Beware

Owning a diamond has always meant possessing something of great beauty and lasting value. Diamonds are certainly the most precious of all nature's creations. Their fiery brilliance captures our hearts as the eternal symbol of love. But is you are like most people, you probably know very little about diamonds.

Two diamonds may look exactly alike, yet their values may differ dramatically. Value is determined by the exact quality of each diamond as defined by the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat-Weight. It is impossible to evaluate quality just by looking.

How do I know my diamond is what the jeweler says it is?

Unfortunately, you don't. The difference from one grade to another is so minute that detection is invisible to the naked eye. Although these differences are indiscernible, each grade can make hundreds or even thousands of dollars of difference in value. Jewelers, like diamonds, are different. Two reputable jewelers often differ on a diamond's quality and issue their own appraisals reflecting this. Two appraisals with different quality and value for the same diamond: who should you believe? Could they both be wrong? Many times jewelers will grade the quality of diamonds they sell very high, while grading those sold by competitors very low. The fact is that most diamonds sold by jewelers today are misgraded by international standards.

What is the difference between a GIA Certificate and an appraisal?

There is only one way to be guaranteed of your diamond's quality; demand a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory Certificate. This Laboratory is the finest gemological research institute in the world. Their certificates were designed for diamond dealers. They are unbiased scientific reports describing every aspect of your diamond's quality. Even among experts these GIA certificates are considered the final authority; don't believe claims to the contrary. Many jewelers will try to convince you that other laboratories are equal to the GIA, They are not. Diamonds graded by labs other than the GIA are valued at substantial discounts by diamond dealers and experts.

For decades, jewelers have depended on the blind trust of consumers. Often times they use grading scales having little or nothing to do with recognized international standards. Many jewelers claim to sell the finest quality diamonds at the best prices. If this were true, these claims could be easily proven by GIA certificates. Why then do many jewelers object to selling GIA certified diamonds? Certificates force jewelers to prove that the Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat-Weight are precisely what they say they are.

Used by jewelers to confirm their sales claims, most appraisals do not even mention the most crucial technical information regarding your diamond's cut and proportions. Be prepared: many jewelers will offer a host of excuses for not selling GIA laboratory certified diamonds. Many will attempt to convince you that their appraisal is just as good or better. Don't be fooled! An appraisal is NOT a GIA Laboratory Certificate, and every expert knows it.

Never buy a diamond ring on the assumption that you can certify it after you own it. A diamond must be submitted to a laboratory loose from its setting for proper certification. Jewelers are well aware of this fact and know that statistically, consumers almost never have a diamond laboratory certified after it is purchased. For your own protection, demand only quality diamonds that have already been GIA laboratory certified.

Jewelers should not object to providing GIA Laboratory Certificates if their diamonds are accurately graded.

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