The Importance of Buying Certified Diamonds
Nowadays buying a diamond can be an involved and arduous experience. The buyer must make sure he or she is dealing with a respectable diamond retailer who is compliant with all industry standards. There is a lot of information floating around about the diamond trade; unfortunately not all of it is accurate and the average consumer will have a hard time sorting the lies from the truth. This article aims to educate the consumer by shedding some light into the grading and certification process of diamonds.
Diamond guides will always insist that buyers only shop at retailers with a reputation of being honest and ethical. Obviously this is easier said than done, but there are ways to verify the honesty of diamond retailers.
All diamonds sold by a diamond retailer should be certified, which means that they should provide you the original diamond certificate or grading report issued by an internationally recognized and respected diamond certifying laboratory. Always keep in mind that a diamond certificate's worth depends entirely on the issuing laboratory. Make sure that any diamond certificates you are shown comes from reputable labs such as the GIA, AGS, HRD or DCLA. Certificates are essential for any consumer to intelligently compare and judge the value of the diamonds they are buying; a professional and reputable diamond retailer should have no hesitation in providing the necessary certificates for his stones.
It pays to do some research if you are a first time diamond buyer who is unfamiliar with the whole certification process. A diamond grading certificate is only as good as the laboratory that issues it. The GIA, AGS, DCLA and HRD are laboratories that adhere to the highest international standards and employ the latest techniques and cutting edge technology in their evaluations. Such measures are necessary to meet with the exacting requirements demanded by international trade organizations.
Jewelers who don't have certificates for their diamonds should be avoided at all costs. Common tactics used by dishonest jewelers will include them convincing you that there is no point buying certified diamonds as they're the same as uncertified diamonds or that they will include an extra charge for certified diamonds. Such behavior among diamond retailers is highly unprofessional and unethical.
Keep in mind that diamond certifications and grading reports from an independent grading agency or a compliant laboratory is not the same thing as a diamond appraisal or valuation. Unlike appraisals or valuations, diamond certificates never mention the Dollar value of a stone. Diamond certificates contain information about the color grade, proportions, measurements, fluorescence, clarity, carat weight, shape and finish grade of the stone.
Do not fall for website dealers or high-street diamond retailers who offer diamond certificates issued by their own 'in-house laboratories' or 'manufacturer's grading reports'. Such certificates cannot be trusted as they were issued by the same people who seek to make a profit from the diamonds they certify. Trustworthy diamond certificates will be issued by an independent laboratory with a reputation of adhering to the strict requirements set by the International Diamond Council (IDC) and other worldwide trade bodies. The IDC states that the certifying laboratories cannot have any financial interest in the stones they grade and that they must get the opinion of three qualified diamond graders before a grade is applied to any diamond.
Anyone who has completed a basic gemology course can start up a business grading and certifying diamonds, but such operations never have the required advanced equipment, knowledge, qualifications or experience for their diamond certificates to be taken seriously.
While such small labs often make big claims of having the latest equipment as well as being independent and recognized grading laboratories, a cursory investigation reveals many problems. The experience and qualifications of their diamond graders and their directors are unknown. While they claim to be independent and recognized, do they follow international standards set by the IDC and other trade organizations when grading diamonds? If you cannot satisfactorily find the answers to such questions, then you cannot trust the diamond certifications of these small local labs. A well made diamond certificate with professional graphic design is still only as good as its issuing laboratory.
Diamond certificates and grading reports from credible and recognized laboratories exist to serve and inform the consumer. These certificates which provide a detailed account of the diamond's origin and quality are an invaluable tool for diamond buyers. Always remember to check credentials of any grading agency and you will be protected.
The following links will provide more information on what to look out for when buying diamonds:
http://www.thediamondbuyingguide.com/fourcsofdiamonds.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Evaluate-a-Diamond-Grading-Certificate
http://grading.pricescope.com/