Diamond Certifications

Why are diamond certificates important?

The diamond buying process has evolved over many years to incorporate grading reports as key leading factor in pricing a diamond. You can refer to them as the “birth certificates of diamonds”. It authenticates the diamond by ensuring it has been graded accurately by a trusted and reputed gemological laboratory.

Diamond certificates are important for larger stones as it is a security that you are not being sold inaccurate clarities, color, shape or carat weight of your diamond.

The lab reports consist of factors such as: cut grade, clarity grade, color grade, carat weight, diamond shape, proportions, symmetry, polish, length to width ratio, fluorescence, clarity plot, origin, and the laser inscription.

IGI versus GIA:

When purchasing a lab grown diamond, you may often be choosing diamonds with certifications from either the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), or the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Here are the differences between the two:

Gemological Institute of America:

Recognized as the leading and most trusted diamond grading lab for natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds. Has accurate and consistent gradings, with a primary focus in natural.

Locations of GIA: New York, Mumbai, Bangkok, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong

Having a diamond that is graded by GIA ensures reliable diamond grading, meaning you are 100% certain that your grading is accurate. They follow strict guidelines to ensure that each diamond is graded to the same standard. Due to this accuracy and standard that GIA created, GIA stones are often more expensive in the market.

International Gemological Institute (IGI):

A diamond grading lab providing independent grading reports and colored stone reports, focusing on both natural and lab-grown diamonds. IGI lab has a strong presence of certifying lab-grown diamonds, with their own grading system. Founded in 1975 by Marcel Tolkowsky at IGI Antwerp.

Locations of IGI: New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangkok, Dubai

Fun Fact: IGI lab grading is also able to give a certificate to a diamond that is already mounted to jewelry (eg. A diamond that is already previously mounted to an engagement ring setting). If you purchase an uncertified diamond, you are also able to send in that diamond to be certified by IGI if needed.

IGI diamonds are usually less expensive than GIA certified diamonds, even if they are of the same quality. We normally recommend using IGI reports to certify lab grown diamonds – as these are standardized for lab grown diamonds.

In 2020, GIA diamond grading reports were upgraded to match the quality of an IGI report, meaning and both IGI and GIA are accurate certificate options for lab grown diamonds.

No Certified Diamonds:

When buying diamonds that are smaller than 0.3 carats (melee stones), grading reports can be optional. Instead of sending melee stones for grading to labs, they are sorted into “parcels” based on their quality. They are instead assigned a range of values for the clarity and color.