DIAMOND CERTIFICATION

Trained professionals evaluate, scrutinize and measure the diamonds using professional tools such as a microscope. Several lab entities exist and it’s important to know which ones are trustworthy and reliable, and which ones are not. Because diamond certificates are not created equal, the price and value of diamonds are not comparable across varying certifications. Ensure that you purchase a diamond with a certificate from a highly reputable grading entity and that you review the diamond closely before purchase.
At ICONIC we believe in trust built on complete transparency and that is why we offer our clients the opportunity to get your gem carefully examined and graded by professionals.
DIAMOND GRADING
A diamond certificate, also known as a diamond grading report, is a report created by a professional gemology laboratory. A professional gemologist will measure, examine, and assess the qualities of diamonds in order to produce an unbiased report within their diamond labs. A certificate will include details of the diamond’s dimensions, carat weight, color, clarity, symmetry, and more. Please see the diamond grading chart for more details on clarity and color grading.

Some of the world’s most respected independent grading labs include the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). Grading standards vary between labs, making it important to choose a lab known for its rigorous standards. Each entity grades and describes diamonds differently and sometimes the difference is significant.
Diamond certificates give buyers confidence that what they are buying the diamond quality as is described. Assessing the value, however, requires an appraisal. Appraisals are usually carried out for insurance purposes.
DIAMOND CERTIFICATES
Types of diamond certification in diamond industry:

GIA
GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America, and they are responsible for grading diamonds. GIA has robust procedures in place to ensure a diamond’s anonymity and the objectivity of the grading process. GIA doesn’t certify diamonds per se, but rather it grades them. A GIA diamond grading report is an unbiased assessment of a stone’s quality characteristics. The terms “GIA certified” and “GIA diamond cert” are commonly used in the jewelry industry to refer to diamonds that have undergone GIA’s rigorous grading process and to the reports that accompany them.
AGS
American Gem Society (AGS ) established the first diamond grading standards guidelines in 1966 which still influences the jewelery industry today. They produce unbiased diamond grading reports through their laboratories, grading both mounted and unmounted gems. They can only assign a diamond cut grade for loose diamonds that are Round Brilliants, square Princess cuts, Emerald cuts, Oval cuts, and Cushion cuts.
The AGS Laboratories uses the AGS Performance-Based Cut Grade system, which is based on the overall performance of a diamond, specifically in the area of Light Performance. When analyzing the overall performance of the diamond, we take the following into consideration: light performance (contrast, leakage, dispersion, and brightness), proportion factors (girdle thickness, Culet size, Weight Ratio, durability, and tilt), and finish (Polish and Symmetry).
EGL
The European Gemological Laboratory is another diamond grading organization made up of independent gemological laboratories that were established in 1974. They issue EGL diamond certifications and for the most part, EGL certified diamond will compare equally in quality to a GIA certified diamond that is graded two color grades and one clarity grade lower.
IGI
International Gemological Institute (IGI) is an institute that grades diamonds institute who performs similar functions to the GIA, in that they both issue diamond grade reports and diamond certifications. IGI operates 18 laboratories across the globe performing IGI diamond certification on earth grown and lab-grown diamonds.
IGL
Independent Gemmological Laboratory (IGL) issues diamond certifications and are not affiliated with any diamond manufacturers. To maintain the quality of their work, IGL uses a strict vetting process ensures that we only produce IGL Diamond Certificates for stones that are natural and high-quality diamonds and that those that don’t pass a certain standard will be rejected.
HRD
Hoge Raad Voor Diamant HRD Antwerp is Europe’s leading authority when it comes to diamond grading applying advanced techniques in their state of the art laboratories and each HRD diamond grading report comes with security features to protect against counterfeit certificates.
GSI
Gemological Science International (GSI) diamond certification includes GSI diamond grading reports and colored stone grading reports.
GSL
Gem Studies Laboratory is an Australian based organization which offering diamond grading and gem testing. GSL provides diamond certification and gem authentication reports to established world standards.