Understanding Diamond Certification
What is a diamond certificate?
A diamond certificate, also known as a diamond grading report, is an official document confirming that a diamond has been professionally examined by a qualified gemmologist at an independent gemological laboratory.
During this process, specialist equipment is used to assess the diamond and record its key characteristics. The grading report will typically include details such as the diamond’s measurements, carat weight, clarity grade and colour grade.
These characteristics form part of the diamond’s unique grading profile and help verify the quality and identity of the stone.
Why is diamond certification important?
The differences between diamond grades can often be extremely subtle. In many cases, these variations cannot be identified without professional equipment, yet they can significantly affect the value of a diamond.
An independent diamond certificate provides reassurance that the diamond has been assessed objectively by a recognised laboratory. This allows you to purchase with confidence, knowing that the diamond you receive matches the quality and specifications described.
As a general guideline, diamonds weighing 0.50ct and above should come with an independent grading certificate from a reputable laboratory.
When should a diamond come with a certificate?
At Lorel Diamonds, we provide different certification options depending on the size and type of diamond selected.
Our Standard Diamond Certificate (SDC) is available for individual diamonds weighing 0.50ct and above. This certification confirms the diamond has been independently graded and its characteristics recorded.
We also offer certification from internationally recognised laboratories. GIA certification is available for natural diamonds, while IGI certification is available for lab grown diamonds. These certification options are available for individual diamonds from 0.30ct and above.
Diamonds below 0.30ct do not usually come with their own independent grading report. Instead, you will receive a Lorel Diamonds certificate outlining the diamond’s specifications, which is standard practice within the jewellery industry.
Which diamond laboratories are used?
The SDC certification option refers to our Standard Diamond Certificate.
Diamonds supplied with an SDC certificate are graded by independent gemological laboratories. These may include organisations such as WGI (World Gemological Institute), IGL (International Gemological Laboratories) and IGR (International Gemological Reports), among others.
For customers who prefer certification from globally recognised laboratories, we also offer diamonds graded by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) for natural diamonds and IGI (International Gemological Institute) for lab grown diamonds.
GIA and IGI are widely regarded as two of the most respected gemological laboratories in the world. Their grading standards are known to be particularly strict and consistent. Because of this, diamonds certified by these laboratories are often priced higher than diamonds graded by other labs.
Below are examples of different independent diamond certificates.
