There’s an upsurge of articles urging consumers to avoid buying diamonds UNLESS they come with diamond grading certificates from a reputable diamond lab. While I do agree with the general concept of this there are some problems with this blanket statement that should be addressed.
Diamond certificates are good to have, but they’re not necessary for all diamonds. One of my customers purchased a gold locket with a small diamond accent. He insisted the diamond accent should come with a lab-grading certificate. He had read a recent article in which someone had made that blanket statement without expounding. I explained to him that this statement does not apply to the small diamond in his locket.
So when should you buy a certified diamond?
Grading certificates cost money…sometimes several hundred dollars. So many diamonds are sold without them, especially small diamonds. It simply is not cost-effective to obtain an official lab report for accent diamonds. Diamond grading certificates are commonly issued for diamonds .50 carat and above, especially if they have very high color and clarity.
But lots of jewelers sell diamonds without certificates. If you trust your jeweler is knowledgeable and can accurately represent the diamonds they sell, then diamond certificates are not necessary. Many jewelers employ gemologists who can accurately grade diamonds just as well as a reputable lab without the added expense.
The bottom line is, if you wish to have a lab-certified diamond, expect to pay a little more as lab certificates cost money. Make sure the certificate is from a reputable lab, such as GIA or AGS. And most importantly, buy from a jeweler you trust.
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