Diamond certificates are one of the most imperative things that you should insist on seeing before you purchase your diamond. These certificates are vital to validate the quality of your diamond. But what makes them so significant?

A diamond certificate is also known as a Diamond Grading Report. This report comes from a gemological lab and should be offered to you to view before you purchase a diamond. The most recognized labs are GIA, AGS and EGL. Most jewelers like James Allen have no problem showing you their certificates and some top online jewelers even have the certificates available for you to view in real time.

What Can Your Diamond Certificate Tell You?
Your certificate will tell you the exact weight, color, cut and clarity of the diamond that you are looking to purchase. Because this certificate is issued from one of the independant laboratories the grades that are given are accepted as gospel. These can not be changed or influenced by the jeweler. You may be required to pay for the certificate, but the rate is usually minimal, but in many cases, it can help you get a better price on your diamond. It may even keep you from buying a poor quality diamond altogether.

This diamond certificate removes the doubt and uncertainty when you are buying your diamond. This piece of mind is invaluable. But apart from this, insisting on a grading certificate also has several other benefits.

Get a Real Valuation
A grading certificate gives you enough information that you can do a bit of research and find out what your diamond is really worth. This is not just important when you are looking to buy a dimaond, but also if you are looking to sell one.

The Rapaport Wolesale Price List is a great way to get an idea of the value of your diamond on the wholesale market.

Protect The Value
Having the diamond certificate makes the sale of a diamond so much easier and safer for all parties involved.

Appease Your Insurer
A copy of the Diamond Grading Report should be given to your insurance company when you insure your diamond. This provides absolute, unquestionable proof of the value of the diamond should it be stolen in the future. Insurance companies cannot argue with the report.

Use it Protect Yourself
Avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctant to provide a certificate! Also keep away from dealers who tell you that a certified diamond will cost you more – the only extra cost should be the cost of the certificate. This small charge could possibly save you thousands. A general rule of thumb is that if the dealer doesn’t want to make available a certificate, then you don’t want to do business with that dealer.

Which Lab?
Unless you have your heart set on a certain diamond try to avoid certificates from Gemological Laboratories other than GIA, EGL and AGS. There are many flashy Gemological laboratories these days, but in the end, these three have been well-reputed as the most respectable, honest and oldest of the lot. Steer clear of dealers who don’t want to use these for certification purposes as well.

Use Common Sense

Unlike top online jewelers, there are many dealers who will take every opportunity to try to sell you a diamond at a massively inflated price but there are two things that you can do to protect yourself;

1. You wouldn’t buy an expensive car or a kitchen appliance without getting guarantee or warantee, diamond certificates are the equivalent of these. Pay the small fee for a certificate, especially if you are getting an expensive diamond.
2. If a dealer insists that you do not need the certificate or uses a gem lab other than the three recommended then there is a very good chance that your diamond will have an inflated price.