With so many certificates out there, authenticity for a product continues to confuse us, especially when it comes to diamonds. Two of the certificates recognized by the jewelry industry are EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America). So what's the difference?
Let's pretend that two different individuals get a speeding ticket for the same exact offense and need to go before two different judges to receive their proper punishment. One individual has a judge review his case; the other has a judge with a jury trial. Somehow each speeding individual gets a different punishment. Who's wrong? Who's right? Both!
In diamond terms, EGL is somewhat like an independent judge. An individual who graduates from the EGL school is qualified on his own to determine the color, clarity, size, and carat weight without assistance. The result is often inconsistency in grading the diamond's features. On the other hand, GIA is like a jury trial. Multiple people must agree when deciding the diamond's attributes. Therefore, with a GIA-certified diamond, you can rest assured that you are benefitting from the review of a more stringent process with little room for error about the diamond's features.
Futhermore, GIA doesn't currently certify clarity enhanced diamonds. EGL certifies these diamonds along with additonal labratories. You're probably wondering what clarity enhanced diamonds are! You can read more about them here, or visit us for a face-to-face experience with clarity enhanced diamonds.
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GIA Certified Diamonds, Diamond Grading, Diamond Education