A diamond certificate is a printed report based on a gemological analysis of a specific stone. It is prepared in an independent laboratory by certified gemologists.

European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)

EGL has defined criteria and standard procedures for accuracy and consistency in its Diamond Certificate and Diamond Consultation. EGL Certificates are recognized worldwide. Their main clients are diamond wholesalers, dealers, manufacturers, and craftsmen. EGL does not sell diamonds or gems and is totally independent of any diamond sales group.

EGL's Diamond Certificate records all of the relevant information pertaining to the diamond, including weight, shape and cut, color grade, clarity grade, measurements, proportions, finish, photo luminescence, other physical properties, and plotting. On request, the stone will be sealed in a capsule bearing its description and certificate number. The unbroken seal assures the customer that the accompanying certificate matches the diamond inside.

The EGL Diamond Consultation is a condensed report on a diamond. Only the carat weight, color grade, clarity grade, and plotting diagram are recorded. In trade factories, dealers and jewelers make use of the information in a Consultation to set the buying and selling price of the diamond.

Gemological Institute of America GIA- Loose Diamonds

GIA developed the first internationally accepted Diamond Grading System. If you have been thinking about getting a loose diamond to make a special piece of jewelry then you should be looking at GIA loose diamonds. These diamonds have a mark of quality that is guaranteed, and you need that whenever you purchase a diamond.

A lot of people are opting for GIA loose diamonds these days because they can be purchased at wholesale prices on the Internet. You will get a much better quality diamond and a much larger one too, for the same price, when you shop online instead of at a local jewelry store. Any of the jewelers in your community are paying a middleman to provide the diamonds from a supplier and you are the one that ends up paying a higher price. You will save a lot of time and money by buying your stone on the Internet.

GIA is an educational institute that believes in preserving the integrity of diamonds. Any loose diamond that you purchase should have a GIA report with it so that you know that the diamond is certified. This means that the diamond has been rated, examined and tested before a certificate is released.

GIA is the most respected diamond authority for certification and if you ever plan to resell the diamond in the future it will be easier to sell it with a GIA report. If you plan on keeping the stone for many years to come, you still need that certification so that you know with certainty what cut of diamond you're purchasing. You should never consider buying a diamond that has not been graded by the GIA.

It takes a lot of pressure and heat to form diamonds so you can expect some flaws and irregularities. These flaws are called blemishes when they are on the rings surface and inclusions when they appear on the inside of the diamond. It is important to know about these flaws because they can reduce the brilliance and transparently of the diamond and effect how much light travels through the stone. The GIA report will let you know how many flaws are present in the diamond, which will indicate how shiny it will be.

The GIA will also grade such things as clarity, the cut and the color so that you know exactly what you're purchasing. This type of testing cannot be done with the naked eye and it takes special tools and resources to do it properly.

Make sure that you choose GIA loose diamonds whatever you purchase a new diamond. It is the best way to know what the quality and the true value of the diamond actually is.