Talk Like a Diamond Pro: All About GIA Certification

When it comes to diamond engagement rings, looks are only half the story. Every diamond has a personality of its own, and the characteristics that make it one-of-a-kind can affect its market value. A GIA certification acts as a report on a diamond's individuality, and learning to read it will help you crack the secrets of any diamond engagement ring.

Delving into a GIA Report

The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, grades diamonds based on a strict set of guidelines. Unbiased, independent labs follow these guidelines to evaluate diamonds and give each a GIA certification. The information is broken into the following categories:

• Diamond Grading Report, including information on shape, size and the GIA certification number
• Grading Results, divided into the four Cs of cut, color, clarity and carat
• Additional Grading Information, regarding symmetry, polish and other defining characteristics
• Proportion Diagram, a map of your diamond's physical features
• Clarity Characteristics, a map of any inclusions viewed under a microscope

The Four Cs

The four C's provide a snapshot of your diamond's characteristics. Carats are a unit of weight, and one carat equals 200 milligrams. Diamonds range in size from less than a carat to glorious beauties like this 11.48ct yellow diamonds and larger. Cut is the way a diamond is faceted to bring out its natural fire and radiance.

In the tumultuous conditions that forge diamonds deep within the earth, minerals often combine to create unique colors. Diamonds can be white, yellow, pink and even blue like this radiant-cut diamond. The GIA rates them on a D-to-Z color scale. Clarity refers to how many inclusions a diamond has. They're rated into six categories based on how visible the inclusions are.

Protecting Your Investment

Choosing a GIA certified diamond lets you be confident in what you're buying. You can relax knowing you'll never accidentally purchase a synthetic or fracture-filled diamond; and you always have an idea of your diamond's value. The GIA also laser-inscribes each diamond with a certification number, making it easier to recover if it's ever lost or stolen.

GIA certification gives you more than peace of mind. By learning the details of a GIA report, you can be a well-informed shopper and learn the story of your diamond. These details make a diamond yours.