should i choose GIA OR IGI

[FRANBRE]

should i choose GIA OR IGI IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE

 

[neatfreak]

Huge difference. GIA or AGS is the way to go usually.

 

[AprilBaby]

Agreed, GIA or AGS.

 

[Circe]

GIA or AGS, thritto. IGI is second or third tier and doesn''t have a great reputation for accurate results.

 

[FRANBRE]

I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

Not based on that information we can''t. An IGI graded E color is perhaps a G/H by GIA or AGS standards, and cut quality is important to know to determine price too.

 

[FRANBRE]

ITS EXCELLANT /IDEAL CUT NO FLORESENCE WHAT OTHER INFO DO U NEED IM ONLY NEW TO THE WHOLE DIAMOND EDUCATION

 

[Circe]

We''d need all the info on the certificate, basically: diameter, total depth, crown height. Cut is basically the most important factor in a stone''s beauty, and right now, that''s the piece of the puzzle that''s missing.

Um ... kind of a tangent, but could you kill the caps-lock? I keep thinking you''re VERY ANGRY, ''cause all-caps translates as internet yelling to me.

 

[FRANBRE]

im sorry didnt even realise its SI1 dont have exact details off the cert tho

 

[Circe]

Hm ... okay, well, going off of that info, a quick search using Pricescope''s engines (up at the top of the page) shows that you can find comparable GIA certified stones starting at around $13500. I haven''t looked at the cut quality on those at all ... but we already know the certification carries a little more weight than what you''re looking at now. If the workmanship on the rings is awesome, you''re not *necessarily* overpaying, but I think you could do better if you kept looking.

 

[tonyc2387]

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX

2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

if you could guarantee a well-cut stone, yes. unfortunately with IGI, there''s likely no telling... and they''re so generous with their grading it''s probably more like a G I1 to GIA & AGS. If you''re looking for an equivalent diamond with a more-or-less perfect cut, start here:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1247451.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

You should be able to pack in the setting and band to your original price, I doubt there will be any face-up size difference*, and this thing will sparkle like you wouldn''t believe.

*poorly-cut diamonds are usually too "deep" (or ''tall'', however you want to phrase it), which ''hides'' weight and doesn''t provide any visible size difference. dropping down to 1.62 but an extremely well-cut diamond will have the same spread, it just weighs a little less cause it''s not as ''tall''.

 

[neatfreak]

Nope, probably not a good deal at all.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Seems its not a good deal. Still, if you can get the cert and write out all the information on it we can help you better.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 12/9/2009 4:26:48 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

Not based on that information we can''t. An IGI graded E color is perhaps a G/H by GIA or AGS standards, and cut quality is important to know to determine price too.

Dreamer have you ever seen such a huge discrepency in color grades from IGI?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Date: 12/10/2009 8:01:03 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 12/9/2009 4:26:48 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

Not based on that information we can't. An IGI graded E color is perhaps a G/H by GIA or AGS standards, and cut quality is important to know to determine price too.

Dreamer have you ever seen such a huge discrepency in color grades from IGI?

I agree with dreamer.

I have seen such color discrepancies on IGI reports- a few were even 4 color grades off. Sometimes they are close, or at the same grade as GIA. I've seen cases IGI were stricter than GIA. The problem is inconsistency.
It's along slippery slope once you venture out from AGS or GIA grading.
I have seen stones that look like Y-Z graded K by one of the EGL's ( not the US branch).


FRANBRE- my advice is to stick with a GIA graded diamond. Or AGS.

If you were spending $5000 on a 1.75 ( a very low price), the absence of a GIA report is less of a concern- if you are purchasing from a trusted source. But you're spending considerably more.
Don't take the chance.

IMO trusted sources will advise buyers about high color ( more costly) non GIA graded stones.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/10/2009 8:01:03 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 12/9/2009 4:26:48 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

Not based on that information we can''t. An IGI graded E color is perhaps a G/H by GIA or AGS standards, and cut quality is important to know to determine price too.

Dreamer have you ever seen such a huge discrepency in color grades from IGI?

Not with my own eyes

I will be clearer in the future. What I should have said is that based on what I have read here on PS there can be a large discrepancy between GIA/AGS and some of the other labs including IGI, with the latter group being softer in their color gradings. A couple color grades lower apparently is possible based on what David said, though I suppose it is possible that he is agreeing with me simnply in order to disagree with you

 

[arobert22]

EGL-USA is getting better also...everyone always counts them out but there are great deals to be had because of this......btw how do you pm

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 12/9/2009 4:30:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
ITS EXCELLANT /IDEAL CUT NO FLORESENCE WHAT OTHER INFO DO U NEED IM ONLY NEW TO THE WHOLE DIAMOND EDUCATION

So you are seriously about to spend 20 thousand dollars without the slightest idea about what you are buying????
Good enough reason for all the SHOUTING.

You need to get to the PS knowlegde section with a quickness!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 12/10/2009 11:44:39 PM
Author: arobert22
EGL-USA is getting better also...everyone always counts them out but there are great deals to be had because of this......btw how do you pm

There are no PMs

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 12/10/2009 10:21:45 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/10/2009 8:01:03 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 12/9/2009 4:26:48 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 12/9/2009 4:18:41 PM
Author: FRANBRE
I AM ABOUT TO BUY A IGI CERTIFIED RING MAIN STONE 1.75 E XXX
2 SIDE STONES .3 AND THE WEDDING BAND AND ENGAGEMENT BAND DIAMONDS FOR $19500 CAN ANY1 TELL ME IF THIS IS GOOD VALUE

Not based on that information we can''t. An IGI graded E color is perhaps a G/H by GIA or AGS standards, and cut quality is important to know to determine price too.

Dreamer have you ever seen such a huge discrepency in color grades from IGI?

Not with my own eyes

I will be clearer in the future. What I should have said is that based on what I have read here on PS there can be a large discrepancy between GIA/AGS and some of the other labs including IGI, with the latter group being softer in their color gradings. A couple color grades lower apparently is possible based on what David said, though I suppose it is possible that he is agreeing with me simnply in order to disagree with you

I see a lot of IGI and GIA stones when i am on buying trips to India and my observations are the IGI stones are far more consistently graded than GIA, but in well cut round stones there are many border line stones that IGI is more favourable.
I defy anyone to show me an IGI stone that is 2 or more grades off for color.


On clarity I sepcialize in VS2 / SI1 and the clarity is rarely off from my interpretation where as I often find that GIA is overly reliant on micrscope grading and many diamonds that may have low grades when backlit appear much better when louped, and vice a versa, many GIA grades appear soft thru the loupe. The loupe is more akin to what consumers observe. In those mid range grades I have great difficulty comprehending why a microscope should be used at all.
Having been in 3 IGI labs I have noticed that a fair number of graders are louping diamonds. I have never been in a GIA lab while it is operating, but my opinion is from their grading course that I have done - that they spend a lot of time with microscopes.
So I would expect differences with GIA / IGI on inclusion grades, but I (and i think most consumers) prefer the later labs approach.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi all!
I have no reason whatsoever to disagree with Garry other than we see things differently.

Although I have been to Israel, and Antwerp on many buying trips, I have not been to India.
That may be one reason Garry and I have had different experiences wit the labs.
In the American market, there''s really no debate- IGI is not on the same level as GIA.
Garry- if you have buyers ready to pay par for IGI graded stones with GIA graded stones, we can start resubmitting to IGI.

We''ve not used IGI for at least the last 5 years- although I have seen stones that dealers sent to IGI with less than consistent results more recently. I''ll have to see if I can find a two grades off example.

I stand by my statement- IGI is nowhere near GIA in terms of trade recognition.
I feel it''s very important not to blur the lines of what the trade takes seriously- and what the trade disregards- that being non GIA/ AGS gradings.
A person needing to sell a diamond with a GIA report is in a far better position than one having an IGI report.

 

[BobR]

I was recently on holiday in US and looked at some loose stones in Jareds. All were IGI graded, when I asked if they had any GIA, I was told ''oh yes but they are premium diamonds and are priced accordingly''
Here in the UK there also seems to be the same perception that GIA/AGS ( and possibly HRD) are in a different league to other grading orgs.
As I''m not an expert I can only go on perceptions.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Interesting information Garry. I have not read any recent threads about the different labs, I think I will do a search now.

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 12/11/2009 2:01:19 PM
Author: BobR
I was recently on holiday in US and looked at some loose stones in Jareds. All were IGI graded, when I asked if they had any GIA, I was told ''oh yes but they are premium diamonds and are priced accordingly''
Here in the UK there also seems to be the same perception that GIA/AGS ( and possibly HRD) are in a different league to other grading orgs.
As I''m not an expert I can only go on perceptions.

Here''s the deal with Jared''s. They carry in their stores IGI diamonds and their Peerless and LEO diamonds which are GIA and AGS graded. The Peerless and Leo diamonds are branded therefore are much more expensive. At Jared.com, they sell AGS, GIA and IGI graded diamonds. To compare, the diamond I bought today from their Jared.com list (through my SA at the Jared''s store) is a GIA .80, I, SI2, round for $2,400. A Peerless round diamond, H, SI1 .75 was $4,100.00. So when they say ''priced accordingly'' they mean they inflated their prices on the branded diamonds. You can get a GIA or AGS diamond through Jared''s without buying a Jared''s branded diamond and the inflated price.

Also, they don''t tell you that they have a seperate list they can order from. It has GIA, AGS and IGI diamonds in a vault just for Jared stores that they can get within 24 hours Monday- Thursday. They don''t really want to work from this list, because they want you to buy an IGI or a branded diamond that day. I''ve been working with Jared''s for the last 3 weeks and have learned so much about their operation! I''m still happy I bought through them but I wish I had this knowledge 3 weeks ago.

 

[february2003bride]

I just returned an IGI graded diamond and bought a GIA one. I didn''t have the IGI diamond appraised, but to my eyes, it looked true to it''s grading (I, SI1). I did see an IGI emerald at Jared''s that was an I, VS2. This emerald had to be a K or L color. I know EC''s show more color and I really wanted it so I had my SA show it to me in different lighting (inside, outside, etc). Under all of the lighting situations, the EC was extremely tinted. It just backed up everything that I had read here for the past 4 years about IGI grading being inconsistent.