EGL, EGL USA, EGL ISR, GIA, AGS - is there really a difference?

[joker382]

I have been on the hunt for a few weeks now and have been to a lot of B&M''s and been to just about every online vendor out there. This brings me to my next question.... are any one of those labs better or worse than the others? I know I have read that GIA is very reliable, but I ave also heard there is a law suit against them for falsifying information. I have also heard that EGL USA and EGL ISR (Israel) are more reliable than EGL Europe. When purchasing a diamond, should these labs play a crucial part in the selection process, or should I focus more on the numbers and how they look in person? Thanks!!!!!

 

[MWG]

Date: 6/27/2007 5:55:27 PM
Author:joker382
I have been on the hunt for a few weeks now and have been to a lot of B&M''s and been to just about every online vendor out there. This brings me to my next question.... are any one of those labs better or worse than the others? I know I have read that GIA is very reliable, but I ave also heard there is a law suit against them for falsifying information. I have also heard that EGL USA and EGL ISR (Israel) are more reliable than EGL Europe. When purchasing a diamond, should these labs play a crucial part in the selection process, or should I focus more on the numbers and how they look in person? Thanks!!!!!

Both!!! GIA and AGS in America carry more WEIGHT!!!! The others seem to have less stringent standards.

Most PS vendors carry GIA and AGS stones in their inventory. Example: James Allen will buy your stone from you, even if you did not purchase from him, but it must certified by select grading companies. He will not accept some grading labs opinions on diamonds.

How they look and the numbers also play a huge part. I would not buy an uncertified stone, the quality is usually in not there and this is why it is uncertified.....it was not worth the money to certify it.

So, IMHO, both play a huge part.

Suggestion, stay with vendors who sell quality products and you will get a quality diamond for the money you spent.

 

[joker382]

The diamond I was looking at was EGL ISR, so it would be accompanied by a certification, I just was not sure how reliable it is. I don''t really see my GF wanted to sell it in the future (at least I would hope not), but I am not sure. Overall, I got a really great price for a setting and diamond which I thought was beautiful in person (and under a loupe).

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 6/27/2007 6:32:45 PM
Author: joker382
Overall, I got a really great price for a setting and diamond which I thought was beautiful in person (and under a loupe).

This may be the most important.

Wise words: Buy the diamond, not the paper.

Generally, I think you have your order reversed, not that it matters, as it''s just a description (though as a marker for value, that is different), but EGL Israel may be seen as the most loose, followed by Europe, followed by USA, then GIA, then AGS. Do these matter? If you want to look to the cert to determine what the characteristics of the diamond are, well, yeah. But, ordinarily you set some thresholds to begin with, and then work with what''s left. If you''ve liked a jeweler that''s offered these, they become in the mix. Determining a) what you like and then b) if they''re priced reasonably, is a good objective. Chances are, as DMB (?) has suggested, pricing comes out in the wash. Generally, relativity questions are more toothsome before a purchase is made, and afterwards...the question has a different character. Hopefully, if you''ve made a purchase decision, you like what you''ve done, and either way, I think we''re happy to support you.

 

[joker382]

The diamond was a 1.35 CT Round Brilliant.
EGL ISR certified
H
SI1
Depth: 59.3%
Table: 63%
Girdle: TN
Polish and Symmetry: Very Good
Cut: Ideal
Florescences: Faint

I got it priced with two settings that I really liked. One of them was 18K split shank and the other was a Platinum eternity band with diamonds around the entire ring. The 18K was priced at $7500 and the other he said would be a few hundred (2-300) more if I wanted it. The diamond itself looked fantastic and I looked at it under a few different lights, in the store (recessed lighting), in the back (fluorescent lights), outside with the sunlight and with the lope. It looked really good in all of them. I was between that and a cushion and the cushion was 1.41 and fairly close to the same specs. The two could not compare, the RB was in a completely different league.

The jeweler has a good reputation in the area and I also know someone who bought a ring from him and he was thrilled with the outcome/quality of the stone and ring. I have also spoken with a gemologist and he said he has heard good tings about that jeweler. The thing I am concerned about is this EGL ISR rating. Should I be concerned, or does this seem like a great deal (because right now I feel like it is).

 

[strmrdr]

A very respected and skilled appraiser has stated he has never seen a EGL Israel grade he agreed with.
Id put egl-Israel and igi at the bottom of the list out of the bigger labs and neither is worth the paper they are printed on in my opinion.
EGL-usa is a bit better and often close to gia/ags standards.

 

[MWG]

The only thing I can tell you is from what I read and the diamond you picked has a very large table and it will a lot of light but lacks

This quote below comes from here: http://diamonds.pricescope.com/crn_pav.asp

Larger table diamonds have a better "spread" and can be brighter, i.e. they return more light, but are often less firey than diamonds with smaller tables. They often have less scintillation.

I think you would do well to read this page and the articles on it.


Also, you seem to have 1 of the 3 you need. You have BRIGHTNESS, but you probably lack FIRE and SCINTILLATION!!

Check out these Videoes at GOG on Brightness, Fire and Scintillation

http://www.goodoldgold.com/video/

Good Luck
MWG

 

[Lorelei]

From the info given, the cut of this diamond is not what we normally see around here, but you seem to be sold on it and want to buy it! If so, get an independant appraisal to make sure the colour and clarity check out. Also because this diamond is described as an Ideal Cut doesn't mean it actually is, and a few things disqualify it anyway. But the main thing is if you love it!

 

[oldminer]

Labs are all the same. Each has master diamonds, and trained gemologists. They all have similar tools and employees who know how to use these tools properly. The difference is in the culture ofthe lab, its managers and its owners.

Are they dedicated to correctness or are they allowing looseness in grading?

Has the lab sold out to its customers? Some have and some never would.

Are any labs objectivly accurate,?" No! The field is subjective, but everyone who is an expert on this topic knows very clearly, albeit subjectively, that certain labs are liberal in grading and other labs are more in line with reality.

Has any lab gotten in trouble for off grading? Yes, and GIA as well. It isn''t common and not a major problem. Law enforcement has bigger problems than diamond grading, it seems.

The true answer is that you are buying a diamond and the market value is set by its actual grade and not just by the paper it comes with. When you see a bargain diamond with an "off" lab report, just assume the color and clarity are higher than they should be. Nearly all the time you''ll be right. When this isn''t the case, then that particular stone is potentially a bargain, but you''ll need expertise to be certain. Don''t be naive about believing what you read just because its in print.