Buying Certified Diamonds

Before you buy a loose diamond it is best to have an understanding of what you are buying, so that you are able to make an informed decision. Learn about cut, clarity colour and carat weight. These qualities are what defines a diamond and are known as the 4 C's.

A diamond certificate or grading report lists all the specifications of a loose diamond. A diamond certificate can also be called a diamond grading report or diamond dossier. The diamond certificate documents the diamond's exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone, inclusions and any flaws.

When shopping for loose diamonds it is extremely important that you buy a certified diamond. You should always try to compare one certified diamond of a certain weight and quality with other certified diamonds of similar weight and quality to help determine which diamond is the better value and quality.

A certified diamond provides consumers with confidence, security and increases comfort levels while making a decision on which loose diamond to purchase. Before purchasing a loose diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its diamond certificate, as this is your only guarantee of the quality and value of that diamond. Certified diamonds help provide consumer confidence.

A diamond certificate documents the characteristics of the diamonds quality; the colour, cut, clarity & carat weight of the diamond are verified by an independent company with no conflict of interest between buyer and seller.

Highly regarded Diamond Grading Laboratories grade and certify diamonds to an internationally recognized standard, and they are recognized by the national and international diamond and jewellery associations. Independent certification is essential. It provides an accurate, unbiased description of the quality of the diamond and assures you that the diamond is natural and untreated.

The true test to evaluate a diamond is to view it in person and compare it with other diamonds. Nothing beats seeing a diamond in person to determine whether it is a 'good' diamond to your eye or not. Diamond appreciation is a very personal thing and different people will prefer different things about different diamonds. When making your final decision and deciding on which diamond to buy all the numbers, facts and figures are meaningless if you do not like the look of the diamond.

Alot of jewellers and diamond dealers often use expressions like Hearts and Arrows, Ideal Cut, Excellent, Russian Cut, Belgium Cut and Fine Make when selling their diamonds, with the intention of portraying them as 'better' than others. Be wary of accepting these terms as is. They are especially dangerous when assigned to diamonds by the jeweller or diamond dealer themselves without independent third-party documentation.

DIAMOND GRADING RULES ESTABLISHED FOR LABS

Since 1975, any laboratory that wants to be recognized as a genuine gemological laboratory must follow the certification rules as laid out by CIBJO. CIBJO was formed in 1961 by several national jewelry trade organizations, in order to form an international jewelry confederation that would outline uniform rules for the grading of loose diamonds.

CIBJO, which is the acronym for the French phrase, Conf?ration International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orf?erie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres, and which translates to International Confederation of Jewellery, Silverware, Diamonds and Stones, is the international jewellery confederation of national trade organizations.

CIBJO currently has 21 countries involved in its associations. Their rules are the basic rules of grading today, such as: using a 10x loupe for grading; that each diamond to be certified must be graded by at least three (3) professional graders; that all laboratories must be independent and impartial and cannot be involved in the buying or selling of diamonds.

There are many different diamond grading laboratories available to the diamond-buying public. Some of the more well known grading laboratories are: GIA (Gemological Institute of America), DCLA (Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia), AGS (American Gemological Society), HRD (Hoge Raad Voor Diamant; Diamond High Council), EGL (European Gemological Institute) and the IGI (International Gemological Institute).

All diamond grading laboratories have their own methods and criteria for grading loose diamonds, however they all operate within a high set of parameters, when grading a diamond's specifications, details and dimensions. Be aware that as each grading laboratory has its own methods, each grading laboratory also has its own expense guides for preparing a certificate and these grading laboratories differ in their standards and level of strictness.

GIA's is probably the most well know grading laboratory in the world. DCLA & AGS are on par with GIA for grading standards. In fact, it is the AGS grading for Cut that served as an impetus for the GIA to recently include Cut grading to their grading reports. HRD out of Antwerp, Belgium is also a greatly respected name in the diamond industry. A certificate from any of these grading laboratories - GIA, DCLA, AGS, HRD - can be considered accurate, reliable and trusted. In Australia we highly recommend DCLA - Diamond Certification of Australia - as they are the only internationally recognized laboratory in Australia and is one of only five laboratories worldwide recognized as an International Diamond Council (IDC) laboratory.

Before you buy a diamond you should always, as a first priority, insist on an independent diamond grading certificate from an accredited laboratory to support any added claims about a diamond and why Diamond Imports strongly recommend diamonds that have been Certified by DCLA, GIA, HRD or AGS.

Diamond Imports sells Certified Diamonds of the highest quality which have been certified by independent diamond grading laboratories that have the strictest standards. Diamond Imports are an authorized ICD Jeweller - Independently Certified Diamonds. All ICD - Independently Certified Diamonds jewellers are committed to providing customers with diamonds examined and graded by qualified and reputable laboratories, grading to internationally recognized standards for accurate and unbiased evaluation of their diamonds. These laboratories are recognized for their procedures, technical ability and cutting edge equipment necessary to analyze, grade and certify diamonds.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that not all diamond grading laboratories are as well respected or as stringent in their grading as each other. Diamond grading laboratories should always be independent of any diamond retailers or wholesalers, to avoid any conflict of interests or bias. Diamond Certificates are only of value when they are issued by an independent accredited diamond grading laboratory. Always make certain to identify the source of the certificate or diamond grading report. If you have not heard of the laboratory, it could very well be associated in some way with the store, jeweller or diamond wholesaler itself, and so have a vested interest in aiding the sale.