certification

[soccermom]

I have someone showing me a diamond with a certificate from a company called IGI. The sales rep told me that they are as good as GIA but another jeweler told me she was a liar?

Steph

[Jack Schatzley]

Steph,

Calling someone a 'liar' is harsh but with my 50 plus years experience IGI tends to grade for the benifit of the seller. I have noticed that the IGI certs for Leo Cut diamonds tend to be closer to accuarate. But DO NOT accept the so called Value stated on these as accuarte.

The GIA, AGS, and PGS are the most dependable, even if there are some variations among them. Consistently they are tops.

Having said that a young man just came in with a GIA cert for a 1.01ct diamond that had Very Good marks for Polish and Symmetry but it was 6.2mm in diameter, which makes it very deep and hence looses sparkle as well appearance. It looks more like a .80ct diamond than a 1.01ct.

The lesson is get counselling from a Gemologist who wants to keep you as a customer, not just make a sale now and move on.

[Gregory Diamond]

I see many stones come across my desk and I have never seen an IGI that "in my opinion" is even close to the grade they represent.

Stick with GIA or PGS (www.progem.com) or if you trust the person you are working with EGL USA is ok about 50% of the time.


Greg

[isabellabrown]

I prefer to purchase a diamond with the certification of GIA or AGS. I came across this two companies. I don't have any idea regarding IGI.

[adimarten23]

Well I also heard about IGI. IGI the oldest institute of its kind in Antwerp, was set up in 1975 and along with its sister laboratory in New York, is one of the leading gemological institutions in the world.