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| Diamond Tutorial | Diamond Grading Reports | |
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Almost all diamonds sold online, and better quality larger stones sold in the stores, come with a (supposedly) independent 3rd party grading report, or 'cert'.
Reports help you ‘compare apples’ - but sadly there is no international standards body - different labs can give the same stone different grades. Some vendors send a diamond to 2 or 3 different labs then sell the stone with the report that makes it cost the most. However the ‘market’ prices labs too, e.g. a diamond with a GIA report usually sells for more than one with the same reported grade from EGL. On-line listings show this. But if you are shopping in stores you should factor in the lower prices these 'soft report' diamonds often trade at. See Pricescope Grading Survey GIA grading reports are the most common listed on the web (about 3/4's of all listings) AGS Diamond Quality reports are popular with Pricescoper’s buying ‘unseen’ because that lab has a better cut grade system for rounds and a few other shapes. IGI is the biggest lab by quantity. Most IGI graded stones are sold in stores. EGL is also a big lab and was a global franchise until the slightly stricter American EGL split away. HRD is a respected Belgian institution in Antwerp - a big trading center for rough and polished diamonds. HRD reports are more common in Europe and Asia. Grading reports include these features below (the bold ones are in the Quick and Easy tutorial): Cut Shape Carat weight Color Clarity Dimensions Treatments Cut grades Symmetry & Polish Girdle inscriptions Fluorescence A unique report number Plotting diagram Comments Holograms Most Lab’s have web based online confirmation services. You will need to enter report # and Carat weight GIA AGS IGI EGL USA EGL WORLD WIDE Some labs offer perspex sealed reports which helps stop mix-ups but limits testing and viewing options. There are hundreds of smaller and specialty labs, and independent appraisal services. Some provide useful extra information as a comfort or ‘point of sale’ support in addition to a report from one of the major labs above. There are far too many to list, but here are some examples. GCAL Gemex Canadamark Some stores, like Tiffany & Co. operate their own labs, or have other labs brand their grading reports. IGI and others provide a service like this for branded cuts. |
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IGI and EGL are like large statewide universities. | |
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