Shaw Diamonds
- Feb 6, 2022
- 2 min read

Diamond Certification: Here's What You Need To Know

Certification Is The Key To Selecting A Quality Diamond At The Lowest Price

All Shaw Diamonds merchandise is accompanied by an internationally recognized certification which is your absolute assurance of quality and value. Shaw diamonds are evaluated on the international grading system of the Gemological Institute of America, and come with certification from this world-leading organization.

Gemological Institute of America (GIA) G.I.A. is the most well known and respected laboratory in the world. The division of G.I.A. which is responsible for the certification of diamonds is G.I.A.'s Gem Trade Laboratory. The G.I.A. diamond quality report provides a carefully drawn plot which illustrates the exact position, size and shape of every internal inclusion and external blemish a diamond possesses. G.I.A. is extremely strict in assigning color and clarity grades. If a diamonds quality is on the line of the next higher quality grade G.I.A. will usually always assign the lower grade. G.I.A. uses a Sarin proportion analyzer, a computer electronic measuring device to determine diamond proportions.

The cost of a G.I.A. or A.G.S. diamond quality report is $100 to $200. G.I.A. has recently added a new Dossier certification, a miniature version of the standard full G.I.A. diamond quality report except it does not provide the plot that shows inclusion and blemishes. However, G.I.A. does laser inscribe the edge or girdle of the submitted diamond with the G.I.A. diamond quality report number for identification purposes. The Dossier diamond quality report is primarily used on smaller diamonds because it is lower in cost.

G.I.A. CERTIFIED DIAMOND REPORTS PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION:

Shape

Measurements

Weight

Depth Percentage

Table Percentage

Girdle Thickness

Culet Size

Polish

Symmetry

Clarity Grade

Color Grade

Fluorescence

Comments about Diamond

Plot of Internal and External Inclusions

The European Gemological Laboratory: E.G.LE.G.L. - The European Gemological Laboratory: E.G.L. provides a detail diamond report that is sometimes not as strict as G.I.A. Because the art of diamond grading is a subjective science, two different gemological laboratories may arrive at differing opinions when assigning a diamonds color and clarity grade. E.G.L. has sometimes been known to assign a higher grade on diamonds that have grades on the border between two grades.

G.I.A. usually will always give the lower grade. When purchasing a diamond with an E.G.L. quality report, it is possible to receive a lower grade if it is submitted to G.I.A. for a new diamond quality report. Diamonds with E.G.L. quality reports that are offered for prices significantly lower than equal quality G.I.A. certified diamonds have the greatest chance of not matching if submitted to G.I.A. for a new quality report. E.G.L. certifications are often reliable but one must be aware of possible inconsistencies and limitations when comparing diamond certifications between different gemological laboratories.

The E.G.L. certification however does provide more proportion information than the G.I.A. diamond report by including the important pavilion and crown angles in their diamond report. Be aware that plots of internal and external blemishes on E.G.L. certifications are much less detailed than G.I.A. or A.G.S. quality reports. Many diamonds under one carat in size are certified by E.G.L. due to the benefit of lower cost and faster service. E.G.L. also provides a economically priced miniature version of its full certification.

E.G.L CERTIFIED DIAMOND REPORTS PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION:

Shape and Cut