READ THIS !

                             IT WILL SAVE YOU  MONEY AND GRIEF !

Ever since the early 1980's  diamond buyers have been  relying   on lab reports. These  are  professional non- biased analysis issued by a credible resource.There are many more good honest labs that give out  reliable honest reports or "certs".  For this guide and simplicity  we will narrow it down to the top 3 (most used and promoted) laboratories  known as the "BIG THREE":

1- GIA Gemological Institute of America. . They are the grand daddy of them all. They have been around the longest and  are most prized in the  expensive diamond and jewelry business. It would be unheard of  not to have a diamond  certified  if it were  a high priced or rare  diamond or color stone. GIA  was the first to have a school to professionally train gemologists.  1 carat and higher Internally flawless  to SI2 and D to K color are the  domain of the GIA.

2  EGL,  European Gemological Laboratory.  Located world wide. like IGI below.

3- IGI -International Gemological Institute. located world wide an located in Europe , Asia, Africa, India and USA, Canada 

Most diamonds of importance are graded by these 3 labs than anywhere else. They command the highest market  value by maintaining high standards and keeping it honest. Conflicts of interest are avoided. It is taboo for a lab to "sell diamonds " Perfect without faults and mistakes  does not exist anywhere. Their grading reports (not certificates) as the have legal  disclaimers . while not a science will usually be  within a grade. Fraudulent reports are rare if ever  discovered in the big 3 labs. They  police themselves quite well and avoid the influence that many sellers exert on a grading lab or person.  Most smaller labs are quite competent and honest.  They deliver a quality analysis and  are comparable to the big 3. Unfortunately   a few  small lab owners are  told by a seller ,"If you want the business, give me the grade !"  Not very good for the buyer. This is very good and profitable  for the seller and a living for the provider.That is as good as it gets. 

All Gem lab  grading is subjective. On any given day a diamond can grade out differently between the major gem labs. They can even differ in the same gem lab if resubmitted again to the original lab.

If you buy a diamond that is certified ask questions.

Is the lab  connected to the seller ? Independence is  desireable but not mandatory. Don't allow a seller to  blame the  grade of the  grader alone. The grader  is charging a small fee. The seller is getting   a majority iof the money. Make the seller responsible in writing.

If the grade on the report   doesn't  substantially make  grade elsewhere , what is the  penalty in money  for requesting a refund ?

What is an acceptable variance in grading that is acceptable by the seller ? If it is possible 2 grades then you are at risk of 2 grades for color and 2 grades for clarity. Don't bet that the grades will ever be higher than quoted. Lower is more likely. Are you better off buy a  diamond  analysed by the BIG THREE and opt for a diamond that is 2 grades less in quality.

Buy  clarity enhanced, irradiated  or lasered diamonds provided the treatment is explained  and fully disclosed. They are good for the money. Ask the seller  what price over so called wholesale is his  retail price based. Don't get confused. Natural diamonds can be treated or irradiated. They can be  clarity enhanced. If you buy one of these be aware that the look is only a little different. The PRICE is way different. Do not confuse them . THEY ARE NOT THE SAME !

I'd rather buy a good deal  than a  bad deal.

Make sure the treatment is fully disclosed and explained. Many blue, green, and yellow diamonds  on eBay are sold as natural when in truth the have been treated   with radiation or HPHT processing. Don't believe the story. Blue diamonds of rich intesity are worth Thousand of dollars. Why would anybody sell you a $10,000 diamond for $500.

Remember the  big lies. The  Check is in the mail. I love you, The diamond is Natural untreated color that I bought from a collector. If you are offered this  then you need a GIA report that can be verified.

A diamond can be lasered to make a pathway for acid to leach out the black pique' natuarally found in most diamonds. It must be  disclosed to the buyer before the sale  is completed. This process is accepted in the trade and has been around  from the early 1970's.

Clarity enhanced diamonds are filled with a substance that makes the feathers or  breaks seem to disappear. The process is not permanent and can be altered if the diamond is heated by a jeweler torch during sizing or repair.

Get a reasonable  7 day return  privilege if you are not satisfied with  your purchase. Negative feedback should never be an option by the seller or the buyer. If you buy something and you have a right to check it and return it without a huge penalty or a negative feedback.

Now comes the EBAY certified diamond. Presented with the diamond  jewelry  term (loosely)  They are reports of varying quality and some bias  in favor of the seller. These diamonds are usually clarity enhanced. Since the big 3 don't grade enhanced  many sellers are  free to  sell these diamonds with  optimistic reports. It is good business to offer a 1.50 carat  "certified" diamond at a rock bottom unbelievable  price. 

 Is the diamond worth the price paid ? Usually  it is. It is  just a little lower  in quality  than if certified by the BIG 3. Since GIA , EGL or IGI  they don't grade these type of enhanced  diamonds  "certification" cards or documents or reports  are not kept  in check.  Who can you dispute this grade with if not the BIG 3 ? This is the sellers perfect out. You can't prove him wrong , so he is right !

In many cases this is what happens to a buyer on eBay:

1-You buy them at a ridiculously  low price.  How  good is this ? The whole world will pay more than you because the seller is generous , stupid or  willing to sell his diamond for less than it is 'WORTH"

2-They are cheaper  and look great. Enhancement is  always discussed in the auction but not always understood. A breast implant is a good  comparable treatment. If  another grader disagrees  it  THE SELLER  says the appraiser is wrong or  has a different opinion or worse yet that he wants to make a sale by destroying the sale of the  seller. I think enhanced diamonds are wonderful and they  should be in the market place. They look  much better than if they weren't treated. Not everybody can afford  gem quality diamonds.

3- If you complain you get your money back  usually less the shipping.

4-If the seller  gets a negative  feedback from you  You give the seller a negative.  Who wants a negative  ? Most of the negatives are  a wash and the buyer is grateful to get all or most of his money back and  not to get a feedback that is negative. Look for  feedback reports with lots of mutually retracted feedback. This is  why sellers retract  negative feedback. Once he  gets the refund or most of the refund who wants a negative feedback anyway ?

Certificates on diamonds  have been available for more than 30 years. On Ebay it's big business. Most  diamonds sold on Ebay are sold with reports from a variety of gemologists and labs. An informed consumer makes for a healthy trading environment. You wouldn't buy gold if it werent assayed. Don't buy diamonds without a credible lab report. ASK QUESTIONS before you spend your money.