Important Diamond Laboratories
Diamond certificates are particularly important to diamond wholesalers because the official document determines the value of a diamond . The cost of the diamond is directly connected to the graduation on the certificate. This certificate gives the diamond an added dimension , the quality of the diamond is assured and the buyer , usually a jeweler, is assured that it is without a doubt a bona fide diamond .
There are several institutes or diamond laboratories that present this service. The most trustworthy are the HRD (High Council of Diamonds), IGI (Institute of Gemology) and GIA certificate (Gemological Institute of America). The first 2 were founded in the 1970s and the last 1 mentioned was already in business during the 1930s.
Why are these institutes so renowned ?
Each and everyone of these laboratories that are mentioned above have conformed to the directives imposed by the ISO and the IDC. The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) determines the directives to which Laboratories have to conform. The IDC (International Diamond Council) in cooperation with the WFDB (World Federation of Diamond Bourses) and the IDMA (International Manufacturers Association) put together the guidelines for grading polished diamonds.
What important information contains a diamond certificate?
Let us take an HRD certificate as example. All other diamond certificates contain roughly the same information and will only differ in layout.
First and foremost, the certificate has a certificate number. This is a unique number that links that specific certificate with a specific diamond. With this number you can nowadays find your certificate in the online database of the Institute that issued the certificate.
Next, there is a description of the diamond:
- Shape: Round, oval, princess etc…
- Weight
- Clarity Grade: FI till P3
- Fluorescence: None till Very Strong
- Color Grade: D till LB
- Measurements: diameter and height
- Proportions and Symmetry: Ideal till Weak
- Girdle: Extremely Thin till Extremely thick
- Culet: Pointed, Polished, Chipped or Abraded
- Table Width
- Crown Height
- Pavilion Depth
- Finish grade: Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Unusual
At the bottom of the certificate the city in which the certificate is made and the date is mentioned. The date is important because older certificates can be expired. When a certificate is older than 10 years, you will have to get a new one if you want to put your diamond up for sale .











