Gemstones are often evaluated and certified on certain parameters before they are sent to the dealers and retailers. This process is called diamond certification. Now there is a lot of half-known facts concerning diamond certification that misdirect the buyers from a value purchase. Firstly, this comprehensive evaluation is carried out by third parties and the entire process is done in laboratories in induced environments. GIA is a globally known diamond certifying party. The process is carried out under the supervision of qualified gemologists whose job is to assess the quality of the stone and grade them.
What is a Grading Certificate?
A certificate issued from the laboratory is not the appraisal of the stone as most people think. In fact, it is an unbiased judgement of the quality of the stone and an itemization of its characteristics, viz., its clarity, color, cut, bowtie and more. GIA calls it certificates or the grading report of a stone. It only stands to authenticate the claims made by the seller about a concerned gemstone. It goes without saying, reviewing the dossier only concretizes the confidence of the buyers because of the credibility it adds to the sales speech. One such certificate generally reviews certain specifications of a stone. They are, the date of examination telling how old the stone is, measurements, depth, carat, table, culet, girdle, polish, the 4 Cs, cut grade, fluorescence, diamond plot and laser inscriptions. Even security features are added to it. The specifics are detailed with the help of a proportion diagram for easier understanding.
Transfer of the Certificate
Stones that undergo the process are tagged with gradation certificates, each stamped with a unique number. That combination of number is correspondent of that particular diamond and none other, regardless of the similarity of quality. So, every seller is legally liable to provide their buyers with a laminated, untampered certificate with GIA certified diamonds. This certificate will serve as the quality assurance for that specific stone for as long as it exists and each time it changes hand, the exchange should be accompanied by the transfer of the certificate to the rightful owner of the diamond.
Reports for Smaller Stones
For stones weighing lesser than a carat, GIA issues an abbreviated report. It is only a condensed form of the detailed one, with the exception of the diamond plot. This is because such flaws are not of potential significance in case of smaller stones. All diamonds that have been evaluated by GIA has a laser inscription on its girdle.
