Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
July 30, 2010
My husband did not know to get a diamond certificate when he bought my diamond engagement ring (or maybe he threw it out with the receipt - he's a bit spacey). Anyway, my diamond ring is stuck without certification and I'd really like to know its specifications. I heard I could send the ring somewhere in the mail to be tested and they'd send me back a diamond report. Is this trustworthy?
August 1, 2011
I would agree with Michael's answer (below). Submitting your loose stone to GIA is definitely safe and trustworthy. They are considered the most trusted and respected experts in the diamond grading industry, and will be able to provide you with an accurate report with all of your diamond's specifications, including the 4 C's. They also developed the Four C's grading system in the first place, so you know they will be able to determine your diamond's qualities with accuracy. Their website has a ton of useful information: http://gia4cs.gia.edu/
August 3, 2010
I think whoever told you that was most likely referring to the GIA (the Gemological Institute of America), whose laboratories issue diamond grading reports for all diamonds, white or colored, large or small. The GIA is a highly reputable and reliable institution with branches around the world, and it should be quite trustworthy. However, stay away for other organizations claiming to be authorities on diamonds and gemstones because few are as reputable as the GIA. Depending on where you live, you can send your diamond by mail to one of the GIA's laboratories, and they will evaluate the diamond and issue an official diamond grading report - which is recognized all over the world - in about one week, and will send you back the diamond together with the diamond certificate. The only thing is that they only evaluate loose diamonds, so you will have to get your diamond ring removed from its setting before sending it in for testing. The GIA's website has more detailed information on how to package your stone for shipping and what information to include along with it. If you live in the United States, you can ship your diamond to the GIA labs in either California if your stone is a white diamond weighing under four carats (GIA Laboratory, 5355 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008) or New York City (GIA Laboratory, 580 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, New York, NY 10036) if your diamonds weighs over four carats or is a fancy colored diamond. If you don't live in the United States, consult the website for the locations of its laboratories around the world - the GIA has labs basically on every continent so I'm sure you will find something close to where you live. The diamond certification is of course for a small fee, generally about $50 to a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of the diamond.
