EGL certification

[greenie]

Hi all,

I''ve been reading the site and forum for several weeks and have learned a lot of valuable information. I''m a much more informed consumer because of it, so thanks. My husband and I are doing some research for a diamond purchase, which would be an upgrade for me

.

My question is regarding EGL certification. The general consensus seems to be that EGL - USA certifcations are ok (versus EGL labs in other countries.) Am I right in my assessment? I ask because the EGL graded stones I''ve seen online seem to be a little less expensive, and I''m trying to strike a balance between quality and size. If we were to purchase an EGL - USA certified stone, would the color and clarity grades be inflated at all?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

[Regular Guy]

In the summary page of the study conducted recently by Pricescope, doing a survey of 17 diamonds randomly graded, they reported:

"In two thirds of cases EGL USA color grading was one grade softer but clarity grading in a third of cases was stricter than GIA."

 

[RADIANTMAN]

EGL provides a "pregrade" meaning that for a small charge, they advise you of what grade you will get if you order the certificate. Generally, the vendor only orders the certificate if it''s better than what the GIA would grade it. As a result, the "grading survey" is a bit misleading. Stones with EGL certificates are generally "overgraded" relative to GIA stones, and that is why the market discounts them. Remember, if an item trades for a discount there is always a reason.

 

[Regular Guy]

Three points:

Date: 4/20/2005 12:25

9 PM
Author: RADIANTMAN
EGL provides a ''pregrade'' meaning that for a small charge, they advise you of what grade you will get if you order the certificate. Generally, the vendor only orders the certificate if it''s better than what the GIA would grade it. As a result, the ''grading survey'' is a bit misleading.

1) I think you may be doing some Baysian statistics there, which I''m very bad at. Can you walk me through the logic

Stones with EGL certificates are generally ''overgraded'' relative to GIA stones, and that is why the market discounts them. Remember, if an item trades for a discount there is always a reason.

2) Actually, I sort of thought the market was not savvy the difference between EGL - USA and EGL generally, so that, if you have a diamond that is EGL - USA, it''s almost sort of a lucky find, with pricing based on what it''s lesser brothers are known for.

3) Any way to tell, for those diamonds listed here and called EGL, which they are?

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Hi All,
Dealers know that EGL''s reports do not carry the same weight in the market as GIA- therefore, diamonds with EGL certs do not bring the same price as diamonds with the same grade from GIA.

As Radiantman points out, EGL makes it easier- submitting stones is easier, they come back faster and the "pre-grade" also makes it easier for dealers.
BUt all if this is simnply EGL''s ( either USA or non) attempt to level the playing feild and catch up with GIA. I can''t envision a day when that will occur.

Therefore, by and large, dealers send the best stones to GIA, and the lesser stones to EGL.


I hope this helps.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

1. Given the relatively low # of listed EGL diamonds - does thiis arguement suggest that there are not that many cases where dealers go with the EGL grading?
2. The grading survey notes that even after the market discounting for EGL USA, that those same 16 stones were by and large cheaper when sold with their somewhat softer EGL USA certs.

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Garry- the percentage of diamonds that are listed is a miniscule percentage of the diamonds that are sent to GIA, AGS, EGL(s) or IGI.
Therefore it is not possible to extrapolate how many diamonds with EGL reports are floating around out there based on how many are in the listings.

 

[hey joey]

I recommend to go with gia cert

 

[hardness10]

It seems to me that the niche EGL certs have in Jewelry world is that they grade esp. color very high. That gives a dealer or a wholesaler a "F I1" stone that has a peice of paper that says "D SI2". So you find this stone somewhere that says "D SI2", but its priced like a "F I1" and looks like a really good deal when you look at it next to a real "D SI2". its kinda sly, if you think about it....

 

[Tandem Journies]

Hi!

My insight is this , no matter who grades a diamond , there is a range that can be filled. For example, how old are you? You could be thirty by a day or almost thirty one, you are still thirty!
The diamond could be barely an H or almost a G, still an H depending on how each individual will interpret it. This goes same for clarity. I have had a lot of dealings with the EGL and I would agree better to have a USA cert, but you still have to look and compare for yourself. I recently had a discussion wiyh a GIA instructor and she told the class that it was possible to have differences based on how the grader was feeling that day. Best thing is to go and look at a lot of diamonds in your budget and get a sense of what looks right for you. Pick out the diamond that "talks" to you and your pocketbook. Just familiarize yourself with different grades and garding procedures and you will be fine!