“All that glitters is not gold”, according to William Shakespeare back in the 16th century, and we believe he might have been talking about loose diamonds from Daniel William Diamonds! The saying implies that not all shiny things are as valuable as they seem. For diamonds, value is derived from their lab certification and grading report. A diamond without a certification can be misrepresented by a diamond seller and sold for more than its value.
What is a Diamond Certification?
Every diamond from Daniel William Diamonds is issued a grading report by an accredited Gemological Laboratory such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America), IGI (International Gemological Institute), HRD (Diamond High Council), GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab), or AGS (American Gem Society). This certification creates a standard for pricing and evaluating diamonds. Buying GIA certified diamonds is a way to ensure that you pay the right amount and receive exactly what was advertised or communicated to you. When a loose diamond is certified, the lab issues a report that grades the stone on cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
This report is prepared by professionals who have a keen eye and a minute observation of the features of a diamond.
Each aspect of the diamond has a distinct standard of grading based on precise measurements. Some labs issue extensive reports and grade the best-of-the-best, while others go less in-depth to grade your everyday diamond.
Entrusted Labs for best quality diamonds:
Many laboratories specialize in grading and certifying a specific type of diamond. For example, a lab-grown diamond would not be certified or graded by GIA, but rather IGI or GCAL, which specializes in grading lab-grown diamonds.
Lab-Grown Loose Diamonds:
Lab-grown diamonds have truly revolutionized the business of diamonds and the fashion of the jewelry industry. These are created in similar conditions as a natural one but within a controlled lab environment. It took scientists years and years of research to bring this innovation to its existence.
But how do you know if a lab-grown loose diamond is high quality? There are two labs, International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL), which rate lab-grown diamonds on a commercial scale. These certified loose diamonds are given an extensive report and identification, which is given to the owner of the diamond.
Natural Diamonds:
Natural Diamond! Natural diamonds are incredibly costly and rare to find. While lab-grown loose diamonds are increasing in popularity, natural loose diamonds make up a significant portion of the jewelry customization market.
Daniel William Diamonds’ loose natural diamonds are certified predominantly by two laboratories. One is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and the other is the American Gem Society (AGS).
While all generic stones are sent to GIA, the rarer, fancier, and better-cut stones are sent to AGS. AGS has stricter parameters that can attest to a diamond’s superior cut. This raises their selling price significantly. So, next time you go shopping for natural diamonds, forget not to check for AGS and GIA-certified diamonds.
Fancy Color Diamonds:
Fancy color diamonds’ color and saturation makes up for a significant aspect of their quality and grading. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certifies and reports on the color of fancy color diamonds using advanced equipment.
These diamonds can be sold for a large amount depending on where their color falls on certain grading scales.
Should you consider price over certification?
Even if you receive the best-in-the-business diamonds, it is imperative to know if the quality justifies the price. The price should be based on the parameters of grading and should look as beautiful to your eyes as to the microscope while examining.
If you are unsure whether your diamond is the right fit for your money, consult our diamond experts at Daniel William Diamonds.
Concluding note:
Based on our expertise, we recommend buying natural, fancy-color, and lab-grown diamonds certified by either GIA, AGS, HRD, IGI, or GCAL. Their grading has consistency, reliability, and standard parameters that are just right for choosing the perfect diamond. If you have questions regarding your diamond purchase, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
