Certified diamond engagement rings offer, besides the advantages of a safe purchase, valuable information on the stone, information that cannot be obtained unless expert analysis is performed on the gem. This allows comparison between diamonds with similar attributes — thus the buyer can determine which is the better value.
A Diamond Certificate is a document issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory containing reliable, accurate information on diamonds value factors. The analysis of a Gemological Laboratory is a result of various tests using high tech sophisticated equipment.
For the person who intends to buy a diamond and has basic knowledge on diamonds, the certificate is a very useful tool when selecting the
ideal combination of diamond carat, color, clarity, and cut. “Ideal” in this case refers to the most suitable choice for the buyer's needs and financial situation. Find out more details on diamond grading.
A certificate is a proof against possible attempts of diamonds price over-evaluation, containing information on possible minute, invisible to the naked-eye diamond characteristics that can have serious influence on price.
Buying certified stones or certified diamond engagement rings is being sure that you pay for what you really get.
Certification is made solely on loose diamonds. Laboratories will not issue certificates on mounted diamonds.
Also, it is good to know that although a certificate retains its value over a long period of time, it states a diamond's properties at the time of the evaluation. The value of a certificate is lost if the diamond's state is altered.
Who Issues Certificates
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- The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
- creator of the famous 4Cs of diamond value (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight)
- creator of the International Diamond Grading System
- provided the public a metric to compare Diamonds and Diamond prices from different suppliers/jewelers/dealers.
- The American Gem Society (AGS)
- International Gemological Institute (IGI)
- produces diamond grading reports, and mostly diamond engagement ring appraisals.
- European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)
- Has several Labs around the world, each independently owned.
- Belgian Diamond High Council (Hoge Raad voor Diamant, HDR)
- International Confederation of Jewelry, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls and Stones (Confederation Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfevrerie, des diamants, perles et pierres precieuses, CIBJO)
- Scandinavian Diamond Nomenclature (Scan D. N.)
Beware of no-name brand Laboratories, no-name brand Certificates and no-name brand Appraisals. You may wind up with something less than agreed upon.
The GIA certifications do not include some aspects of diamond cut that would be helpful for customers (i.e. crown height percentage, pavilion depth percentage, crown angle, pavilion angle). For more detailed proportion information one can easily obtain a Sarin report besides the certificate. Sarin Technologies uses an effective 3D Metrology technology by means of which accurate measurements of a diamond can be made.
Diamond Appraisal
A document stating a diamond's approximate retail replacement value.
It can be performed on a loose diamond, a mounted gem or jewelry. If the stone is not loose, its properties are estimated using specific techniques. It is calculated based on current market data: retail prices, properties of the mounted stone (cut, color, clarity and carat weight), the weight of precious metal included in the item and the craftsmanship of the item.
Appraisals are most often used for insurance purposes — in case of loss, theft, or damage, your insurance company will give you an equal replacement of your item. The more information contained in the appraisal, the better chance you have of receiving the exact replacement for that item or its coverage rate.
Things to Mind
- Appraisals can be done by anyone, they are often done by the salesperson selling the diamond. This is not advisable as thus appraisals are often over-estimated (and are therefore a very poor estimation of price) and then, any in-house jeweler may be biased.
- Appraisals are subjective and contain an estimate of the replacement value of the gem. Do not accept an appraisal as a substitute of a Diamond Lab Certificate.
Diamond Certificates do not indicate the value of the gem, they strictly represent the technical evaluation of the diamond. If you want appraisal for a mounted ring, always considered certified diamond engagement rings.
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