Start with Our Diamond Quiz
What Is IGI?
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is a globally recognized diamond and gemstone grading organization established in 1975 in Antwerp, Belgium. As one of the world's largest independent gemological laboratories, IGI has built a solid reputation in the diamond industry over the past several decades.
IGI maintains facilities in major diamond centers worldwide, including New York, Antwerp, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. The institute employs skilled gemologists who use state-of-the-art technology to evaluate diamonds and other gemstones according to internationally recognized standards.
In addition to diamond grading, IGI offers educational programs covering various aspects of the jewelry industry, including jewelry design, diamond grading, and gemstone identification.
What is IGI Diamond Certification?
IGI certification involves a thorough examination and evaluation of a gemstone or piece of jewelry to determine its quality and authenticity. The grading process considers several factors, including the stone’s color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, as well as any treatments or enhancements that may have been applied.
IGI certification is particularly popular for laboratory-grown diamonds, as the institute was among the first to develop specific grading parameters for these stones. IGI also provides certification for mounted jewelry pieces, offering a complete assessment of both the gemstones and the craftsmanship.
IGI certification provides consumers with a reliable and objective assessment of a gemstone’s quality, helping them to make informed purchasing decisions. It also helps to prevent fraud and misrepresentation in the gemstone industry by providing a standardized system for evaluating and grading gemstones.
Sample information covered in an IGI Diamond Certification Report:
- Certification Date: The date the diamond was examined and certified by IGI
- Report Number: A unique identification number assigned to the specific diamond certificate
- Diamond Description: Indicates the type of diamond
- Shape and Cutting Style: Describes the geometric form and faceting pattern of the diamond
- Measurements: The physical dimensions of the diamond in millimeters, typically representing length x width x depth.
- Carat Weight: The mass of the diamond expressed in carats
- Color Grade: Rates the diamond's colorlessness on a scale typically ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
- Clarity Grade: Evaluates the presence of internal or external flaws (inclusions or blemishes)
- Polish: Rates the smoothness of the diamond's facet surfaces
- Symmetry: Evaluates how precisely the facets align with each other
- Fluorescence: Indicates how the diamond reacts under ultraviolet light
- Inscription: Notes any laser inscriptions on the diamond, which typically include the certificate number for identification purposes
- Comments: Additional information about the diamond that doesn't fit in other categories
What is GIA?
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a non-profit organization that is considered the world’s foremost authority on diamonds and other colored gemstones. It was founded in 1931 and has its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, USA, with additional locations in major diamond and jewelry centers around the world.
The GIA is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by providing unbiased and accurate grading reports and education to industry professionals and consumers. Its mission is to protect gem and jewelry consumers by setting and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism through education, research, laboratory services, and instrument development.
The GIA offers a wide range of educational programs and courses, including the Graduate Gemologist (GG) program, which is considered the highest credential in the industry. The GIA is also known for its diamond grading system, known as the 4 C’s: carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. This system has become the industry standard for describing diamonds and is recognized worldwide.
What Is GIA Diamond Certification?
One of the most well-known services offered by GIA is its gemstone certification, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of a gemstone’s quality and characteristics. GIA’s certification process involves a thorough examination of the gemstone using a variety of techniques, including visual inspection, gemological testing, and analysis of the stone’s physical and chemical properties.
The resulting certificate from GIA provides a detailed report of the gemstone’s quality and characteristics, including information on its weight, size, color, clarity, and cut. This information can be valuable for both consumers and industry professionals who are looking to buy or sell gemstones, as it provides an objective evaluation of the stone’s quality and can help determine its value in the marketplace.
GIA's strict adherence to consistent standards and anonymous grading procedures has established its certification as the most trusted in the industry. Diamonds with GIA reports have undergone rigorous review and truly objective inspection, making them some of the most vetted diamonds available.
Information covered in an GIA Diamond Certification Report:
- Shape and Cutting Style: Describes the geometric outline and faceting pattern of the diamond
- Measurements: The physical dimensions of the diamond in millimeters, typically representing length x width x depth.
- Carat Weight: The mass of the diamond expressed in carats
- Color Grade: Rates the diamond's colorlessness on a scale typically ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
- Clarity Grade: Evaluates the presence of internal or external flaws (inclusions or blemishes)
- Polish: Rates the smoothness of the diamond's facet surfaces
- Symmetry: Evaluates how precisely the facets align with each other
- Fluorescence: Indicates how the diamond reacts under ultraviolet light
- Clarity Characteristics: Specific details about the inclusions or blemishes
IGI vs. GIA: What’s the Difference?
IGI and GIA are two of the most reputable and widely recognized diamond certification organizations in the world. Both IGI and GIA provide diamond grading reports that offer information about a diamond’s quality and characteristics. However, there are some differences between the two certifications.
- Grading Standards: IGI and GIA have slightly different grading standards.
- Grading Methodology: Both organizations use a similar methodology for grading diamonds, which involves evaluating the 4 C’s (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight).
In summary, while both IGI and GIA are reputable certification organizations, they have some differences in grading standards, methodology, and report format.
IGI vs. GIA: Which Diamond Certification is Best?
Neither certification is universally "best" – as both IGI and GIA are reputable diamond grading laboratories that provide reliable and accurate diamond certification based on stringent grading standards. Rather than viewing one as superior, consider your specific circumstances and purchase from reputable retailers who provide complete documentation regardless of certification type. Both organizations provide valuable consumer information that helps ensure you receive the quality and value you expect from your diamond purchase.
All Brilliant Earth diamonds are independently verified for quality characteristics and origin. On every diamond product page, we provide diamond certificates or grading reports from unbiased gemology labs, which offer expert opinions on the diamond’s quality. Skilled gemologists equipped with specialized tools measure the diamond’s weight and dimensions and evaluate its cut, color, and clarity. Our diamonds are certified by the world’s top gem grading labs, such as GIA, IGI, HRD, and GCAL. If you want an electronic copy of a diamond’s lab certificate, please get in touch with us.
