All You Need to Know About Lab Diamond Grading Reports

With the emergence of lab grown diamonds, consumers now have an appealing alternative to the naturally occurring diamonds they are likely more familiar with. As lab grown diamonds gain popularity, many people are eager to understand the world of lab diamonds (including the reports that certify their quality), and you're in the right place if you're also curious about these reports. 

Today, we will explore the significance of lab diamond reports, their role in transparency, and how they benefit the lab diamond industry. So, if you are one of many consumers with a rising curiosity about lab grown diamonds, you won't want to miss the rest of this article.

Why Diamond Certifications Exist

First, it's helpful to discuss why diamond certifications exist in the first place: to provide consumers with a reliable and standardized way to assess the quality and authenticity of diamonds. 

The certification process involves evaluating various characteristics of a diamond, including its cut, carat weight, color, and clarity. Trained gemologists (who use specialized equipment and industry-accepted grading standards) do this.

So, it's clear why these certifications exist, but it's also important to talk about why they matter so much. Here are just a few reasons. 

Quality Assurance

Diamond certifications ensure the diamond you purchase meets specific quality standards. Consumers will know a certified diamond has been thoroughly examined and graded by an independent third-party laboratory, assuring its authenticity and quality.

Value Determination

Certified diamonds also have a documented evaluation of their characteristics, which helps determine their market value. With an objective assessment of a diamond's quality, buyers and sellers can negotiate fair prices based on the diamond's attributes.

Comparison and Selection

Diamond certifications help consumers compare different diamonds based on their objective grading criteria. When they understand the certificate, buyers can make empowered decisions and select diamonds that fit their budget and preferences.

Confidence and Trust

Thanks to their unbiased assessment of a diamond's quality, diamond certifications help instill confidence in buyers when making these big purchasing decisions. 

Consider diamond certifications consumer protection: reputable certification laboratories adhere to strict grading standards and ethical practices. The certification assures that experts have evaluated and accurately represented the diamond's attributes.

Resale and Insurance Purposes

Another reason diamond certifications are as crucial as they are comes down to resale purposes. 

These documents provide potential buyers with vital information about the diamond's characteristics. Not to mention, certified diamonds are easier to insure because insurance companies can rely on the documented information provided by the certification to determine the diamond's value.

Overall, diamond certifications exist to enhance transparency, trust, and confidence in the diamond industry. This helps consumers make informed decisions and ensure fair transactions based on standardized grading criteria.

Get to Know Diamond Certifications

Diamond certifications are essential for ensuring the authenticity and quality of a diamond. They provide a comprehensive assessment of a diamond's characteristics, including the 4Cs (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight) and other factors like symmetry, polish, and fluorescence. 

There are several prominent diamond certification laboratories. However, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) are two of the most well-known and respected.

Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

The GIA is one of the most renowned and respected diamond grading laboratories worldwide. Established in 1931, it introduced the concept of standardized grading systems and developed the 4Cs grading methodology. 

GIA certifications are widely recognized and trusted in the diamond industry. Their reports provide a detailed analysis of a diamond's characteristics, including: 

• Color grade
• Clarity grade
• Cut grade
• Carat weight

With a GIA certificate, you'll also get a diagram showing the diamond's proportions and any potential inclusions.

American Gem Society Laboratories (AGS)

The AGS is a respected organization that provides diamond grading reports. AGS certificates include information on the 4Cs and a cut grade assessment based on their proprietary system. The American Gem Society emphasizes the importance of cut quality for a diamond's overall beauty. 

Recently, the AGS sold its technology and grading reports to the GIA. As a result of the partnership, GIA has unveiled the AGS Ideal Report by GIA, a digital addendum to specific GIA diamond reports. This supplementary report incorporates the AGS Light Performance system to evaluate a diamond's visual appeal. It accounts for factors such as brightness, fire, contrast, and overall appearance. All Brian Gavin Premium diamonds feature this supplementary report. 

International Gemological Institute (IGI)

The IGI is another well-known diamond grading laboratory. Founded in 1975, it offers diamond grading and gemological services, and its certifications are respected globally. 

IGI reports provide information about a diamond's 4Cs and details like fluorescence, symmetry, and polish. Like a GIA certificate, they include a diagram representing the diamond's proportions. IGI certifications are common in jewelry retail, and many consumers recognize them.

When it comes to natural diamonds we don’t recommend the IGI, however, they are one of the most common labs when it comes to lab grown diamonds, and you will find Deluxe or Select diamonds within our collections that are graded by the IGI.

In addition to GIA and IGI, other notable diamond certification laboratories include:

European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)

The EGL is an international network of gemological laboratories that offer diamond certification services. EGL reports provide information on the 4Cs, including color and clarity grades. However, EGL grading standards are known to be more lenient than other laboratories, leading to variations in grading consistency. At Brian Gavin Diamonds, we do not recommend diamonds with these grading reports.

HRD Antwerp

HRD Antwerp is a renowned diamond grading laboratory based in Belgium. It offers diamond certifications that provide information on the 4Cs and additional details on symmetry, polish, and fluorescence. HRD Antwerp certificates are recognized globally and often used in the European market.

While most of these diamond certification laboratories are widely respected, there may be slight variations in grading standards and criteria. 

Nevertheless, GIA is often considered the benchmark for diamond grading, and consumers hold their certificates in high regard—this is one reason this is the diamond certification we rely on for Brian Gavin Premium LAB diamonds. 

Consumers are encouraged to choose a stone with a reputable certification to ensure transparency and confidence when buying a diamond.

Is There a Certification for Lab Grown Diamonds?

Yes, there are certification standards for lab grown diamonds, which various gemological laboratories and organizations issue. These certifications provide information about the quality, authenticity, and characteristics of lab grown diamonds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lab Grown Diamond Reports

Here are some other common questions about reports for lab grown diamonds.

Do lab grown diamonds need grading reports?

Like natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds can be graded and accompanied by grading reports. However, the specific need for grading reports can vary depending on the buyer's or seller's purpose and preferences.

Do lab grown diamonds have a GIA report?

While GIA primarily grades natural diamonds, it also provides grading reports for lab grown diamonds. Comprehensive GIA reports for lab grown diamonds include information about the diamond's color, clarity, cut, carat weight, and other relevant details. All GIA reports are also accompanied by an AGS Ideal Report which measures light performance.

Does GIA or IGI certify lab grown diamonds?

Both GIA and IGI provide grading reports for lab grown diamonds. These grading reports offer detailed information about the diamond's quality, including its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. In addition, both organizations have expertise in evaluating and certifying natural and lab grown diamonds.

What is the best report for lab grown diamonds?

When you choose a reputable lab for diamond reports, you can be confident in your decision! 

At Brian Gavin Diamonds, our preferred report for lab grown diamonds is GIA and accompanying AGS report for light performance.

How Does GIA Grade Lab Grown Diamonds?

GIA follows a similar approach to natural diamonds when grading lab grown diamonds, assessing the 4Cs: carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. However, there are some differences in the grading process and terminology.

1. Carat weight

Like natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds undergo measurement for the carat weight. Carat weight refers to the diamond's mass and is expressed in carats.

2. Color

GIA grades the color of lab grown diamonds using the same D-to-Z color scale used for natural diamonds. However, lab grown diamonds often exhibit different color characteristics than natural diamonds. Some labs may incorporate other terminology to differentiate between the color grading of natural and lab grown diamonds.

3. Clarity

GIA assesses lab grown diamonds' clarity using the same clarity scale used for natural diamonds. The clarity scale ranges from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). Additionally, the diamond grading process considers inclusions and blemishes.

4. Cut

A lab grown diamond's cut grade evaluates how well it has been cut and shaped. GIA assesses the cut quality based on proportions, symmetry, and polish. A well-cut lab grown diamond will exhibit optimal light performance.

The AGS Ideal Report by GIA can help one better ascertain the light performance of a diamond relative to its cut quality.

Notably, the cut is not the same as diamond shape. Read more about this distinction here.

Summing Up Lab Diamonds Reports

Ultimately, lab grown diamonds are no different than naturally occurring diamonds in their quality or structure. 

When graded by reputable graders such as GIA, there is virtually no difference in quality between lab grown or naturally occurring diamonds. Regardless, lab grown diamonds still represent a significant investment. 

That means it is vital to consult with a trusted lab grown diamond grower and dealer like Brian Gavin Diamonds before making this big decision. 

Learn More About Brian Gavin Lab Diamonds

At Brian Gavin Diamonds, we always consider the four Cs of diamonds (cut/shape), carat weight, color, and clarity). However, we also use a fifth C for cut/performance because the cut of a diamond has a significant impact on its performance and beauty. 

With 30+ years of experience, Brian Gavin creates custom engagement rings and jewelry designs. Renowned for fine diamonds and personalized craftsmanship, our expert designers will bring your unique vision to life.