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Diamond Certificate Vs. Appraisal: What Buyers Need To Know
Written by Shelby Montel
You picked a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings for yourself; you love the design, and the price is within your budget. The obvious next step is adding it to the cart. There still remains the question of the authenticity of the diamonds. If the diamond is authentic, should you get an appraisal certificate? Buying diamonds comes with a series of questions that make diamond buying a confusing process instead of an exciting one. It doesn’t have to be, especially with this guide clearing out all your doubts about diamond certificates and appraisal certificates.
Table of Content
- What Is A Diamond Certificate?
- What Is An Appraisal Certificate?
- Diamond Certificate Vs. Appraisal Certificate: Which Is Important?
- Verifying Your Diamond Certificate
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is A Diamond Certificate?
A diamond certificate or a diamond grading report is a document outlining the details of the diamond as evaluated by an independent gemological laboratory. It includes all the information about the specific diamond as certified by the laboratory. It is supposed to inform the buyer about the characteristics of the diamond they are buying as assessed by an independent source.
The certificate mentions
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Report number
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4 C’s - carat, color, clarity, and cut
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The origin of the diamond - lab grown or natural
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Diamond shape
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Diamond measurements
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Date of issue
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Fluorescence
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Polish
Solely based on the diamond certificate, you can get all the information on the diamond from the carat weight to the color grade. However, having the diamond certificate is not enough, as the certificate can be fake or may not belong to your diamond at all. This is why it is necessary to verify the certificate as well.
To verify the quality of your diamond, you simply put the report number on the official website of the laboratory and cross-check the information online with the information in your certificate.
GIA and IGI are leading laboratories for certifying lab-grown diamonds. Both laboratories issue diamond certificates for lab-grown diamonds outlining the essential characteristics of the diamond. GIA is a well-established laboratory and is considered the gold standard for diamond certification. IGI is a widely recognized and well-trusted laboratory for lab-grown diamonds.
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What Is An Appraisal Certificate?
An appraisal certificate evaluates the monetary worth of the diamond jewelry. Issued by a licensed appraiser, this document is used for insurance purposes and at the time of resale. It considers the entire jewelry, from the metal used to the quality of the diamond, and gives a valuation for the jewelry accordingly.
The appraisal certificate usually mentions:
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Description of the diamond
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Details of the setting and metal used
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Estimated replacement value
An appraisal certificate focuses on the monetary factors rather than the characteristics of the diamond jewelry.
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Diamond Certificate Vs. Appraisal Certificate: Which Is Important?
To understand the importance of a diamond certificate and an appraisal certificate, we need to understand the aim of the particular document. A diamond certificate confirms the characteristics of the diamond, assuring that the diamond you received is the same as stated by the jeweler and that there are no inconsistencies between the characteristics mentioned during the sale. The appraisal certificate focuses more on the monetary value of the diamond jewelry and is used for insurance purposes.
You may want to consider these points when deciding the importance of either certificate for you.
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A diamond certificate is allotted to a particular diamond and states the characteristics of the diamond.
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Many reputable jewelers provide the diamond certificate with diamond jewelry at no extra cost.
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An appraisal certificate is provided on request at an additional cost by many jewelers.
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For prominent purchases, it is advised to get an appraisal certificate and insure your jewelry.
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The monetary worth determined by the appraiser may not be consistent with the purchase price. The purchase price is decided by the seller, while the appraisal value is determined based on the value of the diamond in the current market.
Verifying Your Diamond Certificate
Buying diamond jewelry might seem like a complicated process. From what a diamond cut is to whether buying diamond jewelry online is a smart decision, these thoughts might make the purchase stressful rather than exciting. You can scour diamond guides that will help you understand diamond qualities, and the certification will make sure your online purchase is authentic. Here’s how you can make sure the diamond jewelry you are buying is genuine and worth your money.
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Many gemological institutes inscribe the report number on the girdle of the diamond, which can be cross-checked against the number on the certificate to ensure the diamond certificate matches the diamond in question.
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You can verify the certificate on the official website of the laboratory. For IGI-certified diamonds, you can check the digital certificate at https://www.igi.org/Verify-Your-Report/. For GIA-certified diamonds, go to https://www.gia.edu/report-check-landing.
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When purchasing diamond jewelry, ask for the certification for diamonds set in the jewelry in case you did not receive it.
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Only purchase jewelry from a reputable jeweler such as Friendly Diamonds who exclusively sell certified diamonds.
Conclusion
A diamond certificate and an appraisal certificate are two completely different documents helping you deal with two different factors. While one answers what the diamond is, the other answers what the diamond is worth. Having both documents for your diamond jewelry provides you with security and peace of mind with regard to your jewelry.
You can find a beautiful diamond jewelry collection with IGI and GIA-certified diamonds at Friendly Diamonds. With every purchase, you will receive a diamond certificate authenticating the diamond and an option to get your jewelry appraised.
FAQs
Can I skip the appraisal certificate?
For prominent purchases, it is advised to get an appraisal certificate and insure your jewelry. If you have no intention to insure or resell your jewelry, you may skip the appraisal certificate.
Are there any additional charges for an appraisal certificate?
At Friendly Diamonds, you can choose to get an appraisal certificate for your jewelry at an additional charge of $50.
Can I skip certification for diamond jewelry?
A lack of a certificate raises questions about the quality of the diamond, as there is no way to ensure the diamond is the same quality as the jeweler claims it to be. At Friendly Diamonds, every diamond is certified, and you will receive the certification with the order.
Is a certified diamond high quality?
A diamond certificate only conveys that the diamond has been evaluated by a gemological laboratory. The report states how the diamond performs across the 4 C’s, and you can judge the quality based on the report, which may be high or low.
Where can I get certified diamond jewelry?
You can find IGI and GIA-certified loose lab-grown diamonds, diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets at Friendly Diamonds. You can also get an appraisal certificate for your jewelry if you wish.
