Quick question in Diamond Certification

[kevinraja]

I noticed from whiteflash.com that comparable diamonds certified by EGL are 1-2K cheaper than the one certified by GIA? Why this discrepancy? Is EGL not reputed? Which certification is the best?

 

[denverappraiser]

Check out the lab survey on the front page of pricescope. It explains this nicely.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[JohnQuixote]

Hello Kevin.

The survey Neil referred to can be found here.

As you will see, the grading of a diamond can vary depending on the lab that performs the analysis and certification. Labs use trained Graduate Gemologists and any inconsistencies are often because a diamond is on the line between two grades. They are rarely more than one grade apart - at least between those labs included in the survey. Grading accuracy will never be 100% consistent as long as some elements (esp. color and clarity) are subjective.

Using GIA as a standard, I believe it's safe to opine that AGS generally grades stricter and EGL-USA used to be somewhat softer, but recently has gotten closer to GIA.

 

[Jennifer5973]

----------------
On 10/19/2004 7:13:03 PM JohnQuixote wrote:


...Using GIA as a standard, I believe it's safe to opine that AGS generally grades stricter and EGL-USA used to be somewhat softer, but recently has gotten closer to GIA.----------------

Opine. One of my favorite 10-cent words!

 

[JohnQuixote]

I love having good cents.

 

[EdSkinner]

GIA is the word of god. it will trade sight unseen. EGL has its critics. People believe that EGL is easy on color and or clarity. But I haven't seen many that have been more than a grade off.

 

[bearman49]

Some EGL labs tend to be a little loose with their grades.
The main difference in my opinion in the pricing is the true grade of the stone, not necessarily the lab report.

I like to sell the diamond, not the paper. I have EGL stones regraded before I show them to customers. They are getting more accurate, but not there yet on a regular basis.

On the other hand, GIA has gotten somewhat looser themselves, especially in the SI1 grade. Sometimes their SI2's look better than their SI1's.