IGI and GIA: what the certificates actually tell you.

A certificate is nothing other than an independent promise. It tells you in black and white what you're holding in your hand, checked by a laboratory that doesn't sell the stone and therefore gains nothing from talking it up.

That's exactly the point: independence. If we ourselves claimed a stone was flawless, you'd have to take our word for it. If it's in the report from IGI or GIA, you don't have to take anyone's word, you can read it and verify it.

GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, is considered the strictest address, above all for natural diamonds. Its assessments tend to be conservative, which means: in case of doubt, GIA grades a stone lower rather than too high.

IGI, the International Gemological Institute, is established worldwide and has become the first address especially for lab-grown diamonds. Both laboratories work to clear, documented standards. What matters isn't which of the two is on the paper, but that a recognised laboratory checked it at all.

On the certificate you'll find the four Cs again: cut, colour, clarity, weight. Plus the exact measurements, a sketch of the inclusions and often a number engraved on the stone itself, which links it unambiguously to its report.

With us this isn't an option, it's the rule: every stone is certified. If someone tries to palm off a diamond without a report on you, turn around. And if you have a certificate in front of you and don't know what the lines mean, read our post on the 4Cs, or simply bring it along.