What is a Certificate or Grading Report?
A certificate or grading report is a "blueprint" of a loose diamond. Also called the diamond dossier, it tells you the diamond's exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone. Certificates also serve as proof of the diamond's identity and value.

There are no laws that regulate how diamonds are graded. There are differences among different grading companies and organizations. Shapiro Diamonds deals with certified and graded diamonds from the only most respected labs in the business. These labs are the GIA, EGL and AGS.

GIA - Gemological Institute of America:
The GIA Lab is the most common and sets the industry standard for color and clarity grading.

EGL - European Gemological Laboratory:
The EGL certification is typically less demanding than the GIA grading report. Their grading system may be more lenient.

AGS - American Gem Society
The AGS certification uses a diamond grading system that ranks cut, color, and clarity on a zero to 10 scale with zero being the most rare and desirable and 10 being the least desirable.

Do I Need a Certificate or Grading Report?
Shopping for graded loose diamonds allows you to make an informed choice about your selections and to comparison shop. You can compare one diamond with a particular weight and quality with other loose diamonds of similar weight and quality to determine which has the better value.

Does a Certificate or Grading Report Cost Extra?
It does cost the diamond broker a significant amount to send the loose diamond off to any given laboratory into order to certify it. However, the cost of the certification is typically built into the price of the diamond. Diamonds less than 1/2 carat are rarely certified since the certification could cost more than the value of the diamond itself.

View a Grading Report
Every loose diamond sold at Shapiro Diamonds is accompanied by a lab report from GIA, EGL or AGS, as these labs have consistently demonstrated their commitment to standards that are high as Shapiro Diamonds.