IGI Vs GIA Lab Grown Diamonds are two of the most respected diamond grading labs in the world. Their certificates are widely used to verify the authenticity of a diamond.
IGI uses a stricter grading system for lab-grown diamonds than GIA does. It also gives specific gradings for qualities like color and clarity, which are important for diamond buyers.
GIA vs. IGI
If you’re buying a lab grown diamond, you’ll need to decide between using an IGI certificate or a GIA certificate. While they’re both reliable and trustworthy, each comes with its own set of pros and cons.
GIA is known to be the most rigorous of diamond grading labs. They are also known for their 4 Cs grading system, which measures clarity, cut, color, and carat weight.
IGI on the other hand is not as strict when grading natural diamonds, but they are very popular in the lab-grown diamond industry for their reports.
In fact, most of the diamonds sold at major jewelry chains like Kay, Zales, James Allen, and Brilliant Earth are IGI-certified. These gems are usually significantly cheaper than GIA-certified ones, which makes them an excellent value option for today’s discerning buyer.
Cost
The cost of getting your lab grown diamond certified by GIA can add up, especially if you’re looking to buy a large stone or multiple stones. While this may be a pain for some, the cost of a lab grown diamond with a GIA certificate is still cheaper than the alternatives.
When it comes to grading lab grown diamonds, GIA is the best in class. They were the first to come up with the grading system based on the infamous 4Cs: color, cut, clarity and carat weight. As the premier gemological laboratory in the industry, GIA has many accolades to its name including being the world’s largest and most prestigious grading laboratory. GIA has a plethora of laboratories around the world and is the gold standard for diamond grading.
Clarity
If you’re looking for a diamond, it’s important to find one that has been certified by a reliable lab. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a highly-respected gem lab with strict grading standards.
They evaluate the four Cs of diamonds – carat, cut, color, and clarity – in a detailed report. These criteria are what make a diamond unique and valuable.
Color
When it comes to color, both igi vs gia lab grown diamonds the same way as natural ones. Using the worldwide D-Z 23-point scale, they describe the diamond’s color quality and how it reflects light.
In addition to the 4Cs, they also consider fluorescence, which determines whether or not a diamond glows when it is subjected to long-wave ultraviolet light.
Both GIA and IGI provide certifications for lab grown diamonds, but the reports aren’t as popular as those for natural diamonds. This is because they look similar and don’t contain as much information as a report for a natural diamond.
Cut
One of the most important considerations for a woman who is buying a diamond engagement ring or other significant jewelry is its cut. The cut of a diamond is the quality of its faceting, the proportions and angles of its facets and its overall look.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) both use a system for grading diamonds that they call the 4 Cs – Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat Weight.
GIA and IGI each have different criteria for grading diamonds, so it is important to understand which grading laboratory you’re dealing with. For instance, GIA does not grade fancy shapes, but the IGI does.
