Most experts
recommend purchasing a certified diamond, particularly when buying online, as
the best way to ensure value for money.
As a result of strong demand for diamond certifications, many diamond
certification labs including GIA, AGS, EGL USA, EGL International, IGI, and
others operate worldwide. The GIA,
universally respected as the foremost authority in diamond certification,
established a scale of diamond color (D - Z) and clarity (IF - I3) that can
help buyers compare diamonds. All
diamond certifications provide grades according to the a similar
alpha-numerical scale, but are all diamond certificates the same?
A recent
study by industry expert, Have You Seen the Ring, demonstrates a disturbing
trend. The business reviewed 100
diamonds certified by 5 different labs over a period of 12 months and concluded
that the grading scales of the stones varied dramatically. For example, when an EGL International stone
that was a color G and SI2 clarity was viewed next to an EGL USA stone of the
same specifications, the former had significantly more yellow color and
eye-visible, black inclusions. While
according to the GIA scale, both of these diamonds should be eye-clean and
near-colorless, the EGL International G, SI2 looked similar to a GIA J,
I1. The EGL USA stone came closer to GIA
specifications at a GIA H, SI2.
When
surveyed, nearly 2 out of 5 buyers stated that they were unaware of the
differences in certificate standards and that they assumed that color and
clarity grades were standardized across all grading labs. Alarmingly, many buyers of the lower quality
stones were not informed of the differences in grading scales when they purchased
the diamonds.
So does this
mean that buyers should only look at GIA certified stones? Not necessarily. Stones from many other labs have a good
combination of the 4Cs (color, clarity, cut and carat) and may represent better
value for money. Buyers should beware of
diamond prices that are 'too good to be true' and should insist on seeing a
copy of a certificate before making a purchase.
The key is to speak with reputable jewelry retailers, who will explain
the differences in diamond certifications, and will help choose best
stone.
Labels: certified diamond, certified diamonds, pre-owned engagement ring, Used Diamonds