Various certificates - interpretation of survey

[leapinghorse]

From the survey results I read here, it appears that EGL usa is not as bad as people make it out to be. It seems like most people automatically discount any cert other than GIA or AGS, but from what I see perhaps that shouldn''t be the case.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me. I have read so many posts telling others to avoid EGL or IGI or HRD, however I am trying to determine if these suggestions are warranted.

Any comments?

And thanks!

 

[JohnQuixote]

Hi Leapinghorse.

I'd say that consumers making recommendations on PS are comfortable with the global reliability of GIA/AGS. Some of the labs you mention have earned a spotty reputation in places (HRD is not one of them). EGL-USA is historically stronger than other locations and IGI abroad - particularly in Hong Kong - is stronger than IGI in commercial US markets...but when people are shopping in the sight-unseen internet market caution flags are sometimes raised, whether deserved or not.

While any diamond can be sent to any lab it's not as simple as that. Diamond pros are smart people and select which lab to use for any given diamond on-purpose. Rarity, cut quality, turnaround time and the market it will be sold in can all influence the decision. The AGS, GIA and HRD have earned a strong reputation over the years for consistency as well as strictness. This makes people comfortable.

When shopping live you can use your own eyes and experience to decide whether Lab X graded a diamond with the strictness you require. If you don't have the training you can employ an appraiser for an opinion - for any diamond.

We do say "buy the diamond, not the paper" but on the internet all one can see is the paper. That's the reason a report's origin gets more consideration online than live. Example: If someone offered you, sight-unseen, a bag full of GIA-graded D/VS1 rounds - or a bag full of IGI-graded D/VS1 rounds (same carat sizes and makes) - which would you choose?

 

[mikebzt]

John knows best. He is a wealth of information.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I wouldn''t avoid any of the EGL-USA certs, if you liked the stone. Just have it double checked to make sure you''re at the right price level on it.

Same applies for the rest of the EGL certs, actually. Some are "softer" than others, but that doesn''t necessarily mean anything''s wrong with the stone. The market usually discounts stones from softer labs appropriately. It''s just up to you to verify what you''re getting. With GIA, AGS & HRD (first tier diamond labs), you don''t have to worry so much. With EGL (especially EGL-Foreign) and IGI, you need to do your homework.