experts can see the flaws in diamonds higher up the clarity scale. This is because some are so small that it takes an expert to notice them.
Flawless or FL have zero blemishes or inclusions under 10X magnification.
Internally Flawless or IF shows zero inclusions under 10X magnification.
Very very included has VVS1 and VVS2 categories. Even experts or trained graders may have difficulty seeing the inclusions under 10x magnification.
Very slightly included has two categories, VS1 and VS2. The inclusions are minor and, with some effort, are visible under 10X magnification.
Slightly included has two categories, namely SI1 and SI2. You will notice the inclusions under 10X magnification.
Included has three categories, namely I, II, and III. The inclusions are clear to see under 10X magnification. You will notice less brilliance and transparency in the stones.
So, if you were to compare VS vs VVS diamonds, you will find more inclusions in the former. We also said that within each categorization is further grading. So VS1 and VS2 will attract different pricing despite falling on the same scale. There will be minor differences in the level of inclusion that makes one slightly better than the other.
And this brings up a critical point if you are shopping for diamonds. Only buy products from reputable dealers because it is easy to lose money to scammers. Since you do not have advanced training in the different grading, you depend solely on what the seller says. So if you find dishonest ones, they could sell you a VS2 diamond at the price of a VVS diamond.
The same applies to VVS lab diamonds. It is impossible to distinguish between a natural and a lab grown diamond with the naked eye. Indeed only people with proper training can tell the difference. Yet the latter is much cheaper because lab production of the diamonds is faster. It reduces the rarity of diamonds that arises due to the slow natural diamond formation.
So What about VVS Simulated Diamonds
You will not find rappers wearing VVS simulated diamonds. As we said above, the authenticity of diamonds is critical for one reason. It is a sign and celebration of the success the rappers have managed to achieve within their careers.
The flawless VVS diamonds they wear are a testament to the fact that they managed to leave poverty behind. And that is why for rappers, quality, and price are critical considerations when shopping for jewelry.
So what are VVS simulated diamonds? Simulated diamonds are gemstones that mimic the look of diamonds. But that is where the similarity ends. In terms of composition, they come nowhere near the high-value stones. Common simulated diamonds include moissanite and cubic zirconia.
Please note that VVS simulated diamonds are different from VVS lab grown diamonds. As we said above, lab created diamonds form under conditions that mimic what happens in the Earth's crust. The only difference is that it occurs in a lab setting. That means there is no difference when it comes to the 4Cs.
If anything, the grading system is the very same GIA that experts use on natural diamonds. The resulting products must satisfy the 4Cs we discussed above.
Is Clarity All That Defines the Quality of the Diamond?
Please note that other factors contribute to the overall quality of the diamonds. It is not enough to only look at the clarity. You must also pay attention to the color cut and carats.
So what does it mean for diamond quality?
Cut
You could have a flawless or VVS diamond. But, the cut's symmetry, proportions, and finish do not reflect light well. That reduces its brilliance and visual appeal, thus attracting lower prices.
Asscher and emerald cuts, for instance, bring out the clarity of the rocks. So if you are going for one of the cuts, choose VVS diamonds and above. Indeed that is a critical point when differentiating cut and shape. The cut influences the shape. But the latter refers to the outline including oval, heart-shaped, round, cushion, marquise, or princess.
Color
The absence of flaws of minor inclusions does not negate the fact that there could be color in the rocks. Colored diamonds falling in the D, E, and F brackets are rare and more expensive.
Carats
As you can imagine, it is pretty difficult to get large diamonds. The fact that they are so rare pushes up the price tag significantly. So if you get a VVS diamond with a more considerable carat weight, you can expect to pay much more.
But there is also the reverse side to consider. The diamond could have a large carat weight, but the stone falls in the included or slightly included clarity grading. That reduces the value of the stone because of the poor quality.
The hip-hop culture was a game-changer in the music industry. Not only did it bring in new styles of music and dance and creative expression but it also introduced the bling culture.
While many would dismiss it as an ostentatious display of wealth, there is a reason behind the diamond chains, pendants, necklaces, and rings. For the artists, it is a celebration of their success.
It is also a reminder of the journey they have come through to leave the tough years behind. And the celebration of success can only come with the highest quality diamond. VVS diamonds fit the mold because they are rare, expensive, and high quality.
