A certificate, also known as a report, is a document issued from a licensed gemological laboratory which describes the quality characteristics of a gemstone. As a consumer, the report helps you understand what you are buying and enables you to justify its value and the price you should be paying. Please note that a report is not to be compared with an appraisal.
There are different gemological laboratories in the world that provide certification services, but many are owned by wholesalers or retailers and does not operate as a non-profit organization. Each lab follows its own grading system, some may be strict and consistent, while others have been known to inflate their grades to make a stone seem more desirable, and therefore more valuable than it actually is. The three most highly regarded, internationally acclaimed gemological laboratories are: GIA, HRD, and IGI. We at Riginov do not recommend purchasing diamonds certified by any other laboratories than these. However, we offer our customers only authentic, natural diamonds, sealed and certified by GIA. Sealing is an extra assurance which guarantees that a given certificate and the corresponding diamond belong together. The sealing is tamper-proof and will immediately show once opened.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), established in 1931, is the world’s oldest, largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning. Unlike some other labs, GIA is not owned by wholesalers or retailers and does not sell gemstones. GIA's mission is to protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate gemstone quality. The institute does so through research, gem identification, diamond grading services and a variety of educational programs. GIA is the creator of the revolutionary 4Cs and developed its International Diamond Grading System™, a standard used by jewelry professionals around the world to compare and evaluate the quality of diamonds.
GIA identifies if the diamonds are treated, synthetics or simulants. GIA issues reports for diamonds with permanent treatments such as laser drilling or HPHT, but not for nonpermanent or unstable treatments, such as coating or fracture filling. GIA also issues reports for synthetic diamonds, but not for simulants. All GIA reports contain security features such as a hologram, security screen, and microprint lines that prevent them from being forged or duplicated. Diamonds that are accompanied by GIA Diamond Grading Reports are the most highly valued and trustworthy in the diamond industry. The GIA Diamond Grading Report is your assurance for a confident purchase. It includes an assessment of the 4Cs with a plotted diagram of its clarity characteristics, a graphic representation of the diamond’s proportions, and a unique GIA report number which is also inscribed on the diamond’s girdle. To provide an additional level of assurance, with GIA Report Check service, customers can quickly and conveniently confirm that the information on the report of the diamond they are buying, matches what is archived in the GIA report database. Use your GIA report number to look up your report results online.
GIA REPORT CHECK
This short video explains how to read a GIA diamond grading report.
DOWNLOAD HOW TO READ A GIA DIAMOND GRADING REPORT