Diamonds

The purchase of a diamond is an important decision for any customer. In many cases the diamond is part of an engagement ring, a purchase which carries with it a great deal of symbolism.

And a diamond purchase can also be a major financial investment. Consumers need to be able to trust in the value of their purchase. To provide this level of trust, the diamond industry relies on a certification process.

Throughout the diamond industry several terms are used to refer to the certificate. Some companies may call it a grading report. Others may call it a quality report or a lab report.

Whichever of these terms is used what is important is that it means that this particular diamond has been carefully inspected by a specialist known as a gemologist. The gemologist does not work for the diamond mine or for the retail jeweler but is instead part of an unbiased laboratory like the HRD or GIA.

The HRD is based in Antwerp. It is a non-profit group and is the official laboratory of the Belgian diamond industry. The GIA is the Gemological Institute of America, based in Los Angeles.

Both groups have outstanding reputations for providing only impartial service in their grading of diamonds. As a result the buying public has come to trust and demand these certificates when shopping for diamonds.

Both the HRD and GIA use the Diamond Grading System to judge the diamond. This is a standardized set of criteria based on the stone's cut, clarity, color, finish, symmetry and weight.

Cut refers to the proportions of the cut which plays an important role in how the diamond interacts with light. Clarity is the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of the stone. It is rare to find a diamond without some flaw.

Color is a term that is used on stones that most people would think of as clear. Standard diamonds in reality have a range of yellowish or brownish tint. In some cases that tint can only been seen with other magnification. Finish is the polishing of the stone to ensure an even shine. Symmetry means that all sides and angles are correct and equal.

A certificate from a reputable firm gives the buyer confidence in their purchase. Quality jewelers will gladly supply the certificate for a diamond. The buyer should check to see that either the HRD or GIA issued the certificate.

Other laboratories are not as strict and have been known to issue questionable reports. A diamond's certificate should be viewed as a way of identifying this particular stone in its loose state. It is not an appraisal and will not include any statement to the financial value of the stone.

Buyers should be aware of the difference between a certificate and an appraisal. An appraisal can be done on any type of jewelry. The purpose is to assign a dollar value to the entire piece of jewelry. Appraisals are usually done for insurance evaluations. Appraisals of the same item will change over time as the market values change. In comparison, a certificate will never change unless the diamond has been re-cut or altered in some other way.