Certificates (lab reports) are very important in the real world,
they are detailed reports on "the grading and measure of a diamond", issued
as an unbiased lab report. Makes it possible to price & evaluate stones
with some measure of dependability... Unbiased and impartial, I've always
considered the certification process (*Lab report) a very important part
of establishing the quality of the diamond, and accurately representing
it... I always suggest that a lab report (commonly termed "certificate")
and a stone be matched by an independent gemologist too for your protection.
Since the differences in grades are also differences in price per carat,
and in value, it's very important to have this lab report and unbiased certification
when considering the merits of a purchase... This is the best written documentation
you can get for a diamond, and it is easily matched up by a local gemologist
to verify the value & quality.
*"You see, that "unbiased accurate grading is critical" is more than
just a fair statement... "
You
will find that to obtain a certificate/lab report for your diamond is not
quite as easy as you might think, often taking weeks and costing over a
hundred dollars for a major gemological institute's evaluation and certification
paperwork process... Don't make a mistake and confuse an independant certificate
from GIA, EGL or AGS with local paperwork cut by an independent "graduate
GIA gemologist" , I greatly value major gemological institue's lab reports,
as does the majority of the thinking members of the jewelry community as
well as a growing number of potential purchasers who "want to do it right
the first time"... Laboratory conditions, and the completely unbiased impartial
grading, are the hallmarks of gemological institutions, so I try to offer
pre-certified diamonds with these original lab reports/certificates from
internationally recognized gemological institutions exclussively... It's
also true that math, contained within these reports, do indeed describe
diamonds extremely well, giving you the protection of a detailed scientific
analysis by an impartial gemological institution.
GIA certificates ( Gemological Institute of
America ) are the most widely known paperwork out there, and have the much
greater name recognition... The adopted standard around the world is the
GIA grading system. When evaluating a diamond pay close attention to the
line items on these reports/certificate, not just the color and clarity.
I also highly recommend EGL as well ( European
Gemological Laboratory ), and of note is that their specs on cut break down
total crown depth and pavilion depth percents for you... IGI
( International Gemological Institute ) also does lab reports, and evaluate/grade
many stones for the diamond industry... The important thing is to have this
report/certificate/evaluation of what you are buying, with this detailed
information at your fingertips you'll know what you are paying for... I
think that the most complete and the most valuable certificate in the world
today is the AGS certificate, for the more complete data and the grading
of the cut and geometry. AGS deems a diamond as "IDEAL"
when it hits a narrow range for the geometry and the cut, the polish and
the symmetry are also graded "Ideal" if they are indeed perfect. The AGS
lab can make the quest for perfection easier for the diamond shopper, the
more complete data helps to get right to the bottom line and know that quality
is not subjective at all.
A note about some of the additional comments. You
will see that in all certificates there are areas for comments regarding
"grain lines" and comments which may well be important to consider along
with the price at which a stone is being offered. Minor grain lines are
of no real concern, but pay attention to the gemologist's comments in the
reports to get the whole story. I think this is so important, to have widely
recognized certificates of the lab report is to established what's being
offered for sale, that I prefer to "only sell" pre-certified diamonds. Comparing
apples to apples is generally appreciated by the thinking, and comparison
shopping depends on getting the whole story, so make sure that you predicate
your purchase on an independent gemological's lab report (commonly called
certificate) and comparing similar prices/stones using this information.
*You
see, while these lab reports are always somewhat subjective by nature, and
really can't be represented as the "Final word" their unbiased and scientific
lab reports help to establish benchmarks... They are not an absolute guarantee,
since humans grading stones will always be somewhat subject at the best
gemological labs... I'd always recommend an independantly certified and
graded diamond over one graded internally by the seller. A diamond's only
job is beauty, and the lab report's stats will in large measure establish
the stone's grading clearly for you... My personal opinion is that information
is power, be more powerful!
Client
Previews 
they are detailed reports on "the grading and measure of a diamond", issued
as an unbiased lab report. Makes it possible to price & evaluate stones
with some measure of dependability... Unbiased and impartial, I've always
considered the certification process (*Lab report) a very important part
of establishing the quality of the diamond, and accurately representing
it... I always suggest that a lab report (commonly termed "certificate")
and a stone be matched by an independent gemologist too for your protection.
Since the differences in grades are also differences in price per carat,
and in value, it's very important to have this lab report and unbiased certification
when considering the merits of a purchase... This is the best written documentation
you can get for a diamond, and it is easily matched up by a local gemologist
to verify the value & quality. 
You
will find that to obtain a certificate/lab report for your diamond is not
quite as easy as you might think, often taking weeks and costing over a
hundred dollars for a major gemological institute's evaluation and certification
paperwork process... Don't make a mistake and confuse an independant certificate
from GIA, EGL or AGS with local paperwork cut by an independent "graduate
GIA gemologist" , I greatly value major gemological institue's lab reports,
as does the majority of the thinking members of the jewelry community as
well as a growing number of potential purchasers who "want to do it right
the first time"... Laboratory conditions, and the completely unbiased impartial
grading, are the hallmarks of gemological institutions, so I try to offer
pre-certified diamonds with these original lab reports/certificates from
internationally recognized gemological institutions exclussively... It's
also true that math, contained within these reports, do indeed describe
diamonds extremely well, giving you the protection of a detailed scientific
analysis by an impartial gemological institution. 
GIA certificates ( Gemological Institute of
America ) are the most widely known paperwork out there, and have the much
greater name recognition... The adopted standard around the world is the
GIA grading system. When evaluating a diamond pay close attention to the
line items on these reports/certificate, not just the color and clarity.
I also highly recommend EGL as well ( European
Gemological Laboratory ), and of note is that their specs on cut break down
total crown depth and pavilion depth percents for you... IGI
( International Gemological Institute ) also does lab reports, and evaluate/grade
many stones for the diamond industry... The important thing is to have this
report/certificate/evaluation of what you are buying, with this detailed
information at your fingertips you'll know what you are paying for... I
think that the most complete and the most valuable certificate in the world
today is the AGS certificate, for the more complete data and the grading
of the cut and geometry. AGS deems a diamond as "IDEAL"
when it hits a narrow range for the geometry and the cut, the polish and
the symmetry are also graded "Ideal" if they are indeed perfect. The AGS
lab can make the quest for perfection easier for the diamond shopper, the
more complete data helps to get right to the bottom line and know that quality
is not subjective at all. 
A note about some of the additional comments. You
will see that in all certificates there are areas for comments regarding
"grain lines" and comments which may well be important to consider along
with the price at which a stone is being offered. Minor grain lines are
of no real concern, but pay attention to the gemologist's comments in the
reports to get the whole story. I think this is so important, to have widely
recognized certificates of the lab report is to established what's being
offered for sale, that I prefer to "only sell" pre-certified diamonds. Comparing
apples to apples is generally appreciated by the thinking, and comparison
shopping depends on getting the whole story, so make sure that you predicate
your purchase on an independent gemological's lab report (commonly called
certificate) and comparing similar prices/stones using this information.
*You
see, while these lab reports are always somewhat subjective by nature, and
really can't be represented as the "Final word" their unbiased and scientific
lab reports help to establish benchmarks... They are not an absolute guarantee,
since humans grading stones will always be somewhat subject at the best
gemological labs... I'd always recommend an independantly certified and
graded diamond over one graded internally by the seller. A diamond's only
job is beauty, and the lab report's stats will in large measure establish
the stone's grading clearly for you... My personal opinion is that information
is power, be more powerful! 
