Aquestion that is often asked of me is 'What are the differences between diamond certificates? Even more specific, 'What is the difference between a Tiffany & Co. Diamond Certificate and a GIA Certificate?' I have seen hundreds of Tiffany & Co. diamonds however I am not a gemologist. This article has been written from personal observation ofhundreds of diamonds, including widely accepted information that jewellers have shared with me.
This is an important question to cover because diamond certificate grading is not absolute. What this means is that the exact same diamond sent to a different laboratory can often come back with a different grade in colour, cut and clarity.
This article briefly covers the4 labs commonly used for grading diamonds and how the grading slightly varies between each one.
1. GIA Diamond Certificate
GIA stands for the Gemological Institute of America. Founded in 1931 this lab is the most widely known and respected diamond grading laboratory in the world. They are known for having strict and consistentgrading for colour and clarity. The only area where they are said to have a broader measure on their grading is cut. GIA has a slightly wider tolerance of an excellent cut diamond than AGS.
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2. Tiffany & Co. Diamond Certificate
Tiffany & Co. used to use GIA to certify all their diamonds. However about 30 years ago they started to do their own in house grading. Their explanation for this, was that they thought that GIA was too soft on grading. It is widely accepted that Tiffany & Co. grade at least as good as GIA. In fact is has been stipulated that if a diamond is on the border of a colour grade, ie an F-G colour, Tiffany & Co. will beslightly stricter than GIA. Tiffany & Co. do not provide a clarity map on their certificates. As all diamonds soldare assessed for their beauty and being eye clean, presumably it wouldn't look attractive to have a plot of inclusions on their diamond certificate.
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3. AGS Diamond Certificate
AGS stands for American Gem Society. A relative newcomer to diamond grading, this lab started issuing Diamond Certificates in 1996. They are also a highly regarded laboratory and generally considered on pah with GIA. Anecdotally they have been seen to be slightly softer on colour by about 1 grade but this is not absolute. They are the only laboratory to give an ideal cut diamond grade. An ideal cut diamond AGS 000 is considered the most perfectly cut diamond. These diamonds exhibit the rare phenomenon of perfect symmetry of hearts and arrows and sparkle most brilliantly. As this grade falls within the parameters of an excellent cut diamond graded by GIA, they can be considered stricter on cut than GIA.
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4. EGL Diamond Certificate
EGL stands for the European Gem Laboratory. There are various branches of EGL known as EGL-USA, or EGL-International. EGL is renowned for being much softer on grading than GIA, AGS and Tiffany & Co. They also have no consistency across their laboratories. Colour and Clarity grades of EGL can be 2 to 3 colours, clarity or cut grades off. So if you think you are paying for a G coloured, VS2 diamond, excellent cut diamond you are in fact getting a J Coloured, SI2, good cut diamond from a more reputable laboratory.
Not a recommended laboratory.
As already mentioned this is a very brief overview of the 4 main certificates I have seen. There are other grading laboratories and many other in house certificates, however these 4 certificates are the 4 most commonly bought up in questions to me.
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FAQs
Their explanation for this, was that they thought that GIA was too soft on grading. It is widely accepted that Tiffany & Co. grade at least as good as GIA. In fact is has been stipulated that if a diamond is on the border of a colour grade, ie an F-G colour, Tiffany & Co. will be slightly stricter than GIA.
Is EGL certification reputable? ›
When shopping for diamonds, the same adage holds true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We'd recommend against buying a diamond with only an EGL certificate online, but use your own best judgement. Just keep in mind that the EGL can overstate a diamond's quality by 2-3 grades.
Are AGS diamonds better than GIA? ›
There are many diamond associations that offer certification; however, the GIA is the leading gemological institute in the world with the highest and most consistent grading standards. They are followed closely by AGS, who are true pioneers in gemological science and ethical grading systems.
What is the most respected diamond certification? ›
IGI and GIA are two of the most reputable and widely recognized diamond certification organizations in the world. Both IGI and GIA provide diamond grading reports that offer information about a diamond's quality and characteristics.
Is it OK to buy diamond without GIA certificate? ›
Buying a certified diamond will give you peace of mind and with a guarantee of the quality, a better resale value is achieved. However, if you are dealing with a reputable jeweller (who is well established), or if you are on a budget, then a non-certified diamond may be a great option for you.
What is the difference between GIA and EGL USA? ›
The difference between EGL vs GIA is that GIA grading standards are stricter than EGL USA and the same diamond will typically receive one color and clarity grade higher from EGL USA than from the GIA. EGL USA certificates include an opinion on replacement value of each stone whereas GIA does not.
Is GIA or EGL better? ›
As opposed to the EGL certificate (which is also a strong form of grading), the GIA has the strictest grading system among all of the most popular laboratories. It is also known as the most consistent grading system.
Are EGL diamonds lab grown? ›
Yes. EGL USA's Lab-Grown Diamond Report identifies and evaluates lab-grown diamonds, also known as synthetic or man-made stones.
Are EGL diamonds cheaper? ›
This impression is the result of comparing diamonds from each certification and concluding that when size, color, and clarity are held constant (for example, both diamonds are certified as 1.00 ct. Round H VS1, Excellent Cut), the EGL USA diamond is invariably less expensive.
Is AGS diamond certification legit? ›
A diamond graded for its cut by either the GIA or AGS is valid and reliable. They both indicate if a diamond has a quality cut. For example, we recommend only considering diamonds graded as 0 or 1 on the AGS scale and or Excellent on the GIA scale.
Yes, there can be a noticeable price difference between IGI and GIA certified diamonds, with GIA certified diamonds typically demanding a higher premium due to their stricter grading standards and reputation.
Do lab grown diamonds hold their value? ›
As with a natural diamond you can expect your lab grown diamonds to significantly drop in monetary value after purchase. Some estimate that lab grown diamonds can drop to 10% of their original price or lower, while more generous estimators put them nearer to natural diamonds at 30% of the original price.
What is EGL USA certification? ›
The EGL USA Diamond Report is a comprehensive overview of the world's most timeless stone. Identification and evaluation elements include the classic criteria of carat weight, clarity grade, color grade, cut (shape and style), finish, fluorescence, plotting, and proportions.
What is the best diamond letter? ›
In the letter-grade diamond color scale, D (colorless) is the highest and best grade, and Z is the lowest. Diamond used to be graded like gemstones on a range that included AAA, AA, A, and B, so the new scale started at D to avoid confusion.
Which gem certificate is best? ›
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1931. It is one of the most prestigious gemstone certification organizations in the world, known for its rigorous standards and impartial evaluations based on the 4Cs (cut, clarity, color, and carat weight).
Is Tiffany and Co. GIA certified? ›
If the question is “Are the diamonds/gemstones in Tiffany rings GIA certified?”, then the answer is still no. Tiffany do their own certification in the form of their guarantee.
What is the Tiffany certificate of authenticity? ›
The Tiffany Diamond Certificate is awarded by Tiffany & Co. to certify the authenticity and integrity of specific Tiffany diamonds. Unlike the documentation that may accompany stones purchased elsewhere, the Tiffany Diamond Certificate is backed up by Tiffany's Full Lifetime Warranty.
Do Tiffany diamonds have GIA? ›
Diamonds from this time will sometimes be laser inscribed and sometimes not, but at this point Tiffany no longer worked with the GIA, having established the credibility of their laboratory and adopted leading edge technologies, including laser engraving of the diamonds.
