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