Having a certificate or grading report with your diamond is very important because there are several things it will tell you about your stone. First of all, it lets you know that your diamond has been inspected and certified by one of the world known diamond laboratories. The diamond grading labs that you may find a certificate from are HRD, EGL, GIA, AGS, and IGI. These five labs ensure that all characteristics of your diamond such as the cut, carat, color, and clarity of the diamond are defined on the certificate they provide after inspecting the stone. That way you know what it is you’re buying. Sending a diamond to get certified by one of these institute cost money to the seller and will increase the price the seller asks for the stone but also the confidence of the buyer.

Three of these diamond grading labs, Gemological Institute of America (GIA), European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), and the American Gem Society (AGS) are very well known. Hoge Raad Voor Diamant (HRD) certificates are good, but they are only offered in Belgium. The International Gemological Institute (IGI) grades those diamonds that many say will sell for a lower price because their grading is “softer”.

Are all certifications equal?
The truth is that all certificates are not equal. However, there is one way in which they are the same and that is in the fact that you know you’re getting a genuine stone. Without a certification, you really have no idea whether or not you’re getting something that is real. The certificate also influences how much you pay for your diamond, so that means you need to decide what aspects of a diamond is most important to you. Fortunately, you have a certificate to help you figure those things out. 

In the United States, the certifications you are most likely going to see are from AGS and GIA. These are the most trusted sources because they are the two industry leaders. However, these diamonds will be more expensive than those by their competitors, so expect a lower price for IGI and EGL certified diamonds. You don’t have to worry so much about HRD, but if HRD were in the United States, you would expect to pay a pretty penny for diamonds with their certification. A high value diamond simply results in high quality ratings on its certificate. The certificate than gives credibility at the time the diamond is purchased. The certification also makes selling or trading your diamond a lot easier.

So, Which grading report is the best one?
The benefits are clear and the different diamond grading labs help you make an informed buying decision. However, they are not equal. The one that gets a lot of attention is GIA because it is non-profit and they have one location which makes the expert believe the grading is more strict and accurate. This is opposed to EGL, which has 9 locations worldwide. EGL is also not consistent in the quality of their grading. EGL and IGI are good and trusted labs and are more “forgiving” when grading a diamond, so the results are that the prices of EGL and IGI diamonds are lower when compared to GIA and AGS certified diamonds with equal characteristics.

Deciding which certified diamond to buy is really a matter of preference. Like the color, clarity and other characteristics of the diamond, you have to choose the certificate according to your needs. Do some reading and think how much the “quality” of the certificate is important to you. You have a range of options when choosing the color cut or clarity so don’t forget to explore your options when it comes to your certificate. Whatever you do, don’t get a non-certified diamond.