When you set out to buy a diamond, you may be familiar with the 4 C’s – the carat, clarity, cut, and color. However, there is a 5th C to diamonds too that no jeweler usually talks about – certification.

Buying a diamond engagement ring is a special event and you attach a lot of importance to it. Not only that it is about your special occasion of engagement, but it is also a financially important event. Hence, every purchase has to be built on trust. This is why diamond certification is an equally important aspect of diamond deals. Below is a discussion on diamond certification and its relevance in the diamond industry.

The Importance of Diamond Certification

You may have already spent hours on reading articles, researching the diamond types, window shopping, or browsing online diamond deals. You may have gone the lengths to make sure that you get the perfect diamond engagement ring that suits the taste of your fiancée. However, when the moment comes to make the payment or finalize the deal, you may be left wondering if you had a little more credibility to support your purchase.

Something like a GIA certification could be the right fix for this situation. If you have that document at hand, it will not only erase any doubts about what you are about to buy, but also inform you about the detailed specifications of your stone.

A finished diamond is analyzed scientifically by grading labs such as the GIA. All the attributes of the diamonds, including the 4 C’s and several others, are measured in the process. This is carried out by gemologists in high tech laboratories with the right set of equipment. All the features of the diamonds, such as blemishes, symmetry, polish, color, and inclusions, are noted with the help of sensitive instruments and high-powered microscopes. Finally, unbiased evaluations of these diamonds are released.

Each diamond undergoes several rounds of rigorous inspections by more than a few gemologists. Hence, the grades assigned are reliable and consistent. Once the grade is assigned, the laboratory also prepares a written report regarding the diamond. This report accompanies the diamond when it is put on sale. So in short, this is the independent proof that supports the value of a diamond.

Trusted Certificates from Independent Laboratories

Every grading report will contain a detailed line diagram. This will feature the top and side view of the diamond as well a detailed chart that features color grade, angles, inclusion levels, weight, and cuts of the diamond. In case a diamond was subjected to processes such as pressure lasers or heat or any other modification process to enhance the color or clarity of the diamond, it will be clearly mentioned in the report too.

Furthermore, several labs provide services such as engravings that mention the certification number using microscopic letters on the diamond for future reference. Many branded diamond dealers do this on their products before they are put for sale. You do not have to worry though, as the letters of the engravings are too small to affect the appearance of the diamond.

A few labs also offer the additional facility of a menu of report options. Examples include Synthetic Diamond Grading Report by the GIA and Science of Scintillation report by the AGS. However, these facilities are available for certain diamonds only.

The Most Popular Diamond Grading Agencies

• Gemological Institute of America: They are the leaders in this trade, and most of the diamonds put on sale in the US, online or at a local store, are graded by the GIA. In fact, the GIA invented the process of scientifically quantifying the 4 C’s of a diamond in the 1940’s.
• American Gem Society: They come second in terms of being the most common diamond grading lab in the country. The AGS is well known for their scientific approaches and deep research into grading the diamond cut specifically.
• International Gemological Institute: They are more focused on grading colored diamonds and gemstones. Based in Antwerp in Belgium, the IGI diamond grading lab grades a majority of the fancy diamonds sold globally.
• European Gemological Laboratory: They are known for inventing the diamond grading techniques for smaller stones that weigh below 1 carat. The EGL has offices in prominent cities all around the world, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Tel Aviv being a few of them.

Note that apart from a grading certificate, most of the diamonds also come with a warranty. So you need to purchase diamonds that come with a warranty to have an additional measure of protection for your prized possession.

Diamonds are one of the hardest substances known to man. However, they are fragile at the same time. Depending upon the shape of the cut and the mount on which the diamond is kept in the ring, it is quite possible that it will suffer chipping or damages down the road. Sometimes, everyday activities may also cause harm to your diamond. Hence, having a warranty is always an added advantage.