8 replies to this topic

[hb09]

So i've been shopping around for an engagement ring and noticed that most of the diamonds being sold come with GIA grading reports. Some come with no grading reports, and some come w/ reports from other labs. I know there's a thread about the labs on the Frequently Asked Questions page here, but the posts were 3-4 years old, so I don't know if all the info is up to date.

Could someone fill me in on how important a grading report is and why GIA is the one I keep reading about?

I'm just trying to do this process right.

[diamondsbylauren]

HI hb09,
Since a diamond's price is based mainly on it's color and clarity grade ( among other things), an inaccurate grade can be costly, deceiving or both.
The same as 4 years ago, only trust GIA ( or AGS) if you want an accurately graded diamond.
Furthermore, I'd avoid places selling diamonds graded by the lesser labs that don;t provide this info.

[barry]

Stick with GIA and AGS lab reports for accuracy and consistency.

Edited by barry, 27 October 2009 - 11:46 AM.

[hb09]

diamondsbylauren, on Tuesday, Oct 27 2009, 02:24 PM, said:

HI hb09,
Since a diamond's price is based mainly on it's color and clarity grade ( among other things), an inaccurate grade can be costly, deceiving or both.
The same as 4 years ago, only trust GIA ( or AGS) if you want an accurately graded diamond.
Furthermore, I'd avoid places selling diamonds graded by the lesser labs that don;t provide this info.

thanks for the quick replies. im curious though, what exactly makes one of their (say, GIA) reports more accurate? I mean, from what i'm reading elsewhere and now hearing from you, I'm sold on the idea.. but when you say "only trust GIA ( or AGS) if you want an accurately graded diamond" what is the reason for that?

thanks again for the help

[denverappraiser]

The lab is important because the grading is important. Tiny differences that require both a microscope and an expert observer can result in price differences in the thousands. Since grading has a significant judgment component, it’s terribly important to assess the credibility of the source and, although there are some highly qualified and ethical graders out there, none carry the weight of GIA. There is an enormous potential for a conflict of interest between the lab and the dealer that’s aggravated by the fact the dealer or one of their suppliers is almost always the lab’s client. The result is that if you don’t know who your grader is and aren’t otherwise inclined to trust them, the default answer is to don’t. Anyone who wants to can call themselves a gemologist, gem lab or appraiser and the burden is on THEM to convince you that their opinions have merit. For grading, it’s a very high bar and the only labs with general acceptance among the trade in the US are GIA and AGSL. If you have a jeweler or an appraiser where you’ve got personal experience and reason to trust them, by all means do so, but just because they’re a lab doesn’t make them worth listening to and just because some dealer chooses them to write their sales material doesn’t help.

Neil

[diamondsbylauren]

hb09, on Tuesday, Oct 27 2009, 04:31 PM, said:

diamondsbylauren, on Tuesday, Oct 27 2009, 02:24 PM, said:

HI hb09,
Since a diamond's price is based mainly on it's color and clarity grade ( among other things), an inaccurate grade can be costly, deceiving or both.
The same as 4 years ago, only trust GIA ( or AGS) if you want an accurately graded diamond.
Furthermore, I'd avoid places selling diamonds graded by the lesser labs that don;t provide this info.

thanks for the quick replies. im curious though, what exactly makes one of their (say, GIA) reports more accurate? I mean, from what i'm reading elsewhere and now hearing from you, I'm sold on the idea.. but when you say "only trust GIA ( or AGS) if you want an accurately graded diamond" what is the reason for that?

thanks again for the help

You're welcome!
I could not say why GIA is more accurate- only relate my experinece as a grader, looking at thousands of diamonds graded by EGL, IGI as well as GIA.
Experience bears out the fact that GIA is the most accurate- by far.
It's also important to note that AGS is viewed as equivalent to GIA in terms of credibility by traders, and cutters- experts IOW.

[hb09]

Quote

You're welcome!
I could not say why GIA is more accurate- only relate my experinece as a grader, looking at thousands of diamonds graded by EGL, IGI as well as GIA.
Experience bears out the fact that GIA is the most accurate- by far.
It's also important to note that AGS is viewed as equivalent to GIA in terms of credibility by traders, and cutters- experts IOW.

good to know. i read through gia's wiki entry for kicks and it was saying how they're a non-profit, which i didn't realize. that's cool since i'd imagine that would make them impartial and more trustworthy too.

[diamondsbylauren]

I believe that GIA is split into two parts.
The education non profit, and the laboritory for profit.
I'd need to verify that, but I think so.....

Edited by diamondsbylauren, 27 October 2009 - 03:28 PM.

[hb09]

diamondsbylauren, on Tuesday, Oct 27 2009, 06:28 PM, said:

I believe that GIA is split into two parts.
The education non profit, and the laboritory for profit.
I'd need to verify that, but I think so.....

interesting..

well thanks for all the help. I'm beginning to feel good and confident about buying a diamond, which is always a nice feeling.