Diamond certificates are the birth certificate of the loose diamond used in your jewelry and they are sometimes referred to as the cert, diamond dossier or diamond grading. The diamond certificate gives the exact specifications of your diamond including the weight (carats), cut, quality and measurements of the stone – be careful because the certificate does not provide any indication of the value of the stone (this will fluctuate in line with market forces).
A diamond certificate will help you arrange for a replacement in the event of loss, theft or damage – these stones are meant to last a lifetime and they will be exposed to long term wear and tear and the vagaries of life! Having a diamond certificate also helps you verify your claim in the event of a loss as well as acting as a provenance for the diamond itself.
Most diamonds are sourced from legitimate suppliers as a result of legislation enacting what is known as the Kimberley Process – an international pact which seeks to ensure diamonds are mined and sourced from those countries with legitimate operations and the proceeds from the sale of raw diamonds are not put to terrorist or nefarious purposes such as buying weapons or funding crimes against humanity.
Having a diamond certificate demonstrates your diamond has been through a stringent process of classification and registration so you and anyone else reading the cert will know it originates from a legitimate source and has been professionally and scrupulously graded.
You should insist on a diamond certificate whenever you purchase a diamond and while there are numerous laboratories who issue them, the two most respected institutes are in the United States – the American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Your diamond may originate outside the United States and if so, look for these two institutes to issue the certificate – European Gemological Institute (EGL) and International Gemological Institute (IGI).
The diamond certificate will contain key information on your stone so here’s what to expect:
A Unique Identification Number – each stone is assigned an identification number which will also be inscribed on the diamond usually by laser.
Shape & Cutting Style – there are common shapes for cut diamonds such as round brilliant, square modified brilliant or princess, pear shape or step cut and emerald cut.
Measurements – diamond dimensions are given in 100th of a millimeter which is important as it is highly unlikely for any two diamonds to have the same measurement and weight.
Weight – expressed in carats to one hundredth of a carat expressed to 2 decimal points e.g. 1.25 carats is a diamond weight one and one-quarter carats.
Proportions – this will include measurements of usual characteristics of cut diamonds which include the girdle (the band around the widest part of the stone), the table, the culet, and the depth. In addition there will also be measurements in respect of the finish of the diamond as well as clarity and color along with other attributes such as symmetry of the cut stone.
It is important to remember that though the certificate will help you identify your diamond in case of loss, help to justify replacement costs in the event of a claim and give you peace of mind that it comes from a legitimate source, a diamond certificate is no appraisal or valuation – this is something you will need to do separately once you own the stone.
By Lawrence Reaves, president of DanforthDiamond.com your best source for wedding rings, diamond rings and high quality jewelry at 40% off of retail. Danforth Diamond has trained staff to assist you in choosing the right ring for your tastes and your budget.
