HELP! GIA or EGL certified diamond. what''s the difference???

[PIANOMAN]

I''m lost and don''t know which direction to go. What is the difference with GIA and EGL certified diamonds?

 

[Rank Amateur]

The very best stones tend to have GIA or AGS lab certs. Why this is the case could be the subject of a very long thread!

EGL, IGI, and the rest of the second tier labs don''t have the perceived value add that the big boys have.


That being said, there are many wonderful stones available with EGL certs (or no cert at all). This is why you hear so many tout the "buy the stone not the paper" mantra. Find a vendor whom you trust and work with him or employ the services of an independent appraiser to be your expert eyes.