| Those who are planning the purchase of | | | | scale and those with deep color at the end. |
| wholesale certified diamonds or gemstones | | | | |
| from jewelry wholesalers do well to educate | | | | While the diamond market and industry is |
| themselves on issues related to the diamond | | | | controlled by a relatively few individuals |
| market - including diamond appraisal and | | | | and corporate entities, most jewelry |
| diamond certification. Although these terms | | | | wholesalers agree that the most reliable |
| are sometimes used interchangeably, they are | | | | certifications are done through either the |
| in fact two different things, both of which | | | | Gemological Institute of America or the |
| are necessary in order to determine the | | | | American Gem Society Laboratories. |
| market value of certified loose diamonds. | | | | |
| | | | It is important to understand that such labs |
| Certification | | | | cannot certify gems that are mounted. |
| | | | However, a reputable jewelry wholesaler |
| This is also known as a "diamond grading | | | | should provide you with a certificate at the |
| report." It is used to describe loose | | | | time of purchase. |
| diamonds in terms of mass (carat), clarity | | | | |
| and color. This report is prepared for | | | | Appraisal |
| jewelry wholesalers, retailers, collectors | | | | |
| and investors by geologists who specialize in | | | | Unlike loose stones, a diamond appraisal can |
| the sub-field of gemology, or the study and | | | | be performed on mounted stones (those placed |
| evaluation of precious stones and gems. | | | | in settings). Unlike certification, it is |
| | | | less objective, and based on estimations made |
| Certified loose diamonds are those which are | | | | as a result of what can be seen. There are |
| accompanied by such a grading report. This | | | | several different techniques for this, but |
| report gives information about the diamond's | | | | the main purpose is to determine the |
| objective physical characteristics - those | | | | diamond's monetary value. Jewelry wholesalers |
| which can be measured with scientific methods | | | | base their selling price primarily on such an |
| and tools. Such a certificate will include an | | | | appraisal. |
| evaluation of the gem's clarity and color as | | | | |
| well as its symmetry and "fire," or light | | | | The Importance of Independence |
| reflecting characteristics. Obviously, a | | | | |
| clear diamond without visible flaws (such as | | | | It seems obvious that any certification and |
| a "cottony" appearance within) is far more | | | | or appraisal should be done by and outside, |
| valuable than one that contains scratches or | | | | independent agency, but less experienced |
| internal blemishes. | | | | diamond buyers may not consider that jewelry |
| | | | wholesalers using their own in-house |
| Rather than receiving a monetary value, | | | | appraisers will have a natural tendency to |
| certified loose diamonds are evaluated on | | | | overvalue their own merchandise. For that |
| different scales, which includes the "SI3 | | | | reason, it is important to have any diamonds |
| Clarity Grade" and a Color Scale that uses | | | | you are considering certified and appraised |
| numbers and letters D-Z. The latter describes | | | | by an outside third party that is not |
| the gem in terms of hue and saturation, with | | | | affiliated with your jewelry wholesaler. |
| colorless gems being at the beginning of the | | | | |