What is a Diamond Certificate? | Experts in Dallas
What You Need to Know About Diamond Grading and Certificates
A diamond certificate is a report created by a team of trained and educated professional gemologists. The diamond certificate is also referred to as a diamond grading report, diamond dossier, or diamond quality document. During the creation of a diamond certificate, the diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized by a professional gemologist using a jeweler’s loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A completed certificate includes a complete analysis of the diamond. This includes, but is not limited to, the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round diamonds will also include a cut grade on the report – especially when graded by the GIA.
Why Do I Need a Diamond Certificate?
The diamond certificate is an important document that helps you clearly understand what you are buying. The diamond certificate clearly outlines the quality of the diamond you are purchasing. Among other uses, a diamond certificate from also acts as a security screen against treated and synthetic diamonds. Due a series of tests and scientific analysis performed during the grading process, gemologists are able to detect the presence of artificial treatments in color or clarity. This may include irradiated diamonds, laser filled diamonds or synthetic diamonds. In short, a grading report not only provides you with a scientific blueprint of the diamond’s properties and characteristics, it also confirms the diamond’s authenticity.
GIA Diamond Certificate
GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, is the leading gemological laboratory in the diamond industry and in the world. It is the industry’s most trusted and most widely respected diamond grading service. The GIA has offices in many cities around the world, employing more than 1400 scientists, educators and certified diamond graders. Generally speaking, The GIA is the most consistent lab in the business and all other laboratories are always discussed in comparison to the GIA. In addition, The GIA created the 4 Cs diamond grading system. Besides gem grading and certification, GIA also provides educational services and carries out intensive research work to keep up with fast changing technologies in the gemological field.
What’s Most Important?
There is a lot of websites, blogs and “expert” advice on the internet about certification laboratories. Rhetoric includes one lab is stricter, one lab is looser, one lab is “right”, one lab is “wrong” do trust this one, don’t trust that one, on and on. All that matters, though, is that you pay the right price for the diamond you are buying. And, that you love the appearance, beauty, shape, sparkle and overall look of the diamond you are purchasing. You are not going to be walking around with the certificate of the diamond you’ve purchased showing the color and clarity to your friends. You just want to do enough research to feel confident with the person you are working with and to make sure you are getting a good deal on the quality of diamond you are purchasing.
Diamond Grading is Subjective
All diamond grading is subjective, regardless of whether it is done by a certification laboratory (including the GIA), a GIA gemologist, a seasoned diamond dealer or an appraiser. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one central organization to define mathematically what a “G” color is or what an “SI1” clarity looks like. Diamond grading is done by individuals with differing options – not computers or technology.
Price and Beauty Before Certificate
As a consumer, it is important to remember that you are purchasing a gift of love for your significant other and a piece of jewelry that will be loved for generations to come. The beauty and price of the diamond need to be right, but 100% of your focus should not be on the accompanying certificate. Don’t lose sight of the fact that this is a gift of love and should be recognized for its independent beauty and romantic significance.