If you have spent time reading about diamonds, one of the first and most important things you are perhaps well informed of is to ensure that it is certified. Henceforth, the answer to the title question is a rather obvious “No”. Purchasing even loose diamonds without certification is not at all a good idea. Below are a few reasons why you should rather go for diamonds certified by a reliable gemstone laboratory.
The Certificate is like Blueprint to the Gemstone
For an uninitiated, a diamond certificate contains the details about the 4 C’s of the gemstone – its cut, carat weight, clarity, and color. A trustworthy diamond grading report is its ultimate blueprint. The grading report contains the assessment of its 4 C’s and offers more details such as the physical measurements, inclusion plots, and fluorescence rating of the gem.
Sometimes, when you have to leave loose diamonds or a jewelry piece with somebody else, the certificate offers the information that can help you recognize them. In addition, a laboratory report from GIA or AGS will give you the assurance that you are getting precisely what the seller is marketing to you.
The Certificate Can Be Used as an Official Document for Insurance Purposes
Those who intend to purchase insurance for diamond jewelry can use the certificate as an objective and precise assessment of the quality of the gem. In the event that you have to make an insurance claim or get the diamond replaced, you can utilize the grading report or certificate as a basis for its replacement value.
The Certificate is a Must to Sell the Diamond for Better Value
Financial situations in life might come up where you need to sell off the jewelry or the loose diamond. Obviously, you would hope a reasonable amount of money in return for the gem. Without the grading report or certificate to back up the stone or the jewelry piece and authenticate the value of the diamond, it would be next to impossible to find a purchaser.
The Certificate Protects your Investment from Scams
As with just about any industry, even the diamond segment has dodgy jewelers who take advantage of uneducated customers. Several times, people have come across unethical jewelers who tell them that the certificate is a marketing gimmick and buying ungraded diamonds is a better, more cost-saving option. However, that is far from the truth, and a shady marketing tactic often used by frauds to make an incorrect argument based upon face value.
Any jeweler worth their salt knows precisely what they sell to customers. The main issue with purchasing uncertified diamonds is that the authenticity of the gemstone in and of itself is uncertain. Besides, what if one of them tricks you into buying something inferior for a price that does not justify its quality?
This is not to say that all jewelers are unethical though. Yet never ever settle for anything less than AGS or GIA diamond grading report for the sake of your investment.
Why a Grading Report is Not Easy to Be Replaced after the Purchase?
Some customers attempt to game the system by attempting to be too smart for their own good. That is because it might be tempting for them to pay ostensibly lower prices for uncertified loose diamonds and have them sent to a third party gemstone grading laboratory at a later time. This whole process is time-consuming and expensive when you factor in the gem shipping fees and that of the lab.
On top of that, not all laboratories accept gems from non-trade members. AGS, for instance, does not deal with the public directly. In case you want a gemstone to be graded by them, it is tough luck for you. For one, you will have to source for an AGS-approved jeweler authorized to submit the gem on your behalf. Then again, this results in a raised cost.
Exceptions to the “Purchase Graded Diamonds” Rule
There are certain scenarios by which it is okay to purchase diamonds without the grading certificate. For instance, in case you are purchasing a pave or halo set ring, there could be melee or small diamonds that make up its whole design. It is not economically feasible for each gem to be submitted for vigorous laboratory grading processes.
The main reason behind this is the cost. For a melee diamond weighing below 0.05 carat, the lab report fee can exceed the gem’s total cost. Imagine having a halo engagement ring design that consists of fifty melee diamonds – how much do you think it would cost if each gem that came with a grading certificate?
Instead of sending them for grading, these small gems are sorted into parcels based upon their quality. Usually, they are assigned various values for their color and clarity. So as a general rule, each diamond bigger than 0.30 carats should always be accompanied by a diamond grading report. In case you are purchasing a diamond that weighs below 0.30 carat, it could be optional and subject to the buying purpose.