About Diamond Certificates
Diamond education / certification. The two biggest laboratories in the world are GIA and EGL. Both of these are reputable with the main difference being that GIA applies a stricter grading system. Whereas the EGL approach is ‘softer’.

This may result in the same stone obtaining a different grading from the two laboratories. GIA might grade the colour of a stone as ‘H’ while EGL might grade it as ‘F/G’. Consequently, GIA might grade the clarity of a stone as ‘SI2’ while EGL might grade it as ‘VS2/SI1’.

Stone Grading
Both these laboratories grade stones according to their own master set of colour stones and clarity rules. This difference is also reflected in the price of the stone. A stone with a softer grading will carry a bigger discount than a stone with a stricter grading. Therefore, it equals out the playing field.

Grades Of Colour / Diamond Education
EGL and GIA grades colour according to the international scale of D to Z. Every letter on the scale represents a range of tone and saturation.

Two diamonds belonging to the same colour range can actually differ in their depth of colour. Since brightness and fire, which are the result of good proportions, can affect a diamond’s colour. It is important to grade a diamond not only face down but also face up. Usually as diamonds are typically set and worn face up.

In the face up position, diamonds with moderate or distinct fluorescence have a better colour than less fluorescent ones.

Colour and Clarity
Colour and clarity grading is an opinion of humans grading the stones and not an exact science. The same lab might at different times (with different employees) grade the same stone differently.

However, on the most important part of the grading report, both laboratories are exactly the same. The proportions of the diamond i.e. the table width, total depth, crown and pavilion angles etc. These are an exact science and are measured and calculated using sophisticated measuring instruments.

These proportions of the diamond determine the brilliance of the stone and therefore should be ideal. An ideal cut ‘H’ is a much better stone to buy than a poorly cut ‘F’.