Igi Vs Gia Certification

For example a diamond graded to be g color by egl igi might probably be graded as an i color by gia ags.

Igi vs gia certification. In a nutshell igi is not as consistent or strict in grading diamonds as gia. While they are a legitimate independent lab preferable to in house certification with so many beautiful gia and ags diamonds available buying an igi certified diamond seems to most us consumers like an unnecessary risk. For two diamonds of the same carat color and clarity grade an igi certified diamond is on average 12 cheaper than a gia certified diamond. Igi stands for international gemological institute.

Well actually jewellers get their stones graded by igi for a reason. As is expected gia is known to be more objective than igi when grading diamonds. They however use a completely different method for grading diamonds. Gia is a non profit organization while igi is a commercial institution.

The igi does not enjoy the same reputation particularly in the american market. Igi certifications can be as far as three grades off from gia certifications. Now within these certifications igi says that their clarity is better than gia or gcal and gia says the vice versa. While both gia and igi are reputable labs there is noticeable difference in how they grade diamonds.

The international gemological institute igi is also a well known diamond lab in the industry. Before we root for somebody let us give you some context of why jewellers actually choose igi certified diamonds rather than gia or gcal certified ones. In illustrating this point one could consider gia and igi side by side. A local jeweler showed me an igi diamond with better proportions than an gia diamond in fact within the ideal specifications.

Taking the average of the differences of all of these specific color clarity combinations weighing each coordinate on the matrix equally leads to the conclusion that gia certified diamonds are 18 77 more expensive than igi certified diamonds on average at least for 1 00 1 49ct diamonds. Like the egl this for profit diamond certification lab is prominent throughout europe but is also popular in the united states. Typically clarity and color grades of egl igi diamonds are off by at least 2 4 ratings if the same diamond was to be graded by gia or ags instead. The main difference between igi and gia the gia has been in existence for the past 75 years and is known for coming up with the 4cs of diamond evaluation.

1 2ct d vs2 triple ex 61 table width 41 4deg pavilion angle strong blue fluorescence. The same goes for diamond clarity grading. Another major consideration for diamond certification is the certification standards that the various labs operate by. The international gemological institute or igi is also a very large institution and it has been around since 1975.