One of the first things a consumer learns about diamonds is the importance of the certificate, especially when buying online.
The diamond education sites almost unanimously conclude that GIA and AGS have the highest standards, and that certs from EGL or IGI are generally believed to be not as reliable -- and that is the reason for the premium the consumer pays for a GIA or AGS graded stone.
A little searching shows that EGL stones are often quite a bit cheaper.
My question is how inaccurate are the second tier labs? HOW MUCH error is there in their grading?
Let's say I want to get a G stone with SI1 clarity. I've been told that I cannot rely on an EGL certicate that says that the stone is G-SI1 because EGL standards are too lax. Well, what if I go out and get an EGL-certified stone and the certificate says that the stone is a F-VS2? Can I be comfortable that the stone is really and truly AT LEAST G-SI1 (and hey, it might actually be F-VS2)? If I have an EGL stone and the certificate says its an E-VS1, should I have any confidence that GIA would grade the stone at least G-SI1?
The diamond education sites almost unanimously conclude that GIA and AGS have the highest standards, and that certs from EGL or IGI are generally believed to be not as reliable -- and that is the reason for the premium the consumer pays for a GIA or AGS graded stone.
A little searching shows that EGL stones are often quite a bit cheaper.
My question is how inaccurate are the second tier labs? HOW MUCH error is there in their grading?
Let's say I want to get a G stone with SI1 clarity. I've been told that I cannot rely on an EGL certicate that says that the stone is G-SI1 because EGL standards are too lax. Well, what if I go out and get an EGL-certified stone and the certificate says that the stone is a F-VS2? Can I be comfortable that the stone is really and truly AT LEAST G-SI1 (and hey, it might actually be F-VS2)? If I have an EGL stone and the certificate says its an E-VS1, should I have any confidence that GIA would grade the stone at least G-SI1?