It is not enough to purchase a diamond from anybody or just anywhere. Since they are valuable stones, diamonds come with grading reports that formally rank their attributes. Whenever you are looking to purchase a diamond ring, whether it is for yourself or someone else, make sure the necessary supporting documentation is on hand.

When buying your natural or lab-grown diamond, it's crucial to know how the diamond’s quality is assessed. But how? We shall cover every aspect of diamond grading in this essay, so keep on reading.

Who Grades Diamonds?

You are aware that diamonds are exceedingly expensive and highly wanted for use in exquisite jewelry. You may also know that each diamond must possess specific characteristics in order to have value, whether it is a natural or lab-grown diamond.

The diamond's distinctive hue and clarity develop as it is formed. Following harvesting, a diamond cutter and polisher handle the raw diamond. Based on each diamond's unique characteristics, they use their expertise to establish the form and size that each diamond should have.

A gemologist can grade the diamond cut (symmetry deviations and polish features) once the cutter is finished and establish the carat weight. There are quite a handful of diamond grading organizations. They include:

• Gemological Institute of America
• American Gem Society
• International Gemological Institute
• European Gemological Laboratories
• Gemological Science International

The most renowned organization with generally acknowledged principles is the GIA. The qualified gemologists who grade natural and lab-grown diamonds at these well-known institutions have been trained to use the right tools to evaluate diamonds and give an accurate grade.

Diamond Grading Chart

In the 1940s, experts at the GIA came up with a method for judging the quality of a diamond. The GIA is a non-profit organization with the most knowledge and standards about gems. GIA-graded diamonds are thought to be of the highest quality due to their stringent criteria and methodology. The "4Cs" used by GIA to grade diamonds are:

• Cut
• Clarity
• Color
• Carat Weight

These grading scales or grading charts are an established set of norms. They directly affect how much a diamond is valued. It's crucial to understand the diamond grading table before purchasing diamond jewelry, such as engagement rings, wedding ring sets, and diamond earrings.

Carat

Despite the fact that many people mistake a carat for a diamond's size, a carat is simply a measurement of weight. However, you can infer the precise weight from this. Diamonds are weighed to the fifth decimal place by a very accurate electronic micro-balance system. This is used by grading agencies to determine carats.

Color

A diamond's color is a gauge of how colorless it is. A scale from D to Z is used to grade color. Colorless and almost colorless diamonds are classified as D–F and G–J, respectively.

A, B, and C were once employed by GIA but were later deemed obsolete. Diamond graders set the diamond in a controlled viewing area to ascertain its color. Following that, it is contrasted with "color masters," lists of the colors of each diamond color grade.

Multiple graders individually assess each diamond in grading organizations since color is a subjective grading that must be done by the human eye. Only after these distinct graders have finished can they offer a grade to the diamond.

Clarity

A diamond's clarity is defined as its visible purity. It is based on the quantity of inclusions and flaws, frequently imperceptible to the unaided eye, that naturally develop throughout a diamond's formation. Grades for clarity range from flawless to included.

Although perfectly flawless diamonds are extremely rare, many diamonds do have imperfections that can only be noticed up close. Gemologists can benefit from these inclusions. They aid in distinguishing between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are almost impossible to tell from natural diamonds. It takes an expert to be able to tell the difference between them. Wearing a lab-grown engagement ring is as good as wearing a natural diamond ring.

Under magnification, grading organizations examine diamonds to identify inclusions, exclusions, and any indications of clarity treatments. Then, they rank them using the scale below:

• FL which stands for Flawless
• IF which stands for Internally Flawless
• VVS1 to VVS2 which means Very, Very Slightly Included
• VS1 to VS2 which means Very Slightly Included
• SI1 to SI2 which means Slightly Included
• I1 to I2 to I3 which means Included

Cut

A diamond's cut refers to how its surface engages with and captures light. Indicators including a diamond's brilliance, fire, polish, and symmetry are used to assess the cut quality. The cut is then given a GIA grade ranging from excellent to poor.

This calls for a high level of experience and precise attention to detail. When deciding on a cut grade, graders must compare the data they get to millions of diamond cut proportions. Diamond grading organizations have stringent criteria in place for assessing cut grades due to the complicated procedure.

What are GIA-Certified Diamonds?

A diamond that has undergone the grading procedure created by the Gemologist Institute of America is said to be "GIA-certified." Most frequently, GIA-certified gemologists grade the diamonds, and they subsequently document the diamond's quality in a certificate.

Advantages of Buying A Certified Diamond

Nobody wants to buy something that lacks authenticity and quality. One of the benefits of buying a certified diamond is its authenticity. 

You get a high-value product, especially when you're shopping for a set of wedding rings, engagement rings, or even a diamond pendant.

Buying a certified diamond gives people confidence, especially when it has been authenticated by the GIA, which has an impartial evaluation process.

Cost of Certification

Certain things, such as the stone type, its carat weight, and the needed service, all affect how much a GIA grading report costs.

The cost of the basic grading service for D-Z diamonds ranges from around $30 for a quarter-carat stone to about $85 for a one-carat stone. The price rises in accordance with the service and weight.

How to Read a GIA Diamond Certificate

Several factors to look out for on a diamond's GIA certificate include:

• Date of the diamond's evaluation
• Number of the GIA report
• Dimensions of the diamond
• Shape and cutting design (such as round brilliant)

The certificate will next list the carat weight, color grade, clarity grade, and cut grade grading results. The certificate also includes a profile image of the diamond, showing its precise dimensions and clarity traits.

Conclusion

When purchasing a diamond necklace, solitaire ring, diamond pendant, or wedding ring in general, you should go for the one with the best quality cut, color, and clarity.

It is difficult to authenticate the diamond you are purchasing without the help of an expert to evaluate your diamond. Don't buy a diamond unless it has a certificate from a globally recognized grading institute such as the GIA.