If you are in the market for a diamond, you should always ask to see its lab certification. Lab also known as gemological certifications describe important characteristics of a diamond such as color, clarity and carat weight. However, despite their similarities, not all lab certifications are created equal. Different labs have varying grading practices and policies which can impact the value of your diamond. For this reason it is imperative to understand how to read the grading reports of each lab and the implications for your investment.
Several laboratories offer a full analysis of the 4C’s color, clarity, cut and carat weight of your diamond. These unbiased institutions consider these factors to determine the quality of a diamond and deliver this information in the form of a report. They also provide a laser inscription on the diamond’s girdle with the grading entity’s name and report number. Depending on the lab, they may offer additional analyses such as a Hearts and Arrows analysis which can provide further insight into a diamond’s cut craftsmanship and optical precision or a Gemprint that can be used to identify your diamond.
Some of the most prominent labs for evaluating diamonds Breslauer and Warren Jewellers are IGI, GIA and GCAL. GIA is the world’s most popular lab and has been in operation for over 100 years. They are also the oldest lab to grade natural earth mined diamonds and a pioneer in embracing lab grown diamonds. However, for many years they did not treat lab diamonds the same as their mined counterparts in order to protect the jewelry industry and the mined diamond market. This left their competitor IGI to dominate lab grown diamond grading and become the leader in this industry.
The reason why a lab diamond can still be evaluated by these institutes is that they are not only fully equipped to do so, but they also have the requisite expertise and knowledge in doing so. They are well aware that a lab grown diamond can present with similar qualities to a mined one and must be considered using the same criteria.
Lab diamonds must go through a rigorous grading process and are compared against natural diamonds to ensure their quality and authenticity. This is done by highly trained graduate gemologists who assess the four C’s of each diamond. This is accomplished independently so that the opinions of multiple professionals are weighed equally.
The resulting evaluation of the four C’s is then given a grade by the grading lab. This grade determines the value and quality of a diamond. If two diamonds have the same carat weight, for example, but one offers larger measurements and more brilliance, it is rated higher than the other. This is because the quality and value of a diamond are dependent on its individual characteristics, not just its overall weight. This is why it’s so important to carefully review the grading reports and ensure that you are receiving the highest possible value for your investment.
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