The Best Diamond Labs
The Best Diamond Labs
If you’re looking to buy a diamond, you’ll want to make sure that it comes from a reliable and trustworthy lab. This is especially true if you’re buying online.
The best diamond labs grade color on a D to Z scale, use a similar clarity scale (FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, [SI3], I1), weigh precisely in carats out to 2 decimal places, and assign various terms to describe cut.
GIA
The Gemological Institute of America, also known as GIA, is the premier diamond lab in the world. Founded in the 1920s by jeweler Robert Shipley, the institute is a nonprofit organization that conducts research and education about gemstones and jewelry.
As a diamond is a precious and expensive item, it is important to ensure that the stone you purchase is genuine. This is why it is crucial that you receive a diamond certificate before making your purchase. The certificate will give you all the information about your diamond, including its characteristics and quality, so make sure you get one from a reliable lab before buying your diamond.
GIA offers a variety of grading reports for diamonds, but their color, clarity and cut grading scales are not the same as those used by other diamond laboratories. In addition, the grading report does not include the same scale for man-made diamonds as it does for natural diamonds, which makes it difficult for customers to compare the two types of stones.
Recently, GIA has tweaked its grading report policy for lab-grown diamonds. It dropped the word “synthetic” and added the standard color, clarity and cut grading scales it uses for natural diamonds.
These changes are a big step for the diamond industry, and it shows that the GIA is open to educating consumers and making them aware of this new type of diamond. As a result, it will be easier for consumers to distinguish a laboratory-grown diamond from a mined diamond and avoid getting duped.
Moreover, the GIA will inscribe a unique report number on all lab-grown diamonds. This will help in identifying lab-grown diamonds, and will help in eliminating counterfeits from the market. Moreover, the company will also make a digital plot for larger diamonds to help in identifying resubmitted diamonds.
Another change is that GIA will inscribe the GIA grading report number on all lab-grown diamonds and will indicate that they are “lab-grown” or “synthetic.” This will help to differentiate the lab-grown diamond from other natural diamonds.
GIA is the best diamond lab in the world, and it has been at the forefront of research and education in the diamond industry for over 60 years. It is headquartered in Carlsbad, California and operates in 13 countries.
IGI
IGI is one of the world’s largest independent gemological laboratories, with locations in Antwerp and other major diamond trading cities. It provides grading and certification services for diamonds, gold, and other precious metals and gemstones.
IGI has been in business since 1975 and is headquartered in Antwerp, the world’s diamond capital. It is one of the leading labs in the world when it comes to certifying natural and laboratory-grown diamonds.
Its labs screen millions of small diamonds each year and certify finished jewelry. They also offer a unique service for consumers to separate lab grown from naturally mined diamonds.
In 2005 IGI pioneered the grading of laboratory grown diamonds and was the first major lab to issue co-branded grading reports with jewelry brands, the first to commit to carbon neutrality and the first worldwide lab to develop a cut grade for fancy shapes.
They also pioneered laser inscription of a diamond’s girdle. This patented technology is important because it helps delineate lab created diamonds from natural ones.
Another great thing about IGI grading is that it is much faster and cost-friendly than GIA. It only takes a few days to complete your diamond’s grading report.
The IGI diamond report includes color and clarity grades on a scale from flawless to I3 (internally flawless to extremely imperfect). You can view these grades in the bottom left of the report. It also includes an “Additional Grading Information” section, which gives additional details about your diamond.
If you want to know more about your diamond’s grading report, it is important to look at the comments section in your IGI report. Here you’ll find more information about your diamond, including a description of the creation process that was used to create it.
IGI reports for lab-grown diamonds are nearly identical to those for natural ones. They include color and clarity grades as well as a cut quality grade and a hard-copy report.
You can get a full IGI diamond report by mail or online. It usually costs less than a GIA report, but it depends on your carat weight and the type of grading report you want.
EGL
The EGL is one of the world’s largest diamond labs, employing more than 1,100 scientists, gem graders and educators at locations around the globe. Their laboratory system includes laboratories in Europe, North America and Asia.
Founded in Europe in 1974, the EGL International and EGL USA laboratories offer a complete range of diamond grading services. They use calibrated electronic scales and advanced technology to certify carat number and diamond proportions.
Their diamond reports are very similar to those issued by GIA, and they also feature plotting diagrams that show the position, size and shape of any inclusions or blemishes in a stone. This is a much more in-depth report than the traditional GIA report and is highly recommended for those looking for the highest levels of detail.
Another advantage of the EGL system is that it offers a diamond report in less than 72 hours upon submission of a stone. This makes it attractive to consumers who have limited time for grading and inspections, and who may not want to wait weeks to get their diamond certified by GIA.
While the EGL is a relatively fast and convenient method for grading, there are some problems with this approach. For example, the EGL does not always accurately certify color, and it often overstates color grades by four grades or more. This can lead to a customer being stung by overpriced diamonds with inaccurate colors and clarity.
Some jewelry retailers have been pushed out of business as a result of the EGL overgrading scandal. For instance, a fourth generation jeweler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, quit selling EGL diamonds because of the risks associated with the overgrading scandal.
This has caused a number of angry customers to turn to social media to vent their frustrations. Some of these consumers have even filed lawsuits against their diamond dealer for fraud.
These lawsuits can be costly for the jeweler, and they could also have a negative impact on their bottom line. This is because many customers will be unhappy and will expect refunds, which can be difficult for the diamond retailer to provide without compromising their reputation.
GSI
GSI is one of the largest gemological organizations in the world with 13 lab facilities spanning four continents. Using cutting-edge processes and proprietary technologies, GSI provides manufacturers and retailers globally with a wide range of gemstone identification and grading services. They are committed to advancing gemological research, and they offer gemological educational programs for the trade and the general public through their Research & Education Center.
Founded in 2005 in New York City, GSI has 13 laboratory facilities on four continents, with additional laboratories in Israel and Hong Kong. GSI utilizes advanced technology and automation to provide objective, accurate reports on diamonds. They issue two types of reports: the GIA Diamond Grading Report and the GIA Diamond Dossier(r).
In addition to a full grading report, GSI also offers an LGX CompleteTM lab grown diamond report that includes information on the growth method, post-growth treatments or enhancements and any undetected inclusions. This report is especially useful for diamond scientists, gemmologists and others who work extensively with laboratory-grown diamonds.
The LGX CompleteTM lab grown diamond report is the most comprehensive available on the market today for lab-grown diamonds. In addition to the full grading report, it also includes a diagram of the diamond showing any inclusions that affect clarity. This is essential for those who are unable to see the diamond or do not have the time to take a physical examination, according to GSI.
Additionally, GSI is a member of the American Gem Society, which has a large diamond grading and appraisal division. The American Gem Society is a membership organization that represents jewelers, suppliers, appraisers and traders.
As the leader in laboratory-grown diamond testing and identification, GSI has helped to establish industry standards for lab-grown diamonds, including an official code of ethics and an official color scale. It also conducts extensive laboratory-grown diamond research to help guide industry decisions and provide clarity on the many nuances of lab-grown diamonds.
GSI also offers a new online education course on lab-grown diamonds to help the industry understand these unique gemstones better. The course covers the history of lab-grown diamonds, growth identification and detection, disclosure, the 4Cs for lab-grown diamonds, and more.
The Best Diamond Labs