About GIA or EGL reports etc.

[swdtiger]

Is it important to get a diamond with an GIA or EGL report?

 

[oldminer]

It is important to SHOP. It is important to try to understand what it is you are buying and what sellers need to get for the stone type you would want.

The CERT is not the diamond, but if you want the most accurate color and clarity data, you will want an AGS or GIA report for most stones. One can also use an EGL report to get a range of a GIA grade, but it may be liberally graded. If you simply rely on every lab being the same, you are making an error. They are similar, but not the same.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

It is as Dave says - But the EGL stones are priced lower by the market, so they can be a good deal.
But EGL-USA is a better bet than EGL.

 

[69gm]

i know my comments might not mean much compared to having dave and garry answer you but just thought i'd bring a personal note to your question from an "average joe".

it is NOT necessary to buy a diamond with a cert. there are many great diamonds out there that don't have one. there are many duds that do come with a cert. and more often than not, a diamond with a GIA or AGS will cost more than one without.

that being said, i personally like having a diamond with a cert. having a cert like GIA and AGS...and to a lesser extent EGL-USA, IMHO...is like buying insurance. they definitely help in your decision making since very important information is presented for you to help you pick up the right stone. you can feel confident that the basic 4 C's that are present on either the GIA or AGS cert, are very accurate...probably moreso than the "average joe"'s like us can tell anyway. so it's like getting a well respected stamp of approval on your diamond that says you can trust the numbers and grading presented.

if you do opt for a diamond without a cert, make sure you have a good appraiser like those found on PS, to take a look at your stone and give you their complete analysis. a little money spent with them will be well worth it to find a great stone.

it is even recommended that even with a cert, you should still consider having an appraiser take a look at your diamond. at the very least, they can tell you all kinds of neat info about your diamond...these days they have so many toys, it's mind boggling.

but it's all for the sake of helping you find a winner of a stone.

remember, a diamond is a luxury item so listen to the likes of dave and garry and shop intelligently.