Almost all, if not all, uncertified and certified diamonds look very alike, especially to the untrained eye. They both reflect light in beautiful illuminations of brilliance and fire and may also come in the same shapes and similar sizes. On the other hand, their price tags are one glaring difference between them. Uncertified diamonds cost way less than certified diamonds. But the high price of purchasing certified diamonds is definitely worth the investment.
What is a Certified Diamond?
A diamond is referred to as a "certified diamond" when it passes the "4 Cs" grading test by a gemologist in a gemological laboratory. The 4 Cs are further explained below:
Just like other gems used to make engagement rings, wedding sets, and stud earrings for women, the diamond weight is measured. The weight of diamonds is measured in metric carats, and 0.2 grams of a diamond equals one carat.
Precision is very significant in the diamond manufacturing industry. That is why gemologists measure the weight of a diamond below the 100th thousandth of a carat and then approximate it to the 100th of a carat. Diamonds usually come in amazing shapes and sizes.
Honestly, it is very rare to find colorless diamonds. Most often,diamonds come in various shades of brown and yellow. Gemological laboratories grade the color of a diamond on a scale that starts with colorless (D) and ends with a light color (Z). Almost all colorless diamond gems that fall into the G-J categories are the ones used in lab-created diamond rings, lab-grown engagement rings, and other diamond jewelry.
When diamonds are being shaped and formed, they may pick up blemishes and inclusions. Clarity in this context is defined as the number and kinds of such imperfect features. The diamond clarity scale begins with IF (internally flawless) and progresses through seven different categories to the smallest 2(12) valuable inclusion diamonds.
The diamond's cut is referred to as the diamond's angles and facets. The quality and quantity of these angles and facets determine the fire and brilliance of the gemstone.
Who is Responsible for Certifying Diamonds?
There are a few diamond retail sales companies that certify or verify their own gemstones. Such certifications lack precision and are regarded as biased. The most suitable and reliable diamond certificates are obtained from independent gem labs like the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
The Importance of a Reliable Diamond Certification
Getting your diamond certified before purchasing it has a lot of added advantages. Diamond certifications are significant because they provide truthful assessments of diamond quality. Grading differs greatly among jewelers and assessors. Gem labs, on the other hand, use coherent diamond grading procedures. In other words, the results provided by jewelers and appraisers lack the precision and dependability of diamond certifications.
- Diamond certification enables you to create a baseline for the worth and value of the gemstone according to the 4 Cs of purchasing diamonds.
- Diamond certification helps reassure you that your diamond is worth its price and has not been misrepresented.
- Diamond certification can increase the resale value of your diamond if you want to upgrade or sell it.
- Diamond certification offers value that may be useful for insurance purposes at some point in life. The necessity of a separate appraisal can even be eliminated.
What Happens When you Purchase a Self-Certified or Uncertified Diamond?
It can be very appealing and tempting to purchase a self-certified or uncertified diamond. This is because they are always way cheaper than certified gemstones. But before you grab that uncertified bargain, have in mind that you run the risk of not getting exactly what you paid for.
Gemological laboratories use very strict criteria to evaluate diamonds. A self-certified or uncertified diamond advertised as color grade F may turn out to be more like a H or even a G color grade in comparison with an independently certified diamond. This means that you have probably paid more money than you should have! Certificates given by diamond retailers are also not valid in the eyes of an appraiser.
Non-Certified Diamonds vs Certified Diamonds
A certified diamond is assessed by a real professional and issued with a certificate and special identification number. That is to say, you are aware of the fact that your diamond is the real deal and have a glaring indication of its points pertaining to carat weight, color, clarity, and cut.
But the same attributes cannot be accorded to non-certified diamonds. This is because they do not undergo any evaluation by an expert. The retailer cannot provide a concrete analysis of the value of the diamond, and their certification may not be valid.
There is no significant and detailed concern about the 4 Cs. It is usually a ploy to lure customers into purchasing and spending more on diamonds that have no worth.
Most people say that a certification from the GIA is not very important or even necessary, especially when it comes to smaller gemstones. There's no doubt that it is very difficult to evaluate the worth of diamonds by simply looking at them. However, GIA is responsible for assessing small diamonds. Many diamond retailers mix manufactured stones with mined diamonds or with artificial diamonds that may have been treated to enhance their clarity and color.
There is nothing naturally wrong with this act, but if you're about to spend money on a genuine, mined diamond, you might want to ensure that you're getting the best value for your money.
Conclusion
We never recommend buying a ring that is not GIA certified. This is among the ways to avoid typical cuts and frauds. It is also important to think carefully when purchasing diamonds certified by the EGL or GSI. Unlike the GIA, neither the GSA nor the ESL have standard grading practices, making it challenging to determine the actual worth of the diamond. Furthermore, the increasing quality of falsified and synthetic diamonds is another reason to ensure that the stone you purchased has been certified by the GIA.
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