subject: Buying Loose Diamonds and Diamond Certificates [print this page] Buying Loose Diamonds and Diamond Certificates
Diamond certificates are issued to protect buyers from buying counterfeit loose diamonds. Loose diamonds are those diamonds that are not set in rings, pendants or other settings. An average person doesn't usually have the proper knowledge and skills necessary to single out a genuine diamond from the rest so it's quite easy for dealers to cheat them. But with a third party verifying the authenticity of diamonds, buying diamonds won't be that risky.
Diamond certificates basically are documents that tell you all the individual characteristics of a diamond stone. It contains information on a diamond's exact measurement, weight, quality and even details of its cut. A certificate is also a proof of the value and identity of a diamond.
However, a certificate should not be misunderstood as an appraisal. The difference between a certificate and an appraisal is that a certificate gives details of a diamond's characteristics but not its monetary value while an appraisal estimates the monetary value of a loose diamond, not its quality.
Many diamond labs issue diamond certificates. Because there is no universal grading standard, these labs have their own grading system. Thus, it's not surprising that some of these labs have are more lenient than others.
Who certifies Loose Diamonds?
Among these labs, there are two organizations that are well known and recognized diamond certifiers in the world: the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) GIA and the IGI. Because these organizations have been proven to maintain high standards, buyers are encouraged to buy diamonds from jewelry shops that offer either GIA or AGS certificate.
The process of certification is a meticulous one. Only expert graders are qualified to examine a jewel. These experts use various gemological evaluation equipment to determine the different characteristics of a diamond. Some examples of these instruments are:
Infrared reflectance meter which is used to measure a stone's refractive index.
Polariscope used in indentifying whether a gem is single refracting or double refracting.
idealscope H & A viewer indicates the faceting proportion and symmetry of a stone.
Jeweler's Loupe, one of the most basic instruments for grading a stone, used to spot a gem's inclusions and flaws.
A particular instrument is employed to observe a particular characteristic of a diamond. After a careful evaluation of a diamond, all its properties are documented and issued as a certificate, which is crucial in the appraisal because a slight flaw can make a big difference in the gem's worth.
Therefore, a diamond certification gives you an access to all the details of a diamond's property such as its weight, cut, and clarity all in written form. You can have the assurance that all these facts on the loose diamonds that you are about to buy are genuine because they are provided by professional accredited gemologists (and not just by the dealer).
By now you already know how important a diamond certificate is. Should a dealer refuse to give you a diamond certificate, you should avoid doing business with them. Always remember that only trusted and reputable dealers can offer you a diamond certificate.
