If there is any one single bit of advice that I would give any prospective diamond buyer, it is this: “Whatever you buy, make sure that your diamond is GIA certified and comes with a GIA report.”
Some might think that a GIA certified diamond is more expensive than any other alternative. This is not true. The difference in pricing between a non-GIA diamond and a GIA certified diamond is the difference between fact and fiction . . between honesty and lies.
As one who has been involved in the diamond import and wholesale business for 40+ years, I know from experience that 99% of all non-GIA certified diamonds are sold with bogus grades. More importantly, the prices for these diamonds often exceed the value of the same diamond if such diamond was accurately graded to its true GIA grade.
A GIA grading report contains a lot of vital information and specifications about a diamond. There are many important specifications with regard to a diamond that are contained within the GIA report. The most familiar of these specifications are the “carat weight” and “color” and “clarity” and “cut” of the diamond.
The diamond consumer must understand that any single diamond grade – whether it be the color or clarity or cut of degree of fluorescence can effect the value of a diamond by more than 10%. Multiple grade differences may effect the price of a diamond by 50% or more.
I have seen a diamond with a grading report issued by a different laboratory – EGL, which was actually worth 45% LESS than the value of what the diamond was worth if it had been sold according to it’s real and accurate grades according to GIA standards. The EGL certificate stated that the diamond was a “G/VS2” Ideal Cut diamond with faint fluorescence. The diamond was submitted to GIA and was graded “I/SI1” with a VG Cut and Strong Fluorescence.
The story above is not unusual. It is typical. The point is that the diamond was worth 55% of what the consumer thought they were buying!
So you may ask, “So, what difference does it really make if I buy a non-GIA diamond as long as get a diamond that is bigger than I could have gotten had I purchased a diamond with. GIA report?”
The answer is simple. It is the difference between truth and honesty vs fiction and lies. It is the difference between quality and junk. It is the difference between something that is valuable and something that is not.
It is the difference between a Porsche and a Hyundai that someone tells you is a Porsche! It is the difference between finding out that the 2500 square feet home you were offered is only 1800 square feet! It is the difference between paying a for price for something that is valuable and being fooled when making one of the most important purchases that you will make in your life.
A diamond represents one of the most significant purchases that you will make in your life. Do it right. Insist on a diamond that has a GIA certification report.
* * * * * * * * * *
NOTE: This blog post concerns a diamond purchased for an engagement ring. Most diamond jewelry containing smaller diamonds are almost never made with certified diamonds as small diamond (referred to as “melee”) are too small to be certified or graded by a laboratory.
For more information on GIA certification, see my blog post . . . “What is a GIA Certified Diamond”.