Diamonds are known to be a girl’s best friend. Men love this precious stone no less either. But if you are not sure of a friend’s nature, how do you place your trust in the friendship? Why go along with a friend whom you can’t trust? The same goes true for diamonds and gemstones too. If you are not sure about the quality of your gems, why invest your money to buy them? You may even end up buying fake stones with your hard-earned money.
Now, you wouldn’t want such a thing to happen at all, wouldn’t you? So, it’s better to be sure first than be sorry later. This is where a certification from the International Gemological Institute can help you out. This article will tell you everything you should know about this institute and its services.
What is International Gemological Institute?
International Gemological Institute, also known as IGI, is an organisation that certifies diamonds, gemstones, and fine jewellery. It is the largest independent lab in the world for the purpose. The institute was established in 1975 with Antwerp as its headquarters. They have offices spread across the world, including Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mumbai, New Delhi, Tokyo, and several other places. Around the world, certificates issued by this institute instil trust in gemstone buyers and sellers.
When it comes to buying precious stones, trust is a big issue for the buyers. The experts at the institute help you overcome this issue. They carry out full analysis of diamonds and gemstones and provide detailed reports on the same. They analyse each stone and grade them accurately. The final report carries all details about the colour, cut, clarity, and carat weight of the stone. Such a certificate helps you to know in detail about the stones you want to buy. It serves as a promise of authenticity and quality. Buyers from around the globe widely accept IGI certificates as a mark of excellence. The information about the diamonds and gems is stored in their database. You may get a copy of the report if the need arises.
Why is Certification Important?
Are you planning to buy a solitaire diamond ring? Or are you looking for gemstone gold pendants? Either way, you can’t overlook the importance of certification. Not all stones are created equal. The value of a precious stone depends on a lot of factors, including its finished quality. The natural rarity is another factor contributing to the value of gemstones. You may find that two diamonds or gemstones look the same. But their value may differ greatly.
You cannot determine the value of gemstones by simply looking at it. Often, gemstones undergo treatments and other enhancement processes. Also, there are synthetic gems available in the market these days. Even an expert in the field needs powerful tools to analyse and find their true value. For instance, a proper analysis can help to find out if a diamond is a natural one or not. It will also help you make out whether your gemstones are treated or altered. A certificate discloses all such things and helps you make an informed choice. So, when you buy that shiny diamond nose pin or the sapphire ring, you will know exactly what you are buying.
Are you planning to buy gemstones in future? Make sure that this certificate is a part of the deal. When you are investing your money, why compromise on the quality? It is the report card of a stone and tells you how good it is. Without it, you are just taking a big risk with your money.
Why is Certification Important?
IGI offers three types of reports. They are the diamond report, the coloured stone report, and the jewellery report.
Diamond Report: It is a statement of a diamond’s quality. This report provides an accurate assessment of the 4Cs – the cut, color, clarity and carat weight of a diamond. It is based on international standards. You can get this report for a diamond of any size. At these labs, each stone is analysed by experts using latest tools and techniques. Apart from the 4Cs, the stone is also analysed for any treatment or enhancement. Reports for coloured diamonds and lab-grown ones can also be availed. The detailed report is presented in an easy to understand format.
Coloured Stone Report: This report states the gemstone’s exact variety. It also tells you about the stone’s cut, shape, carat weight, colour, and other details. If the stone has gone through any treatment, you will be able to know about it from this report. This report will tell you if the stone is a natural one or not. You may even get to know about the stone’s country of origin, if you ask for it. Coloured stones are often treated to enhance their beauty and value. As such, it becomes important to have them analysed before you buy them. You will know for sure that the stone you are buying is real or fake.
Jewellery Report: This institute was the first lab to offer such a report. Experts here analyse both the metal and the mounted stones and provide a complete report on the jewellery. Details such as the content and weight of the metal are clearly stated. Also, the stone’s details are provided. These include the stone’s cut, clarity, shape, colour, finish, weight, etc. This means now you can have a complete report on any trinket. It doesn’t matter whether the trinket has diamonds or any other gemstones. You will be able to get a full report without causing any harm to the stone setting. That way you can be sure of the jewel.
The Bottom Line
A stone with an IGI certificate will provide you all the details you need to know to make the right choice. On top of that, it will assure you that the price you are paying for the stone is justified. When you are shopping for a diamond or a gemstone, always remember to look for the grading report. One thing to note is that not every jeweller sells IGI certified diamonds. Go for a reputed one that provides you the same. In other words, make it a point to see the report before you buy diamonds or precious stones.
