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Diamond Certifications

ppaik

Platinum Member
I've been eye shopping for an engagement ring to see what the damage is going to come out too...Ive seen some people sell diamonds for less than 1/2 the price of other people's prices even though they are the same size and color or clarity or whatever. My question is, which certification is most widely used and accepted. And how can I tell I'm getting what they claim it to be. I see many appraised diamond rings on ebay sell for 25% of the appraised value. This whole diamond things makes no sense to me.

And for all of you people who say dont buy a diamond because I'm getting ripped off and blah blah blah....save your crapping for another thread. 😉 I know diamonds are stupid and overpriced...but then again so is a Ferrari in a city with speed limits... or a 40" LCD TV to play some source....actually there are not stupid...just overpriced. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
There is a standard. If you are going to spend money on a diamond, maybe you should do some more research.

http://www.gia.edu/

are you sure thats the STANDARD?

Bombrman says EGL.

I thought GIA or EGL was the standard too, but stores that specialize in engagement rings dont all have GIA certs. I have also heard HRD, IGI, GIG, AGL....and some other ones. And most big Jewelry stores do their own too...which is weird.
 
The big certs are GIA, AGS, and EGL. I don't think you need more than one, so any of those three should suffice. Most of the places I've been to (I'm shopping too) have GIA certs, and they seem to be fine.

Big thing is, all of the certs are subjective--color and clarity are classified based on a certified gemologist's opinion, so one gemologist's E-VVS2 might be another gemologist's F-VS1. Best thing to do is to try to see the diamond in person before you buy it.
 
Originally posted by: ppaik
Originally posted by: sygyzy
There is a standard. If you are going to spend money on a diamond, maybe you should do some more research.

http://www.gia.edu/

are you sure thats the STANDARD?

Bombrman says EGL.

I thought GIA or EGL was the standard too, but stores that specialize in engagement rings dont all have GIA certs. I have also heard HRD, IGI, GIG, AGL....and some other ones. And most big Jewelry stores do their own too...which is weird.


GI Joe?
 
GIA is the preferred standard. EGL and AGS aren't as highly looked upon.

<---just bought an engagement ring.
 
Plug for Blue Nile. Most of their diamonds are GIA certified, and you can view the certificate of individual diamonds on the Web before you buy.

I did my research and searched around for three months. The price and selection at Blue Nile can't be beat.

They also sell AGSL certified diamonds.
 
I know some stores that sell ungraded diamonds, unmounted. If you know what you are looking for, you can get a great deal.
But if you are buying by the certs, make sure you also buy with your eyes. Color, clarity, cut and your own personal opinion.
 
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