What You Should Know About Diamond Grading Reports

Diamond Grading Reports

What you should know about diamond grading reports

Grading Reports are meant to provide clarity, and yet consumers often get so focused on the data they forget about the most important aspect of the diamond or gem: it’s beauty and the feelings it inspires. Here are answers to the most common consumer questions when it comes to diamond and gem grading reports.

c Visiting professional jewelry stores with gemology experts on staff to compare diamonds in person and understand their unique characteristics will help you determine the best diamond or gemstone for your budget.

Grading Report or Certificate or Appraisal?

Let’s start with what a diamond or gemstone grading report is not: It is not a jewelry appraisal or a certificate of the stone’s value. Key differences:

• A jewelry appraisal is typically used for insurance purposes and any after-purchase care or design follow up. It should not be used as a substitute for a grading report.
• A Certificate guarantees the exact grade or value of the stone, while a grading report is a subjective report and offers a grade within a range of values.

Consider a grading report a blueprint of a diamond or gem’s properties that verifies diamond authenticity and quality. As you search for your perfect diamond or gemstone, a grading report can help explain the quality factors of the stone based on scientific properties, but it is still subjective in that it is the opinion of the individuals who graded the diamond or gemstone and is based on the lab’s grading standards. This is why there are sometimes discrepancies between grading reports from different labs.

What is Included with a Grading Report?

A diamond grading report describes in detail the characteristics of an unmounted diamond or gemstone. How that information is referenced the varies depending on the lab, but most grading reports contain:

• The 4Cs of diamond quality: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. This will differ slightly for colored gemstone grading reports, where color is the most valued quality factor. The grades on the report represent a range of each “C”
• The stone’s characteristics: shape, proportions, finish
• Any known treatments
• Light performance: measuring the brilliance, fire and scintillation of the stone
• Many grading reports also include a diagram of inclusions that can affect how light is displayed in a diamond. This is another area where colored gemstone grades differ, because almost all gemstones have some inclusions. When considering diamond inclusions, keep in mind that truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare, representing less than 1% of all finished diamonds.

Industry standards recommends updating reports every five years. A diamond grading report can be a document of identification in the event of loss or theft.

Who Publishes the Grading Report?

Diamond and gemstone grading reports are provided by laboratories within the jewelry industry. Here are examples of respected labs that offer diamond and gemstone grading reports or certificates:

American Gem Society (AGS)

American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL) established diamond cut grading. Instead of using an alphabetical rating system, the AGSL Diamond Quality Document uses a scale of 0-10 for rating a diamond’s characteristics, with 0 as the best and 10 as the worst. They are also a resource for Gemstone Grading Reports.\

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL)

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. (GCAL) offers a unique suite of certification, identification, valuation, and forensic services for natural and lab grown diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry. GCAL’s mission is to provide the most accurate and consistent gemological services with uncompromising integrity and unparalleled customer care. Every diamond is precisely measured, analyzed, photographed and Gemprinted, thoroughly grading it to the highest standards.

Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

The Gemological Institue of America offers Diamond Grading Reports and the GIA Diamond Dossier (a more compact report for diamonds less than 2 carats). As the global authority on diamonds and gemstones, it established the Diamond 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™ in the mid-1950s. To avoid fraudulent GIA reports, all GIA reports contain security features such as a hologram, security screen and microprint lines.

EGL USA

EGL USA offers comprehensive reports for diamonds, colored diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls and mounted jewelry. The lab identifies treatments and enhancements, and issues distinct reports for lab-grown and enhanced diamonds, as well as those reviewed for light performance and cut grade. EGL USA reports are protected by extensive security features. Diamond Report numbers can be checked online at EGL USA.com.

International Gemological Institute

International Gemological Institute (IGI), founded in 1975, offers reports on diamonds and colored stones, as well as appraisals, diamond authentication, and information on gemstone origins. IGI reports include all the same categories as the GIA reports, as well as a Clarity Scale and a Color Scale so you can see how your diamond measures against diamonds of varying clarity and color.

Is the Grading Report Legitimate?

Jewelers with their training in gemology are uniquely qualified to obtain a Grading Report from an established industry lab and to explain its contents. Here are some things to consider when concerned about the legitimacy of a grading report:

Is the price too good to be true?

We can’t emphasize this enough. If the price is much lower than other diamonds or gemstones for the same grade on the market, you should be suspicious. Just as with a quality car or fine leather handbag, you are not going to get a good- to high-quality ring for a significant price break.

Is the lab independent?

It’s important that the diamond or gemstone grading report is produced by an independent lab that doesn’t have a stake in the stone’s price or profit. Make sure the grading lab is independent of diamond and gem suppliers, mines or retailers.

Did more than one grader work on the report?

A legitimate grading report will use a process wherein multiple graders evaluate an individual diamond or gemstone separately. This way, because no two diamonds are exactly alike and determining the value of their qualities is somewhat subjective, the grade is established by a consensus and not one individual’s opinion.

Related:

• Guide to Diamond Carat Weight
• Guide to Diamond Cut
• Guide to Diamond Color
• Guide to Diamond Clarity
• The 4 Cs of Diamonds
• Guide to Diamond Shapes
• Guide to Diamond Alternatives

Sources:
Jewelers of America
GIA

Last Updated on March 19, 2023 by JewelryNStyle