buying a diamond - should i buy certified?

[lookingforaring]

hello ladies,
i've been looking at engagement rings online, but after reading a ton of 'how-to' guides i'd like some female perspective. i've been noticing that a lot of diamond engagement rings online come 'certified' by labs like GIA, but i'm wondering if it would make a difference to you if your diamond were certified or not? or if there is a certain certification in particular that i should look for?

(from what i've seen so far, GIA is the way to go, but i'm wondering what the perks are to buying a certified diamond and if it would be important to you to have one)

thanks!

[Designer_Love]

Mine is certified by I.G.I and i love it and yeah it does make a difference to me having one that is certified i feel like it means it's a better ring. I'd feel like i had less of a ring if it wasn't certified.

[ETenebris]

YES! Unless the diamond is certified, you have no real way of knowing what you are getting. GIA and EGL are, as far as I know, the top two gemological agencies. If you are buying anything over .5 carat, I would go certified.

[daluu]

definitely get a diamond that is certified because that's how you know the value of a diamond and if it's worth your money. if it's not certified, then the jeweler can claim all types of great specs on it and you won't be the wiser.

[TylerDurden]

Tiffany diamonds don't come with a GIA certification, their reasoning is because their standards are stricter than GIA's. The difference is Tiffanys has built a reputation that allows them to get away without a GIA report. If you're buying from a small, local jeweler then I would recommend getting a GIA certification with it.

[Kitsunegrl]

I think certification is very important. You get the map of the stone, sometimes laser inscription, and carat weight, color, etc. All can be important if your stone gets stolen or lost.

[risingsun]

The two top labs in the country are AGS and GIA. They grade diamonds. They do not certify anything! I would strongly recommend buying a diamond that is graded AGS 0 or GIA Excellent. You will have the benefit of knowing that trained professionals have evaluated your diamond. In addition, if you want to upgrade, one day, it will give you a lot more options. I know this from experience

[Japster]

I would also highly recommend PGS as a lab. They grade as strict as GIA does and they are wonderful people. I know the owners personally.

[lookingforaring]

Thanks for your advice! You've definitely convinced me that it's a good idea to buy a diamond that comes with a grading report. It seems like an important document to have for such a valuable piece of jewelry. Plus, I definitely want to know I'm getting what I'm paying for, and an independent analysis is the best way to guarantee that.

I took a look at GIA's website, and I can see why they come so highly recommended - I guess they actually invented the 4C's, and they seem to be the most highly regarded diamond grading lab. Since I doubt I'll be getting a ring from Tiffany's, I'll be sure to make sure my diamond has been graded by GIA. It's good to know that the fact that it's been certified won't go unnoticed.

[arireyes]

I don't think I would buy a stone that wasnt certified! I just want that peace of mind knowing what I have and what it's worth.

[m-s-m-d]

Now that you've decided to get one that's certified...good luck!!! and don't forget to insure the ring

[hotshot]

If you want to know what you are buying and or getting, it is good to have a

diamond certified..if you are dealing with Tiffany that is a whole other story..

like any other very high end jewelry store..good luck