What are Certified Diamonds
Certified diamonds are diamonds that have been graded by a gem laboratory based on their "4 C" attributes of Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight. When shopping for a diamond, it is highly recommended to purchase a certified diamond to ensure the quality of the stone.
Value in Diamond Certification
Certified diamonds have been verified for quality, allowing consumers to purchase with confidence based on the attributes of the diamond rather than blindly trusting the sales pitch of the retailer. When armed with a grading certificate, consumers have a pretty good idea of what the diamond will look like without having to see it in person. Certified diamonds also:
- Hold their value better than their non-certified counterparts, especially for resale and upgrading purposes
- Simplify the comparison process, it's much easier to compare certified diamonds based on the 4 Cs than it is to rely on visual inspection alone
- Broaden the shopping base to include online retailers, resulting in significant savings
Purchasing Certified Diamonds
When purchasing a diamond, be sure the diamond certification is from a third-party laboratory rather than one associated with the store, jeweler, or diamond wholesaler, who may offer a biased opinion to facilitate the sale. Also, verify that the third-party laboratory has a history of stringent grading practices and that they've been in business long enough to establish a solid reputation in the jewelry industry. Brilliance recommends the following laboratories, in order of preference: GIA, AGS, EGL, IGI, and HRD.