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Diamond Certification: The Complete Guide

Here's what to look for and why it's so important.
By Nicole Kliest | Updated on 11/01/22
Reviewed By Sandy Ip / GIA Accredited Gemologist
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PHOTO BY SASITHON PHOTOGRAPHY

IN THIS ARTICLE

01 Advantages Of Buying A 05 The Best Diamond

Certified Diamond Certification

02 Cost Of Certification 06 What To Look For When

Grading Diamonds
03 How To Read A Diamond
Certificate 07 Is A Diamond Certificate ADVERTISEMENT

Necessary?
04 Types Of Diamond Grading
Systems

Unique
Antique
B uying a diamond is kind of like buying a car (except a little more
romantic): It's not enough to simply glance at it and call it a day. Jewelry
Instead, you want to try it on for size and be sure all of the corresponding
Experience The
paperwork is available to back up your purchase. For many couples Difference
searching for the perfect gemstone, one phrase will come up a lot: diamond Experience the difference
certification. with exclusive collections
of estate and vintage
jewelry.
What Is Diamond Certification? burdeens.com
DEFINITION Diamond certification is a system created by the
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to evaluate the quality of a
diamond based on the 4Cs—carat, color, clarity, and cut. Diamond
certification is also referred to as diamond grading and it is highly
Learn More
recommended that couples only buy certified diamonds.

Not only does diamond certification determine the quality of a gem, but it ADVERTISEMENT

also "communicates the diamond’s qualities in a way that helps consumers

understand what they are buying," explains GIA-accredited jeweler Nellie
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Barnett.

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Exclusive Vintage Jewelry
MEET THE EXPERT
Beautiful heirlooms from vintage diamond
Nellie Barnett is a GIA-accredited jewelry professional and diamond rings, tennis necklaces, and unique
earrings.
graduate. She's also the manager of media and public relations at the burdeens.com
Gemological Institute of America.

Learn More

Read on for our complete guide on diamond certification—from how to ADVERTISEMENT

read a diamond certificate to choosing the best type of certification—to

ensure you're making the most informed, thought-out investment possible.

R E L AT E D : How to Upgrade the Diamond in Your Engagement Ring

Advantages of Buying a Certified Diamond

One of the top advantages of buying a certified diamond is precedent.
"We’ve been doing this for decades, and have graded tens of millions of
diamonds," Barnett explains. "The GIA Diamond Grading Report is the
premier credential of a diamond’s authenticity and quality, especially when
buying engagement rings."

This system was invented in the 1940s and '50s to create a consistent
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methodology for describing diamonds and their quality. "This common
language and the widely accepted GIA standards, methods, and best
Burdeen's Jewelry
practices to grade diamonds add a very important consumer-protection Burdeen's Official Website
element to the way diamonds are bought and sold," she continues. "GIA Beautiful heirlooms from vintage diamond
rings, tennis necklaces, and unique
reports give people confidence in their purchases because they have an earrings.

independent and impartial evaluation of the diamond’s quality." burdeens.com

Cost of Certification Learn More

The price of a GIA grading report varies depending on the type of stone, its ADVERTISEMENT

carat weight, and the service requested. "For D-Z diamonds, the basic
grading service is about $30 for a quarter-carat diamond to about $85 for a
one-carat stone, with the fee increasing based on weight and the service,"
Barnett says. GIA lists its full fee schedule online.

How to Read a Diamond Certificate

There are a few things to keep an eye out for on a diamond's GIA
certificate:

1. The date the diamond was graded

2. The GIA report number

3. Shape and cutting style (i.e. round brilliant)

4. Measurements

After those details, the certificate will list the grading results for the carat
weight, color grade, clarity grade, and cut grade. Additional grading
information includes polish, symmetry, and fluorescence. The certificate
also offers a profile view of the diamond with exact proportions as well as
clarity characteristics. Visit GIA's website to view an example of a diamond
grading report.

R E L AT E D : Understanding the 4Cs: The Ultimate Diamond Guide

Types of Diamond Grading Systems

While the GIA grading system is among the most well-known and trusted,
there are also a handful of other certifications to keep an eye out for,
including AGS, IGI, EGL, GSI, and HRD.

BRIDES TIP

Since some aspects of diamond grading are subjective (like color and
clarity), it's best to compare stones that have all been evaluated by the
same entity. For example, the GIA does not grade diamonds with the
same approach as EGL.

American Gem Society (AGS)

Founded in 1934, the American Gem Society was created by a group of
jewelers in an effort to “protect the jewelry-buying public from fraud and
false advertising.” They evaluate cut, color, clarity, and carat on a 0-10 scale
—the highest grade is zero and the lowest grade is 10. AGS is now joined by
three thousand members including jewelers, retailers, and suppliers, and is
considered a reliable source for diamond certification.

International Gemological Institute (IGI)

The International Gemological Institute has been around since 1975 and
has 18 laboratory locations around the world. IGI evaluates loose diamonds
as well as finished jewelry pieces and was the first gemological institute to
fully grade lab-grown diamonds, starting in 2005.

European Gemological Laboratories (EGL)

Reports from European Gemological Laboratories typically include carat
weight, clarity grade, color grade, cut (shape and style), finish,
fluorescence, plotting, and proportions. They are also often considered
looser with their grading standards.

Gemological Science International (GSI)

Gemological Science International was founded in 2005 and grades both
natural and lab-grown diamonds. Their laboratories employ advanced
technology and instruments to capture a diamond’s light performance and
reports include information regarding shape, weight color, clarity,
fluorescence, polish, symmetry, measurements, cut grade, and plotting
diagram.

Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD)

Hoge Raad voor Diamant issues certificates for diamonds and gemstones
primarily in Europe and is located in Antwerp, Belgium—a geographical
location that is synonymous with diamonds. The company uses what they
refer to as a “double coding system” and provides reports for natural, lab-
grown, and treated diamonds.

The Best Diamond Certification

In general, diamonds that have been graded by GIA or AGS are considered
the top-tier options, especially because they are nonprofit diamond grading
laboratories. We advise purchasing diamonds certified by the GIA or AGS.

What to Look for When Grading Diamonds

Consistency and strictness! You want the lab that's evaluating diamonds to
treat all of the gemstones they see the exact same way. Strictness also
ensures you're getting what you paid for.

Is a Diamond Certificate Necessary?

Yes! There's no way to know what you're buying without a qualified, trusted
entity to evaluate your diamond. Don't buy a diamond unless it has a
certificate.

U P N E X T: The 12 Best Places to Buy Lab-Grown Diamonds in 2023

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