| #ffffff;" /> | | | | grading a diamond as accurately as GIA, and |
| There are lots of opinions in the jewelry industry | | | | usually do. So if that is the case, then why would |
| about which grading lab is best when choosing a | | | | pay more for a GIA certified diamond that has |
| diamond. The trouble with these opinions is that | | | | the same grade as an EGL or AGS diamond? The |
| they’re usually jaded because the person | | | | answer is that you shouldn’t! One of the |
| business giving you the opinion wants to sell you | | | | best deals in the jewelry industry is a diamond |
| their diamond. Their opinion on which grading lab is | | | | certified by EGL; this is because some jewelers |
| best is decided by what lab has graded their | | | | assume that EGL isn’t graded as |
| diamond, how convenient is that?! If they own a | | | | conservatively as a GIA. In the end many |
| diamond certified by EGL then they tell you that | | | | jewelers price an EGL certified diamond at less |
| EGL is best, if they have another diamond owned | | | | than GIA or AGS stones. This I believe is a |
| by GIA then GIA is best. These are biased | | | | mistake because in my experience the grading for |
| opinions and you should be very cautious as to | | | | all three labs is similar. For a consumer though, |
| how much weight is given to them during your | | | | purchasing an EGL certified diamond is an excellent |
| decision making process. | | | | opportunity to buy a well graded diamond for |
| How are diamonds certified? | | | | much less than you have to. |
| The “Big Three” grading laboratories | | | | AGS has become very notable for their |
| as I like to call them have similar processes for | | | | knowledge about cut and grading a diamond for |
| certifying diamonds. This process involves several | | | | its potential light performance. Most of what the |
| Graduate Gemologists independently assessing and | | | | jewelry industry uses to determine if a diamond is |
| agreeing on the color, clarity, and carat weight of | | | | optimized for brilliance is based on AGS’s |
| the diamond. This helps reduce the possibility for | | | | research. If a jeweler suspects that a diamond is |
| human error when determining the final grade for | | | | cut very well then he may send the diamond to |
| the diamond, although it doesn’t eliminate it. | | | | AGS for certification. If you are looking for a |
| You must consider the indisputable fact that there | | | | diamond with a very high cut grade you should |
| is no exact science behind diamond grading. I | | | | consider looking at diamonds that have been |
| know the grading systems sound official and | | | | certified by AGS. |
| science like but they’re really aren’t. | | | | Final recommendations |
| Ponder this statement for a moment, “No | | | | Get more involved in the diamond buying process |
| two diamonds are exactly alike.” With that | | | | and understand how the 4C’s work, not |
| being said, how could two different diamonds | | | | just what it stands for. Ask to use a |
| which are not exactly alike be graded exactly | | | | jeweler’s loupe (eye piece) or a |
| alike? In reality they can’t be. | | | | microscope to see the diamond under |
| The other important fact is that the final quality | | | | magnification. When looking at the diamond under |
| grades are decisions or opinions not scientific | | | | magnification examine the inclusions for each |
| calculations. So if they are opinions and every | | | | grade you’re considering then compare |
| diamond is graded by different labs and different | | | | them side by side to determine if one looks |
| graders then how could there be any | | | | better than the other. For example, let’s |
| consistency? Truth be known, grading labs have a | | | | say you are looking at two SI1 diamonds – |
| tough time with that, regardless of which lab you | | | | one is a certified by EGL and the other GIA. |
| talking about. Let’s say for example, that | | | | After comparing them, you decide that the |
| you send a diamond to GIA for certification and it | | | | diamonds look similar but the EGL diamond is 15% |
| comes back carat weight - .50ct, clarity-SI2, | | | | less in price. Who cares what lab certified them! |
| Color-H. Then, you throw away the certification | | | | Just because some jewelers think that GIA is a |
| and send the diamond back for a second grading | | | | better grading lab doesn’t make the |
| as if it were never graded before. The chance of | | | | diamond certified by GIA better. The grading labs |
| it coming back SI2, H again is probably 80% and | | | | don’t make the diamonds, they simply |
| 20% that it’ll come back different. So the | | | | grade them, a diamond isn’t made better |
| grading and certification process is somewhat | | | | by its certification. A certification is just a piece of |
| flawed to begin with. If you can’t get one | | | | paper; you can’t put a piece of paper in a |
| grading lab to consistently agree with its own | | | | ring and propose. If one diamond looks better |
| grades, how could you expect other labs to agree | | | | than another it probably is, regardless of the |
| with another? Again, there’s no easy | | | | grade or what lab assigned it. So in this case the |
| answer to that question and as an industry we | | | | logical choice is to get the better looking diamond, |
| still don’t have it figured out. | | | | forget about what lab is better and save your |
| From a consumer standpoint the best approach | | | | money. |
| to buying a diamond is to use your best | | | | Don’t exclude comparing the color. The |
| judgment. Read the grading report from | | | | best way to do this is to ask to see loose un-set |
| whatever lab certified the diamond and examine | | | | diamonds and then compare them side by side. |
| both the diamond and the certification. Use the | | | | Take a white piece of paper and place the |
| certification as a rule of thumb or a starting point, | | | | diamonds upside down and next to one another |
| don’t use it as the end all be all. Learn how | | | | on the paper. The white background adds |
| the grading system works and then compare | | | | contrast to the diamond’s color and helps |
| diamonds side by side under the microscope and | | | | you distinguish the color differences between |
| decide for yourself which diamond looks better. If | | | | them. After making a decision on your own about |
| you would like more information on how a | | | | the amount of color a diamond has then refer to |
| diamond is graded you can visit | | | | the certification to see what the grade is. Again, it |
| GIA, EGL, AGS | | | | doesn’t matter who graded the diamond |
| GIA – Gemological Institute of America | | | | or what the grade is. In the end you need to see |
| EGL – European Gemological Laboratory | | | | it with your very own eyes and trust your |
| AGS – American Gem Society | | | | instincts about which diamond is right for you. |
| Recently, GIA seems to have the best reputation | | | | Diamond certification is certainly important to |
| for grading diamonds accurately. I challenge this | | | | have and I don’t think you should purchase |
| because I’ve seen and compared many | | | | a quality diamond without one. I do believe though, |
| diamonds from all three labs and witnessed | | | | that a healthy decision is one that involves you |
| inaccuracies in GIA grades as often as EGL and | | | | referring to the certification, comparing diamonds |
| AGS. I believe that GIA, EGL, and AGS are the | | | | side by side, and using your head. Let’s not |
| three best solutions for purchasing diamonds | | | | forget the value of working with a reputable |
| however, I don’t feel one is better than | | | | jeweler as well. A good jeweler lends his/her |
| the other. One interesting fact is that you’ll | | | | expertise and provides an unbiased opinion about |
| pay 15% more (on average) for a diamond | | | | each diamond’s characteristics. The final |
| certified by GIA because their reputation appears | | | | decision about a diamond and whether it’s |
| better than other labs. The problem with that is | | | | right for you – should be made by you. Not |
| that EGL and AGS are perfectly capable of | | | | a grading lab! |