GIA Vs. IGI/GCAL

[kel12345]

Hi everyone!
I’ve heard GIA is the oldest and most trustworthy certification. I do see quite a few LGDs with IGI as well as GCAL. I heard IGI is common with LGDs. Is GCAL reputable? I had never heard of that certification prior to shopping around.
Thanks!

 

[Runningmama]

GCAL is very reputable, on par with GIA and their reports are more detailed than either IGI or GIA. If you’re going GCAL, the 8x is the crème de la crème.

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello, kel12345.
Grading lab can be an important choice, but keep in mind that there are many aspects of a diamond that go unmentioned on any grading report:
Material quality (things like stria, strain, graining, color hues, etc)

Minute details of cut precision (things like painting, digging, pavilion twist)

Optical performance (things like over-obstruction or paddling)

...that is information that won't be on a grading report. GCAL 8X or GIA w/AGS addendum will come the closest since they provide optical assessment images on the report, but there are still other things to look for with the diamond, itself.

 

[0515vision]

My understanding is that IGI’s reputation increased when they ventured into the LGD space. Initially, GIA chose to stay out of LGD.

By essentially being a pioneer in LGD certification, IGI had the opportunity to show that their color grading and cut grading were on par with other reputable organizations. GIA started certifying LGD several years after IGI, likely after realizing that LGD were going to make up a significant market share.