Hey there, it’s Mike and Ira, the Diamond
Pros.
Today we’ll be talking about certification
and why it's so important.
You may have heard of the four C’s, cut,
color, clarity and carat.
But the fifth C, certification, is far more
important than all the others.
What is certification?
That seems like a simple question, but somehow
the diamond industry managed to make that confusing.
When we talk about certification, we mean
a certificate from an independent 3rd party
laboratory confirming all the diamond specifications.
While weight and cut specifications are objective
facts, color and clarity grades are subjective.
You need the confidence that when they say
the diamond is a certain quality, it actually
is what they say it is.
We have article after article on our website
breaking down every diamond characteristic
and figuring out exactly which qualities offer
you the best bang for your buck.
What's the point of figuring out exactly which
color, clarity and cut characteristics are
right for you if you can’t be sure the diamond
being offered to you fits that criteria?
When making such an expensive purchase, shouldn’t
you have peace of mind?
That sounds simple enough, right?
It does sound simple. Unfortunately, as Ira said, the diamond industry couldn’t help themselves.
Disreputable jewelers looking for any angle
to “maximize profitability”
(and by maximize profitability we mean screw
the consumer) figured that you can get a less
reputable laboratory which will inflate the
quality claims on the diamonds.
This way you, the consumer, may be tricked
into thinking you are getting a great deal
on a G SI1 quality diamond when in reality you're getting ripped off on a diamond would have received an I SI2
from a more reputable lab.
There are so many confusing variables when
purchasing a diamond ring.
Let’s make this as simple as possible.
Any diamond over a thousand dollars should
have a certificate from GIA or AGS laboratories.
Period, end of story.
One other trick some jewelers use is to say
“yes, the diamond comes from a GIA certified
gemologist.”
That is not the same thing.
Not by a long shot.
All that means is that the person writing
the paper took a course for a few weeks at
some point in his or her life.
It does not mean that the person follows GIA’s
standards for grading.
It’s also not a third party if the jeweler
himself makes the appraisal (or has a friend do it).
There is also no way for an appraiser to have
all the equipment a GIA laboratory has.
So make sure the diamond you purchase comes
with a GIA or AGS certificate.
If you have any other questions, or would
like some help picking out the perfect diamond ring,
feel free to contact us.
One of our diamond consultants will be happy
to help you find the perfect engagement ring.
Once again, it’s Mike and Ira, the Diamond
Pros.
Thanks for watching.
