Can a local jeweler certify a diamond?

[UberClaire]

I was under the impression that only grading labs could issue diamond certification (GIA, AGS, EGL, etc). Someone told me that a GIA-certified gemologist can certify stones independently as a local jeweler or an independent contractor. Maybe the definition of "certification" is different in these cases -- I would imagine that if true, the certification from the individual would not have as much weight as a certification straight from GIA.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I was under the impression that only grading labs could issue diamond certification (GIA, AGS, EGL, etc).

They are not certifications they are "lab reports". No such thing as a GIA certification.

 

[UberClaire]

I was under the impression that only grading labs could issue diamond certification (GIA, AGS, EGL, etc).

They are not certifications they are "lab reports". No such thing as a GIA certification.

Then a diamond certificate or report. Certification for a diamond, which is terminology I've seen here over and over. Obviously a private jeweler is not going to be issuing a "lab report" as they're not running a lab. I appreciate the clarification in terminology, but it doesn't answer my question.

 

[denverappraiser]

Anyone who wants to can issue a report with their opinion. The trick is that you don't have to care. The burden is on the grader to convince you that their opinions have merit, and the default answer is NO.

Not only doesn't GIA certify diamonds, they don't certify gemologists either. It's a college that many gemologists (including me) attended. Attending or even graduating from there comes with no special anything. The burden is still on them to convince you that you should care, and the default answer is still no.

 

[CharmyPoo]

People often call GIA lab reports - certificates. So they are referencing the same thing. Correctly, they are not certifications because GIA doesn't certify but layman's terms usually means the same.

Appraisers (some would have received GIA ratings) can also grade diamonds and produce an appraisal report. This is not the same as GIA lab reports. The range and strictness with appraisers (even GIA trained ones) can range a lot. There is much tighter control, governance and consistency with a lab report from GIA itself.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Many if not most retailers, dealers, anyone in the trade refers to a GIA Diamond Grading Report as a "CERT" or "CERTIFICATE" or "LAB REPORT." All are interchangeable and most everyone in the trade knows this. Consumers may hear these terms and be confused....rightfully so. My pet peeve is when a GIA graduate says that he or she can "certify a diamond" or what they can offer is the same as the GIA labs.
It would be an impossible task to try to get everyone to use the correct terminology.

Now, about that "Certified Pre-Owned BMW."

 

[denverappraiser]

Actually, the ‘certified’ BMW actually is certified. It’s an insurance policy that BMW attaches that says that your car has been inspected and that certain systems like the transmission, engine etc. will work for some predetermined amount of time. I think it’s about 50,000 miles. It’s fundamentally an insurance policy. It doesn't necessarily mean that it WILL work, it means that they'll pay you if it doesn't. Gem labs, including GIA and along with appraisers, are completely different. There is no guarantee of anything ever, not even that they’ll give it the same grade if they see it again. That's why it's so important to understand who is grading it. An opinion is only as good as the person giving it.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Thanks for the BMW explanation.
I did not know that

 

[Jim Summa]

Hi Everyone,
An AGS Jeweler member can get a AGS Certificate from the lab. They then sign it and turn it into a true Certificate by guaranteeing that they agree with the grading results.

 

[John P]

People often call GIA lab reports - certificates. So they are referencing the same thing. Correctly, they are not certifications because GIA doesn't certify but layman's terms usually means the same.

Precisely.

Appraisers (some would have received GIA ratings) can also grade diamonds and produce an appraisal report. This is not the same as GIA lab reports. The range and strictness with appraisers (even GIA trained ones) can range a lot. There is much tighter control, governance and consistency with a lab report from GIA itself.

While I agree that The hoi polloi of humanity will exhibit a greater range than any single lab I think there is tighter control among individual appraisers and certain companies. By nature, a small team with top talent will be more consistent than any major lab with multiple locations and hundreds of graders of different experience levels who likely spend less time making their decisions.

A practical example: If someone asked me whether I prefer to buy a dozen 1.00 diamonds with GIA reports stating H SI1, or a dozen 1.00 diamonds Neil Beaty has declared to be H SI1 I'll take the Beaty batch every time, if accuracy is the goal. This is no disrespect to GIA, who does a remarkable job, given the breadth and scope of their operations.

It may surprise some people to know common diamonds in the middle-market are bought and sold in parcel-papers only, even if a grading report exists. There are too many global lab standards, and inconsistencies even among same-labs. So frequently a report exists but it's not considered; unless the broker is trying to push something we don't agree with. Of course that never works because "Hey, we're looking right at it, guy...it's J...I don't care what the report says." Every decision means real $$$ to the bottom line. We're not going to buy something on the basis of I if we know it will be J when we submit it ourselves - no matter what the name at the top of the report is. When your bottom line is literally on the line it's strong incentive to be accurate, consistent and strict yourself.