VVS Grillz UK: What Does VVS Mean & Is It Worth It?
VVS is probably the most used — and most misused — term in grillz. You see it everywhere: product listings, Instagram captions, artist lyrics. But when you're actually ordering a piece, it matters what it means and whether the seller is using it correctly. Here's what you need to know.
What Does VVS Actually Mean?
VVS stands for Very Very Slightly Included — a clarity grade from the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) diamond grading scale. It refers to the number and visibility of internal inclusions (tiny imperfections) within a stone.
The full clarity scale runs: FL → IF → VVS1 → VVS2 → VS1 → VS2 → SI1 → SI2 → I1 → I2 → I3
VVS1 and VVS2 stones have inclusions so small they're invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. In practical terms: VVS stones look completely clean to anyone looking at them.
For grillz, this means the stones will read as bright, pure white, and uninterrupted — no cloudy patches, no visible flaws, no dull spots reducing the sparkle.
VVS in Grillz — Moissanite vs Lab Diamond
When grillz makers say "VVS grillz", they're almost always referring to stones at VVS clarity — specifically either VVS moissanite or VVS lab-grown diamonds. Both are real stones. Neither is cubic zirconia.
| VVS Moissanite | VVS Lab Diamond | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Silicon carbide crystal | Chemically identical to mined diamond |
| Clarity | VVS grade | VVS grade |
| Brilliance | Rainbow fire, very high refractive index | Classic white brilliance |
| Hardness | 9.25 Mohs | 10 Mohs |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Maximum sparkle and fire | Classic diamond look |
At Ice Jeweller we use VVS moissanite and VVS lab-grown diamonds — chosen specifically for fire, clarity, and long-term brilliance. We do not use cubic zirconia.
For a deeper comparison, see our moissanite vs lab diamond guide and our dedicated moissanite grillz guide.
Why VVS Matters for Grillz
In a fully iced piece — bustdown, snow-set, or any stone-set grill — the visual quality of every individual stone affects the overall appearance of the piece. The stones are so densely packed that any variation in clarity or cut creates dead spots: areas that don't reflect light and break the continuous sparkle effect.
VVS stones at the right cut produce a surface that reads as a single, continuous field of light. Lower-clarity stones produce patches. The difference is visible even to an untrained eye — particularly in photographs and under direct light.
This is why clarity grade matters for grillz in a way it may not for a solitaire ring (where you're looking at one stone at a time). In a bustdown set, you're looking at hundreds of stones simultaneously. See our bustdown grillz guide for how snow-setting and bustdown work technically.
How to Tell If Your Grillz Are Actually VVS
This is where it gets important. VVS is not a regulated term in the grillz market — anyone can write "VVS grillz" in a product listing regardless of what stones they're actually using. Here's what to look for:
Stone type matters first. VVS refers to a clarity grade — but it only applies to real stones (diamond, moissanite, sapphire, etc.). Cubic zirconia cannot be VVS-graded. Any seller offering "VVS CZ grillz" is using VVS as a marketing term, not a technical one. CZ is a synthetic glass-like material, not a gemstone. See our real vs fake grillz guide for how to spot the difference.
Ask what the stones are. A legitimate grillz maker will tell you exactly — moissanite, lab diamond, or natural diamond, with the clarity grade. If they're vague, that's the answer.
Look at the setting. VVS stones in a hand-set piece should produce consistent, uninterrupted sparkle across the entire surface. If you see variation — some areas bright, some dull — the stones are likely inconsistent or lower clarity.
VVS Grillz Styles
VVS stones can be used in any stone-set style:
Snow-set: The most technically demanding. Stones set so densely that the metal underneath becomes invisible — the entire surface becomes stone. This is Ice Jeweller's signature technique and Padra's speciality. The result at VVS clarity is extraordinary.
Bustdown: The full surface covered in hand-set stones. Less dense than snow-set but still fully iced. See our bustdown grillz guide.
Stone trim / border: VVS stones set along the edge or face of an open frame grill. A more accessible entry point into stone-set grillz — the stones frame the enamel rather than covering the whole tooth.
What Metal Works Best with VVS Stones?
The metal base affects how the stones read:
- White gold — amplifies the cold, clean brightness of clear stones. Best for maximum "icy" effect.
- Yellow gold — creates a warm contrast. Classic iced look.
- Rose gold — warm pink-gold base with icy stones creates a distinctive warm/cold contrast.
- Sterling silver — bright and high-contrast. Most affordable entry point for stone-set grillz.
See our white gold grillz guide and rose gold grillz guide for metal-specific detail.
How Much Do VVS Grillz Cost in the UK?
| Style | From |
|---|---|
| Single tooth, stone trim (silver) | from £120 |
| Single tooth, stone trim (gold) | from £186 |
| Partial row bustdown (silver) | from £300 |
| Partial row bustdown (gold) | from £350+ |
| Full bustdown set (top + bottom) | POA |
Price depends on metal, stone type (moissanite vs lab diamond), tooth count, and setting density. For a full breakdown, see our grillz cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VVS moissanite real? Yes. Moissanite is a real gemstone — silicon carbide — that occurs naturally but is now produced in laboratory conditions. VVS moissanite is graded at Very Very Slightly Included clarity, meaning the stones are almost entirely free of inclusions.
Is VVS the highest clarity available? No — FL (Flawless) and IF (Internally Flawless) are higher grades. However, the visual difference between VVS and FL is undetectable to the naked eye. VVS is the standard used in quality grillz because it delivers the same visible perfection at a lower cost.
Are VVS grillz the same as diamond grillz? Not necessarily. VVS refers to clarity grade — the stones can be moissanite, lab diamond, or natural diamond, all at VVS clarity. "Diamond grillz" typically means the stones are diamonds (natural or lab-grown). See our diamond grillz guide for more detail.
Can I get VVS grillz in silver? Yes — VVS moissanite in sterling silver is one of the most popular combinations. The cost is lower than gold and the sparkle is identical. Silver does tarnish over time. See our do silver grillz tarnish guide for care information.
How do I order VVS grillz from Ice Jeweller? Order online, receive your free impression kit, take your mould at home and post it back. We'll design the piece in CAD and send you a preview before production. See the full process in our impression kit guide.
Order Your VVS Grillz
Every Ice Jeweller VVS piece is hand-set by Padra using individually selected stones, in solid gold or silver, made from your dental impression.
- Shop All Grillz →
- Get Your Free Impression Kit →
- Bustdown Grillz Guide →
- Moissanite vs Lab Diamond →
- Contact Us on WhatsApp →
