The Diamond Grading Report

First a quick note. GIA has contacted us requesting that we use the term Diamond Grading Report rather than Certificate. Their concern seems to be that a Certificate might imply that the lab is certifying the diamond, which some may view as an endorsement of the item rather than a description. That is an important distinction, one that probably came years after GIA's lab started offering reports. However people in the trade still use the term certificate or cert for short. So we will respect GIA's wishes, but want you to be aware of the issue. Before we dive into the anatomy of an actual Diamond Grading Report, it is important to understand the purpose of the Report. A Diamond Grading Report is a statement, issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the Diamond in question has been examined by experienced Diamond Graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Report. As we discuss the various elements contained in the report, we will describe which gemological instruments were used to evaluate the specific property under discussion. The reason it is important to have a Diamond evaluated by an independent Laboratory is that minute, invisible to the naked-eye, characteristics of a Diamond can have a major influence on the price. Therefore, if not for a great deal of scrutiny on the part of the buyer, it is easy to mistakenly purchase a Diamond of lower value, believing it to be of higher value.

We recommend strongly that you do not buy any diamond without a Grading Report. GIA is the foremost Laboratory in the world, though there are other reputable labs out there. However, not all labs are made alike. GIA created the standards and all respectable labs follow them. They have the best instruments and the most advanced gem lab in the world. That's why all the most important diamonds in the world carry GIA reports. From the Hope Diamond to the Heart of Eternity, the Millennium Star, the Tiffany, the Premier Rose and The Incomparable. If you found a Diamond you like, and it is not certified (i.e. does not carry a grading report) there is nothing wrong with asking your Jeweler to send it to GIA. If your Jeweler has a problem with that, then you should start asking your jeweler and yourself more questions! This request is a standard practice in the Diamond Industry.