What does diamond certification mean?

Simply put, diamond certification means that a diamond has been evaluated by a third, unbiased party with regard to a diamond’s quality of cut, depth of color, degree of imperfections and the diamonds overall weight; measured in carats. These 4 characteristics of a diamond are referred to as the 4 C’s of the diamond industry.

Who are third parties?

Reputable third parties are independent diamond laboratories that examine and grade diamonds. The most reputable, widely known and respected of these third party laboratories are located in the United States and Europe. They are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)t he American Gemological Society (AGS) the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) the Diamond High Council (HRD) the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the International Confederation of Jewelry, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls, and Stones (CIBJO).

Though all of these laboratories are highly respected, the most widely used diamond laboratory is the United States based, GIA which is considered to be an industry-standard setting laboratory that is the most widely trusted laboratory in the entire diamond industry.

A diamond certification from any one of these third party diamond laboratories can be construed as absolute proof that a diamond has been examined and graded properly.

Do they all use the same grading scale?

There is no singular grading system used among these laboratories; though there has been a concerted effort to standardize all grading systems with the system used by the GIA. Each of the grading systems used, however, are accurate, and reliable scales. It’s worth noting that over time, some of these diamond laboratories have adjusted their grading scales in an attempt to comply with these standardizing efforts. Older diamond certifications may not match up with the current grading scales; this does not diminish the legitimacy or accuracy of these older certifications.

Each of these laboratories issues their own certificate that stands as a signature that signifies their laboratory as an individual within the diamond industry. The GIA certificates are called a GIA Diamond Dossier or a GIA Diamond Report while the AGS calls its certificates Diamond Quality Documents/Reports or Diamond Quality Analysis. The certificates do not all include a grade for every C of the industry, and that’s why there is no one universal certificate used among them.

What’s the difference between a certification and an appraisal?

A certification gives a final grade to a diamond’s quality of cut, depth of color, carat weight and degree of clarity, while an appraisal places a monetary value on it.

How can you tell if a certain certificate is meant for a specific diamond?

Many diamonds have a serial number inscribed on the girdle with a laser. This serial number will match the certification number. This isn’t a failsafe way of identification, however, because the serial number can be removed with polishing.

A better way of ensuring the diamond and the certification matches up is to ask that the stone and certificate be matched up by a reputable third party professional. Most diamonds will vary to some degree no matter how similar they may appear. These slight variations in cut, color, weight and clarity are a signature way of distinguishing one diamond from another.

An independent gemologist who doesn’t buy or sell diamonds would be the best choice for an independent third party review.

Are you completely dazzled by the stunning diamond engagement rings your favorite stars are wearing? If you’re interested in keeping up with who’s wearing what, who gave it to them and where they got it from, look no farther. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most popular diamond engagement rings, including which stars got them, and who did the giving.

Kate Holmes – Ok, so the engagement, and subsequent marriage to Tom Cruise didn’t stand the test of time, but that incredible diamond engagement ring he proposed with will surely be remembered for years to come. This 5-carat gem was worth $275,000 dollars back in 2005 when he gave it to her. The center oval cut diamond is surrounded by smaller diamonds that weigh in at a combined 6+ carats, and the band is by Fred Leighton.

Britney Spears – Though there seems to be some question as to whether Britney is still engaged to former manager fiancé, Jason Trawick, there’s no questioning the value of her magnificent diamond engagement ring. Another exquisite Lane design, Britney’s ring is a perfect round 3 carat diamond with a hand-made platinum setting. The band has 90 small round diamonds adorning it which only adds to the sparkle and dazzle of this beautiful diamond engagement ring.

Nicole Richie – It doesn’t matter if she’s wearing one of her own interesting clothing designs with black fingernails polish on her fingers, the first thing you’ll notice is her beautiful 4+ carat diamond engagement ring her fiancé, Joel Madden gave her. Purchased from celebrity diamond jeweler, Neil Lane, Nicole’s ring is fashioned with a big round cut center diamond in a perfect octagonal halo with pave set diamonds along the band.

And, let’s not forget the top runners for most expensive diamond engagement rings. Carrie Underwood has a stunning 12 carat diamond engagement ring that’s estimated to be worth $800,000 dollars. Kim Kardashain loves to flaunt her huge 16+ carat diamond engagement ring valued at more than a million dollars. Mariah Carey’s 2.5 million dollar, 17 carat diamond ring, Beyonce’s dazzling mega 18 carat diamond engagement ring that cashes in at a whopping 5 million dollars are also worth noting.

Celebrity engagement rings will always spark wonder and awe to their biggest fans, and for good reason. As the years role on, celebrity engagement rings seem to be getting bigger, and more expensive. And, what’s not to love about that?

Diamonds are some of the most precious stones found on the planet. They last forever, and never lose their dazzle and awe quality. This makes it important to choose the right one. Purchasing loose diamonds isn’t necessarily rocket science, but it can be a significant financial investment that shouldn’t be walked into blindly. Here are a few tips you can use when trying to determine how to choose the right jewel.

The 4 C’s

The four C’s of the diamond industry refer to clarity, color, cut and carat. Each of these characteristics of a diamond is graded by an independent gemologist laboratory. These highly reputable and widely-known laboratories are used by reputable diamond dealers to grade the loose diamonds they sell.

Clarity refers to the number and type of imperfections a diamond has. The fewer imperfections, the better clarity rating it gets.

Color is also graded by degree. The less color white diamonds have the better color rating while the more color colored diamonds have the better the rating.

Cut refers to two things; the shape the diamond is cut into and the quality of the cut. There are various shapes a diamond is cut into, including but not limited to, princess, pear, cushion, emerald and round, oval and marquise. Cut also refers to the quality of the cut. A diamond that reflects light into the top surfaces of the diamond, then down into the stone, and up and back out the top surfaces again is a good quality cut. A cut that allows the light to escape out of the side or bottom surfaces of the diamond is considered a poorer quality cut.

Carat indicates the size of the stone. For every 100 points the diamond is given it equals 1 carat. So if a diamond has 225 points it would be 2.25 carats.

Certification

Sometimes considered the 5^th C in the diamond industry, diamond certification means the diamond has been examined and evaluated by one of the reputable gemologist laboratories in the world, and can be a peace of mind for consumers who purchase certified diamonds.

Usage

Will you keep your diamonds in their loose state of being or will you use them to create a fine piece of diamond jewelry? This matters, because the shape of the loose diamonds you purchase can come into play.

Loose diamonds that won’t be altered or placed into a setting aren’t so much of a concern; purchase them in the shapes the most appeal to you. However, if you intend to put the diamonds into a setting, the shape can make a huge difference. Be sure the loose diamonds you purchase can easily be crafted into the setting you’ve got in mind.

Price

It’s always a good idea to have some sort of a budget in mind when setting out to purchase loose diamonds. A budget will keep you from going broke, and allow you to see just what is available to you within that price range.

No matter which loose diamonds you ultimately end up purchasing, as long as they put a sparkle in your eye, and a little wonder into your imagination, you’ve chosen well.