How To Get Your Diamond Certified

Do you have a heirloom diamond without any details? Are you engagement ring shopping for your bride to be but are unsure if the diamond is legit? Perhaps you want to sell your diamond and need proof of its quality?

A diamond certificate gives you valuable insight into the precious stone in your possession, but what exactly does that entail? Allow us to highlight everything you need to know about how to get a diamond certified.

What Is A Diamond Certificate?

A diamond certificate is a report generated by an independent accredited gemology lab. The lab evaluates the diamond by measuring its 4C’s: caratage, cut, color and clarity.

It’s worth noting that each lab has its own grading standards, so your report is not a universal standard grade. It is ultimately up to the professional lab technician to evaluate and assess your diamond. Of course, there are common standards, but each lab’s report will vary and some may even include details involving the diamond’s symmetry, fluorescence and inclusions.

There are also services that orchestrate a comprehensive approach by having your diamond graded by multiple labs, which generates a more in depth and well rounded assessment of your diamond.

The process of certifying a diamond is meticulous and thorough.

High-powered microscopes and instruments are employed to evaluate every last detail of a diamond. The diamond is studied for symmetry, inclusions and blemishes, polish, treatment, color, clarity and in some cases, origin.

Once you receive your diamond report, you’ll have evidence of the quality of your diamond—which helps you know the value of the diamond.

Is A Diamond Certificate An Appraisal?

No. Unlike jewelry appraisals, which involve a certified professional evaluating the value of your jewelry, a certificate is a report with pertinent information about your diamond. Whereas an appraisal is important to placing a market price and selling price on your diamond, a certificate provides proof of what makes the diamond deserve that value.

While the two processes are not the same thing, they each serve one another. For example, if you want to get your diamond engagement ring appraised, the diamond certificate is a useful resource to prove the worth of the diamond itself.

The 4C’s

Let’s elaborate on the 4Cs to better understand the process of grading each quality of your diamond. Truth is, of all the grading components, the only hard fact is the carat weight. The other three elements are entirely interpreted by the professional who is evaluating the diamond. Fortunately, grading diamond’s requires a trained and educated eye.

• Carat - Measures the weight of the diamond to the nearest hundredth of a carat. One carat equals ⅕ a gram.
• Cut - The cut grade involves evaluating round, brilliant diamonds from D to Z color, assessing its face-up appearance, quality of craftsmanship and overall design. The scale for cut is graded from poor to excellent.
• Clarity - With gemstones, clarity evaluates the stone’s blemishes and inclusions. Essentially, a diamond should be free of both to be considered flawless. However, factors which contribute to a clarity grade include position, size, nature, number and which characteristics are visible under magnification.
• Color - Diamonds are graded from light yellow to colorless and given a grade from D to Z. The color assessment also determines whether or not the diamond has been color treated.

Types of Diamond Certificates

GIA - Gemological Institute of America are the innovators that created the 4C’s system of grading. As such, GIA enforces extremely strict grading standards which ultimately generates the most consistent and trusted reports. GIA is regarded as the industry standard for diamond certificates.

AGS - American Gem Society upholds strict standards comparable to GIA and was the first lab to grade diamond cut on the 0-9 scale.

IGI - International Gemological Institute provides consistent diamond grades, however they are known for grading diamonds more loosely compared to GIA and AGS.

GSI - Gemological Science International are on par for consistent grading standards with IGI and GIA.

How Much Does A Diamond Certificate Cost?

Each lab fulfills a different grading report, as such each lab will vary in price. However, GIA is the benchmark for diamond certificates and the price depends on the weight, or carat, of the diamond.

A GIA Diamond Grading Report costs $78 for diamonds that are .15+ carats. The report evaluates the 4C’s, includes a plotted clarity diagram, shape and cutting style, GIA cut grade, measurements, weight, polish and symmetry, fluorescence, color-treatments and an optional laser inscription.

On average, a diamond certificate costs $150.00.

What Is A Diamond Laser Inscription?

Getting a laser inscription for your diamond is a good idea if you plan to sell your diamond. A laser inscription proves that your diamond corresponds to the diamond certificate. Inscribing the diamond verifies that the diamond you’re selling is in fact the diamond that was graded for certification. The inscription is so tiny that it can only be seen under a microscope. However, a diamond inscription can be removed with buffing. Any time you leave your diamond with a jeweler, ensure that the inscription is in tact when the diamond is returned to you.

Is A Diamond Certificate Needed To Sell A Diamond?

Not necessarily, especially if you plan to sell your diamond to a jeweler who grades diamonds. That said, having a diamond certification will help you get the highest amount for your diamond. It’s smart to have as much information about what you are selling if you want to get the highest selling price.

How Do I Get My Diamond Certified?

Send your diamond to the gemological lab of your choice and a trained professional will analyze and evaluate your diamond. Once they’ve accrued the relevant data about your diamond, you’ll receive a diamond grading report. On average, it takes about three weeks to get your diamond certified through GIA.

It’s smart to have your diamond insured prior to sending it in the mail, that way you are covered if an unfortunate event happens and the diamond is lost.

To recap: a diamond certification does not increase the value of your diamond, rather the quality of the stone. If you want evidence on paper of the quality of your diamond, a diamond certificate provides exactly that.

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