A diamond certificate is issued by an independent third-party gemological lab that examines a diamond and describes its properties. The lab has no vested interest in the marketing of the diamond and evaluates each stone on its own merits. The lab certification describes the diamond’s many characteristics, such as cut, clarity, and color. Professional jewelers use equipment such as a loupe or microscope to appraise, measure, and inspect the diamonds before reporting their conclusions on the certificate.
There are innumerable diamond labs across the globe. Each laboratory evaluates and analyzes diamonds individually, and the differences might be substantial. When shopping for lab-grown diamonds, it’s critical to understand which certificates are trustworthy.
Why Is IGI Certification The Best For Lab-Grown Diamonds?
The International Gemological Institute, or IGI, started as the diamond industry’s blue-collar workhorse. It quickly rose to prominence as the most favored gem lab for prominent jewelry retailers in Canada and the United States. IGI is similar to a factory in certain aspects. They typically work quickly, and their certificate costs are cheaper than those of the GIA. The lower cost benefits diamond vendors, but not always the ultimate buyer.
We do not suggest the IGI certification for natural diamonds since the grading is liberal and not as accurate as the GIA. Even though the GIA now issues full certificates for lab-grown diamonds, there aren’t enough of them. IGI assigns certain grades, like color and clarity, to lab-grown diamonds, and the majority of the lab industry uses them. This helps you to evaluate gems and verify you’re getting a good deal. When you purchase IGI lab-grown diamond rings, you can have peace of mind knowing that your diamond is of the promised quality.
When it comes to natural diamond certification, each lab assigns a single grade to factors such as color and clarity. This is true of lab-grown diamonds as well. For lab-grown diamonds, the IGI assigns precise grades. Even if a lab’s grading is accurate, that doesn’t guarantee the institution is reliable. It’s not a good idea to pay a high sum for a lab-grown diamond with a crappy certificate.
Is It Possible To Get A GIA Certificate For Lab-Grown Diamonds?
If you search hard, you may get a GIA-certified lab-grown diamond. Unfortunately, they aren’t very common. However, IGI certification for lab-grown diamonds is more prevalent, and it covers all of the specifications you’ll need to compare gems safely.