About Certification
Many factors that go into creating diamonds so they are suitable for diamond rings and other jewelry. Not only must the diamonds be mined and checked for provenance, the stones are also examined to see if they are suitable for jewelry or other purposes. Jewelry grade diamonds are then faceted to bring out the brilliance and luster they’re celebrated for. With all the work and the many hands that a diamond must go through, some people enjoy the peace of mind that comes with certification, attesting to the quality of the stone.
There are a number of establishments that offer diamond certification. It’s best to get diamonds certified from an independent third party laboratory to reduce conflict of interest. Of these laboratories, Valentin Magro prefers loose diamonds certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA,) an organization known for innovation in the field of gemology.
To best evaluate a stone, GIA asks that it be taken out of any mounting. Loose diamonds can be examined from more angles, without a setting influencing color and lighting. Each diamond arrives at the laboratory in standardized packaging so the evaluators aren’t influenced by outside factors. Light in the laboratory is kept uniform so grading is consistent between one diamond and another. With the aid of carefully maintained machinery, loose diamonds are evaluated for their carat weight, color, clarity and cut, also known as the 4Cs.
After grading, each diamond receives a report attesting to its 4cs, along with a diagram which plots the location and type of clarity characteristics. This is a lasting record which notes the quality of the diamond, and will follow the jewel wherever it goes. If the diamond owner wishes for it, GIA will inscribe a unique number onto the girdle of the stone for easy reference and identification.
When purchasing an object as valuable and lovely as a diamond, it’s important to ensure that there is documentation attesting to its bright qualities. Preferred diamond grading institutions are recognized as independent organizations with no personal stake in identifying a stone in a specific fashion. They grade gems following an internationally recognized set of standards, ensuring that their certification is understood around the globe.
Diamond grading certificates are reports provided by an independent and professional Gemological laboratory that names and analyzes the traits of each individual stone. The diamond is appraised for its quality, not its monetary value, with its assessment mapping out each of the diamond’s unique and recognizable characteristics.
Each certificate will include the diamond’s 4 Cs of carat, cut, color and clarity information. “Carat” is the unit of measurement for a diamond’s weight, with one carat the equivalent of 200 milligrams. “Cut” indicates how well a finished diamond reflects light, and if it has a balance of light, dark and colored brilliance, “Color,” the lighter a gemstone is, the more desirable, and “Clarity” indicates the number and type of imperfections in a stone. The report also includes a hand-drawn map of the diamond’s inclusions. Since no two diamonds are exactly alike, you can always verify whether the certificate matches the diamond.
Of the dozens of gemological laboratories which provide certificates, only a few are well regarded by the diamond industry. All of Valentin Magro’s diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA.) We wish to offer the best wholesale diamond prices, and make sure that all of our certified diamonds are examined for their quality.
Mini Certificates
Several labs offer to grade diamonds in a shortened version. The GIA offers an abbreviated report called the GIA Diamond Dossier. These abbreviated reports indicate the shape, weight, color and clarity of a diamond, without giving the diagrams detailing clarity characteristics, polish and symmetry. Mini-certificates mainly accompany diamonds weighing less than one carat.
Why Certified Diamonds?
There is no one way recognized internationally to cut a beautiful diamond, allowing jewelers to experiment with their own ideas of an ideal cut. Some diamond cutters may focus on clarity, preserving carat weight, showing off a stone’s ability to reflect white light, or how the jewel splits white light into rainbows. There is no right answer, which may be wonderful from an artistic point of view, but can be confusing for the connoisseur. The majority of diamond buyers want to get quality stones, which can feel like a fluid concept. This is where certification comes in.
A number of organizations offer diamond grading services. It’s best to choose a third party laboratory that is independent from vendors, manufacturers, or other parties that may present a conflict of interest. Of these associations, some have a stronger reputation than others. The Gemological institute of America (GIA) is a nonprofit organization that created some of the standards used today for grading diamonds, such as the 4Cs and D-Z color ratings.
The GIA only certifies loose diamonds. Stones mounted in jewelry should be removed before they’re sent in for grading. Examining a loose diamond allows for thorough measuring, unambiguous color grading, and better determination of clarity and cut. GIA certified diamonds come with reports attesting to its quality and a diagram outlining the position and type of clarity characteristics on a diamond.
Why Valentin Magro uses GIA Certified Diamonds
We at Valentin Magro strive to create the best diamond jewelry and do well by our clients. Along with unique designs and attention to detail, we are careful to use only certified diamonds evaluated by the Gemological Institute of America, also known as GIA. Customers who buy GIA certified diamonds from us will receive the jewel’s certification as a reference to the diamond’s quality.
In 1953, GIA created the 4Cs of Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut to create an international metric by which all diamonds can be evaluated. Each of the 4Cs are rated on a scale, such as Color’s D-Z, or Cut’s Excellent to Poor, in order to grade a diamond in as detailed and accurate a fashion as possible. Diamonds are examined in carefully controlled laboratory settings to eliminate variables that may skew the final results. Grading also distinguished natural diamonds from synthetics as well as detecting what treatments if any has been performed on a diamond.
GIA is unaffiliated with diamond retailers or distributors, assuring jewelers and connoisseurs alike that their evaluations are impartial. After a diamond is evaluated, it’s returned with a detailed report covering the diamond’s qualities, including careful measurements of its 4Cs, a diagram pinpointing its clarity characteristics and other traits such as the stone’s fluorescence. If so desired, GIA’s laboratories may take an extra step and use a laser to engrave a serial number into the certified diamond’s girdle, allowing for easy identification and reference in the future.
GIA Certified Diamonds – The Finest and Valuable Diamond
If you are on the pursuit of finding exquisite diamonds amidst a clutter of average choices, expert assistance will definitely come handy. Judging the superiority of diamonds is not an easy task unless you are familiar with the requisite benchmark necessary to gauge the qualities. Here comes the role of independent grading laboratories and diamond certifications. These organizations have put in place an array of standards and indicators signifying the quality and value of a diamond.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) pioneered the concept of meticulous and stringent standards for diamond grading. The renowned GIA standard of 4Cs – Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight – is now globally accepted as the universal method to assess the quality of a diamond.
Founded in 1931, the GIA is headquartered in New York, USA. The Institute aims to provide the gem and jewelry industry as well as the public with an objective, independent opinion regarding the numerous qualities of the diamond and plays the role of an unbiased and fair arbitrator of standards in diamonds grading to secure the customers’ trust. Every diamond submitted to GIA for certification is thoroughly analyzed by a number of professionals to guarantee grading consistency and maximum accuracy for complete client protection.
GIA is responsible for establishing the first globally accepted Diamond Grading System with impartial opinions about the features and superiority of polished diamonds with the application of uniform criteria in the grading process. It has also introduced the reliable and primary diamond report and set the standard for meticulous diamond quality documentations around the world.
Types of Diamond Certificates Issued by the GIA
- GIA Diamond Grading Report – This report documents the clarity, color grades, and carat weight of a diamond along with its exact measurements. Also in the case of a Round Brilliant cut, the document provides a cut grade.
- GIA Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report – This statement describes the color grade and color origin (whether natural or treated) of colored diamonds of any size. As an additional service, a full color illustration may also be requested.
- GIA Diamond Dossier – This report is issued for diamonds that weigh less than 1 carat.
Creation of the detailed diamond certificates addresses two very essential issues – features of a diamond could be explained in a universal language and now diamond consumers could discern precisely what they were about to buy.
Select the following link to watch a podcast produced by GIA and learn more about – How to read a GIA diamond and precious gem grading report.
