The Essential
Diamond Certificates
There are many diamond grading laboratories around the world all of which produce their own grading reports according to their own standards, and in some cases employ their own terminology. As certificates play a large part in determining the value of diamonds, it is important to understand the different grading systems and how they compare with each other.
GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (GIA)
Headquartered in New York, GIA was founded in 1931 as a non-profit educational resource for the jewellery industry. The purpose of the Institute is to provide the industry and the public with an independent and objective opinion on diamond quality and as an impartial arbiter of diamond grading standards to ensure public confidence. Each stone submitted for certification is checked by numerous professionals to ensure maximum accuracy and grading consistency for customer protection.
The GIA was responsible for developing the first internationally accepted diamond grading system. The quality of polished diamonds, applying uniform criteria for their classification. It also introduced the most important diamond report in setting the standard for diamond quality documentation worldwide.
Click to visit the GIA website.
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY GIA
GIA Diamond Grading Report:
Documents the carat weight, clarity and colour grades of a diamond, as well as its exact measurements, and in the case of Round Brilliant cuts, a cut grade. To see an example, click on the certificate on the right.
GIA Diamond Dossier:
Issued for diamonds weighing less than 1 carat.
GIA Coloured Diamond Identification and Origin Report:
Describes colour grade and colour origin (i.e. natural or treated) of coloured diamonds of any size. A full colour image may also be requested as an additional service.
THE DIAMOND HIGH COUNCIL - HOGE RAAD VOOR DIAMANTE (HRD)
HRD-Antwerp Founded in 1976 to meet the growing demand for reliable diamond certificates, HRD is a non-profit organisation serving the Belgian diamond trade and industry. Since its establishment in 1976, the HRD Certificate Laboratory has grown into one of the largest diamond certification laboratories in the world and maintains an excellent reputation for quality and objectivity.
HRD, (Hoge Raad voor Diamant – Diamond High Council) was established in 1973 as a partnership between the Belgian government and representatives of the diamond industry. The aim was to promote and protect the Belgian diamond industry. In 2007 HRD Antwerp, the diamond grading, education and research business became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC). This is the business that provides diamond certification for diamond sellers.
Each diamond is independently examined by several experts with highly sophisticated machines such as spectrophotometers, Dia-Mention systems and cathode luminescence machines to ensure a high level of reliability.
Click to visit the HRD website
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY HRD
HRD Diamond Certificate:
A certificate detailing a diamond’s shape, measurements, carat weight, clarity, fluorescence, colour and finish grades, as well as a plotted diagram.
HRD Diamond Identification Report:
A simpler version of the diamond certificate detailing the same features as above, but without a chart represented.
HRD diamond colour certificate:
A certificate outlining the colour description, origin and luminescence of the coloured stones.
INTERNATIONAL GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE (IGI)
IGI is one such organisation, operating 29 laboratory locations around the world that evaluate finished jewellery, natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and gemstones.
One of the world’s leading gemological institutions, the IGI was founded in 1975 in Antwerp, with a partner laboratory in New York, and has since become the largest independent gem certification and evaluation institute, renowned for its quality, extensive experience and expertise. What started at the beginning with just 3 members has expanded to over 260 professionals dedicated to an outstanding standard of excellence in Antwerp, New York, Bangkok, Mumbai and Tokyo.
The IGI company issues over 450,000 reports per year. Thousands of retail stores, insurance companies, catalogue companies, Internet sales organisations, accounting and securities firms, and consumers rely on IGI reports.
Click to visit the IGI website.
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE IGI
IGI Diamond Report:
A detailed analysis of the stone’s characteristics, including carat weight, color, clarity, polish and symmetry, and proportions. A diamond diagram with plotted clarity characteristics is also included. To see an example, click on the certificate on the right.
IGI Diamond ID:
A passport-sized document containing the same detailed information as the Diamond Report, without the chart represented.This report is also available in a more compact credit card size.
Hearts and Arrows Diamond Report:
A report rating optical symmetry. IGI’s value system is centred on objectivity, accuracy, consistency and impartiality, ensuring that every diamond is valued according to strict industry standards and criteria, without bias or influence.
AMERICAN GEM SOCIETY
The American Gem Society (AGS) was founded in 1934 by a small group of leading jewellers. Their goal was to create an organisation that could help protect the jewellery buying public from fraud and false advertising. Today, we are proud to say that their vision has become a reality. American Gem Society members, representing a wide range of professions in the jewellery industry, including retailers and suppliers, are dedicated to consumer protection, ethical business practices, and the development and maintenance of superior gemological skills and knowledge.
To join the AGS, each member must go through a peer-reviewed application process and complete an annual recertification exam. This process ensures that every AGS member you meet is at the top of their game, and more importantly, each is committed to protecting their customers by providing expert gemological knowledge of the products they sell and adhering to strict ethical standards.
Click to visit the AGS website.
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE AGS
AGS Diamond Report:
AGS Laboratories offers diamond grading reports for round brilliants and fancy shapes, as well as mounts,brown diamonds,custom and property reports. With a ratio as unique as the diamond. A diamond is an important purchase. We provide diamond grading reports from AGS Laboratories. They were founded by the American Society (AGS)
This means that with an AGS Laboratories report,you will receive an unbiased,third-party opinion on the quality of their diamond. AGA labs analyse the diamond inside and out so you know and understand the quality of the diamond you are buying. The scoring process of AGS laboratories is also based on science and as a result their reports are consistent and accurate. All AGS Labs reports have six unique security features to ensure authenticity. Here is a brochure you may find useful. They created this for jewellery buyers like you. You can also visit their website at agslab.com to learn more
EUROPEAN GEMOLOGY LABORATORY (EGL)
Founded in 1974 by the former Guy Margel, the European Gemology Laboratory (EGL) opened the first gemology laboratory in Antwerp, Belgium. Since then, EGL has expanded its borders to many different parts of the country. The laboratory in New York was opened in 1975, followed by Los Angeles in 1978. EGL South Africa Angeles in 1980, and the laboratories in Paris and London were opened in 1981 and 1982. Its laboratories were opened in Tel Aviv, Seoul, Istanbul in the 1990s, Mumbai in 2003, Delhi in 2004, Hong Kong in 2008 and Prague in 2011. Today, the diamond grading and gemology services offered by EGL Laboratories are recognized worldwide and the company is an integrated part of the global industry of diamonds.
EGL is credited with introducing new approaches to diamond grading, the practice of certifying diamonds of less than one carat weight, and establishing the “SI3” diamond clarity designation. The organisation is also recognized for conducting advanced research with renowned physicists, geologists and mineralogists.
Click to visit the EGL International website.
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY EGL
EGL Diamond Certificate Report:
A detailed analysis of the stone’s characteristics, including carat weight, color, clarity, polish and symmetry, and proportions. A diamond diagram with plotted clarity characteristics is also included. To see an example, click on the certificate on the right.
EGL Mini Certificate
A more compact version of the Diamond Certificate Report. EGL “CertiCard” The most compact of EGL certificates, this details the information as in other EGL certificates on a credit card type of document.
