What Is A Gemstone Certification?
Have you often noticed the term “certified” for a stone and wondered what it meant? Several “certifications” are provided to gemstones to show their origins, quality, and rarity if you’re staring at such a lovely sapphire or a spectacular diamond.
Certifications provide purchasers with assurance and accreditation of their buys, and appraisals, insurance, and resale can all benefit from them. However, it’s crucial to understand that not every gemstone classification was made equal. While interacting with verified gemstones, this post would go through what to search for and avoid.
What Is The Full Process Of Gemstone Certification?
Gemstone certification relates to the procedure of evaluating a slab of stone against a set of excellence parameters developed by a gemstone industry to identify the purity and specific other attributes of various gemstones.
A gemstone analyst inspects or measures the delicate aspects of such a stone and then issues a comprehensive report derived from the findings of the gemstone inspections.
A certification statement is a document prepared by such a gemologist or gemstone specialist. All sizes and properties of a gemstone verified by a certified gem specialist are included in a gemstone certification report.
Why Is Gemstone Certification Important?
The demand for gemstone certification arose from the existence of a significant amount of fraudulent gemstone traders who preyed on people by offering them colored or synthetic gemstones.
To prevent future deceptive practices, legitimate gemstone merchants have established an institute that would specifically investigate or analyze different in-depth elements of the stones, including such color, structure, chemical characteristics, and procedures.
Obtaining a suitable report that includes minor information of a specific gemstone such as its weight, carat, color, inclusions, procedures, form, refractive index, beryllium treatment, and so on based upon that.
As a result, a gem certification report reveals even the tiniest characteristics about such a stone. As a result, customers who would like to buy a gemstone must look for merchants who provide gemstone certifications.
A skilled gem specialist analyses a certified gemstone. To determine the gemstone’s quality, which thoroughly assesses or examines a specific stone on several aspects.
As a result, we recommend purchasing a certified gemstone, as analyzed by a skilled gemstone specialist. As a result, the stone is successful in terms of quality. Yet, each gemstone supplier currently guarantees that they are offering a verified gemstone to a consumer.
What Elements Are Included In A Gemstone Certification Test Report?
The purity of gems (natural or synthetic), carat weight, form & cut, color, size of the stone, optical character, specific gravity, refractive index & toughness, and type are indeed the fundamental parameters mentioned in a gemstone certification report.
In these testing, the remarks included in the report are also quite critical. The characteristics of every study vary depending on the techniques used and the scientific method taken. The features listed here, on the other hand, may be found in almost all gemstone testing results.
Take, for example, India’s top reputable gemstone certification lab, IGI-GTL – GJEPC, and examine how it delivers its findings.
Is It OK To Buy An Uncertified Gemstones?
As a purchaser, certification is essential since it gives independent confirmation of a stones’ purity.
You’ll never know what you’re getting unless you get a certificate. If such a stone isn’t verified, the dealer is your only point of information regarding its excellence, and the merchant’s opinion isn’t always the most objective.
If a dealer magnifies the grade of a non-certified gem, you might wind up spending too much for a gem that would be priced lower if it had been certified.
What Does Gemstone Certification Includes?
Several factors are included in gemstone certification information, including:
- If the gemstone is genuine, synthetic, or false.
- Whether the gemstone has been treated and heated or if it has not been treated and heated.
- The coloring of the gemstone’s purity.
- Carat weight is the measurement of the size of a gemstone.
- Gemstone cutting comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- The gemstone’s specific gravity.
- The refractive index of the gem.
- The hardness of the gem on the Mohs scale.
Inclusions that could also assist you in pinpointing the country of origin of the gemstone may be traced in a comprehensive report. An analysis of gems could include a blueprint of the stone’s internal and exterior properties.
What Is The Best Gemstone Certification?
At the same point, each institution uniquely performs the gem certificate evaluation. They each have their method, reputation, and monetary value. Seven influential organizations issued certified diamonds:
- GIA
In respect of gemstone grading, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has the best track record. It was established in 1931 as a non-profit organization to establish supremacy in the gem industry.
In 1953, GIA introduced its grading system with this goal in mind, and it has been used as a purity criterion for gem certifications ever since. GIA is also noted for its moral purity, rigorous grading study, and thorough certifications procedure.
- AGS
The American Gem Society, or AGS, is another reputable source for diamond certification. It is the first gem grading institute to publish an evaluation scale.
This incident occurred in 1943. The laboratory developed a distinct cut grade scale that ranks gems from “0” (or “perfect”) to “9.” That performance had been recognized by AGS for a long time, long before GIA introduced cut grades and posed a competitive threat to AGS.
- GCAL
IGI, EGL, GSI, and HRD are all excellent options, but GCAL, or Gem Certification and Assurance Lab, is indeed a great option. It debuted in 2001 and, unlike the other institutes mentioned in this description, did not experiment with gemstone color, clarity, or cut.
GCAL is much more dependable than IGI, EGL, GSI, and HRD because it has no stake in diamond prices. This certification organization can become another golden goose if it retains its status for years.
- IGI
The International Gemological Institute, or IGI, has a working-class status in the delicate world of gemstone grades. It was awarded this designation due to the quick speed with which it completed its certification procedure and the inexpensive cost of the services.
On the other hand, this method rendered IGI more appealing to gemstone sellers than to gemstone purchasers.
- EGL
The European Gemological Laboratory, or EGL, is a Belgian institution formed in 1974. EGL’s daily operations are guided by retaining a scientific technique to jewelry grading.
The university places a strong emphasis on applied research, innovation, and meeting needs. At the same time, an EGL gemstone certification cost is less than the cost of information concerning grades provided by other organizations.
- GSI
Because GSI is a new grading authority, diamond certificates are only valid for a few years. GSI, which stands for Gemological Science International, experimented with color, clarity, and cut. Alliances with significant gemstone merchants are also well-known.
Other minor institutes provide gemstone certification services. However, they all have severe issues with grading accuracy.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Gemstones Certified?
On average, certification from a reputable lab cost around Rs. 1500 in India, with prices ranging from Rs. 600 to Rs. 2000.
How Can I Check My Gem Certificate Online?
To check for authenticity with GIA, go over to GIA Report Check and enter the Report number on your certificate.
For AGS certification, go to the website and enter the AGS number from the report to verify its legitimacy.
Each certificate includes a method for verifying authenticity; if necessary, you may verify the procedure on the web. If you want to purchase certified gemstones web, you should choose a reputable supplier.
Conclusion
Every time demand a certificate and don’t buy non-certified gems if you would like to make sure the stone you’re buying is from the brilliance the jeweler says.
We advise purchasing gemstones from sellers who sell gems that have been verified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and specific other trustworthy labs.
There is no way to determine the stones’ actual purity if they do not arrive with a certification report. Color variations between adjacent color classes, for instance, could be so slight that they go unnoticed.
They could, nevertheless, create a considerable difference in your budget, mainly if you acquire a non-certified diamond with a one-grade color enhancement.