The Importance of Diamond Certificates

Diamond certificates from independent organizations such as (GIA) the Gemological Institute of America provide you with valuable information about the 4 C's of diamonds that were taken into consideration when the diamond was evaluated and priced.  

There are other independent organizations that provide diamond certificates, however, be warned: many of them are fly by nights. That’s why we advise all diamond buyers not to accept certificates from Gemological Laboratories other than GIA.

GIA has been established as the most respectable and trustworthy not to mention oldest of the lot. So avoid dealers who don't want to use GIA for certification purposes as well.

It is important that you use an outside source for diamond certificates. No matter the circumstances, never use the jeweler or dealer who is selling the diamond you are interested in.

Let’s face it, the jeweler wants to make money on the sale of diamonds, therefore the certificates may be slightly biased and you could be paying more than the market value of the diamond. Diamond certificates become exponentially crucial when you are talking about buying Brilliant Cut Diamonds and other expensive diamonds.

With a diamond certificate you can confirm: the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of the diamond. You don't have to worry about a diamond dealer telling you anything less than the truth, because the certificate comes from the GIA not the dealer.

You may be required to pay for the certificate, but the cost is usually low, and in many cases, it will help you negotiate a better price on the diamond or keep you from purchasing a lower quality diamond altogether.

If you buy a high quality diamond, and then later decide to sell the diamond, having the diamond certificate will make the selling process much easier. Without a diamond certificate, rest assured, you will have a hard time selling that diamond to someone else. Furthermore, you can use the Diamond Grading Report to look up the wholesale value of the diamond in question. Use the same guide that is employed by the diamond cutting industry.

With the Certificate, or Diamond Grading Report, there won't be any doubts when you are trying to purchase a diamond. You can easily find out what the diamond is worth. To reiterate: this will prevent you from overpaying, and it can prevent a seller from under-charging as well.

A copy of the Diamond Grading Report should be given to your insurance company as well, when you insure the diamond. This provides absolute, unquestionable proof of the value of the diamond should it be stolen, lost or damaged in the future. Insurance companies cannot refute these reports.

Altogether avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctant to provide diamond certificates. Also avoid sellers who try and convince you that getting a diamond certified will cost you more money. The only additional cost will be the cost of the certificate, which is not that much. If the dealer doesn't want to provide a certificate, then you don't want to do business with them.