the diamond grading report

Diamond certificates, or certs, as they are known in the diamond industry, are often called the fifth C, in addition to the well-known 4Cs of diamond stones: carat weight, cut, color, and clarity. A diamond certificate is the evaluation by a third-party, not by either the diamond buyer or seller. Unfortunately, an 3rd party certification is necessary, as it would be easy for an unscrupulous jeweller to take advantage of an uninformed buyer and sell a stone, which might be sold with higher qualities and value than it really does. While many of the diamond grader's certifications might be different from the next, the following are a list of the most commonly used diamond graders in North America:

• Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) - Commonly referred to as the "Diamond High Council" is one of the highest standards in diamond grading. HRD's diamond certificates are considered legal documents in the European Union.
• Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - Is a non-profit organization that created the "4 C's" methodology as well as the International Diamond Grading System. Reports from this institute omit certain aspects of diamond cuts that other reports cover (e.g. crown height percentage, pavilion depth percentage, crown angle, pavilion angle). Keep in mind that GIA issues reports - not certificates.
• American Gemological Society (AGS) - Certifies diamonds based on their cut grade on a rating scale from 0 (most desirable) - 4 (least desirable). AGS is now more widely used for gemstone grading rather then diamond grading. 
• European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) - Has the least amount of structure in comparison to the above graders. EGL is an independent network of diamond grading laboratories. Grading standards tent to vary from one labe to another, making EGL less desirable and trusted than HRD, GIA, and AGS grading reports. 




As there are relatively less restrictions in diamond grading than any other retail industry it really is a buyer-beware market. Select a jeweller that will educate you on your stone and allow you to view the diamond loose. By hand selecting your stone and viewing the stones flaws under a microscope you are ensuring yourself that you are making an educated decision. Diamond qualities can vary from grading, report, and certification and it's beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.