Diamond Grading

What’s In A Diamond Grade?

Before diamond grading, identifying good quality diamonds was much more difficult. There was no one standard for diamond grades, and although jewelers knew what characteristics existed in a diamond, it was difficult for the lay person to look beyond what looked pretty.

In the earlier half of the 1900’s, gemologists began to recognize the benefits a standard means of grading diamonds would offer. A standard diamond grading scale would create terms that more than just diamond experts could understand, and detail the different quality characteristics of the diamond. Diamond grading scales made jewelry dealers more knowledgeable about their wares, and in turn, the grading of diamonds made the buying public more knowledgeable. Diamond buyers were now better placed to purchase diamonds according to their priorities within their diamond buying budget.

A few different diamond grading systems emerged. The most reputable systems followed fairly uniform international rules for grading polished diamonds. In the United States, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) was formed by Roger Shipley. The GIA was (and continues to be) a non-profit organization dedicated to the highest of standards in grading diamonds and precious gems. The GIA is one of the highest authorities in diamond grading, as well as in educating jewelers and gemologists in how to grade diamonds.

What the diamond grade has done is put diamond value into perspective. With the help of the grading chart for diamonds, buyers can choose the aspects of the diamond that are most important to them. For instance, a buyer can use the chart to find out the quality of the clarity and cut in diamond grading. Princess, round, oval, and emerald define the shape of the diamond, but do not speak about the quality of the cut itself and the resulting brilliance. Cut quality is not as important to some diamond purchasers. Sometimes size is a priority over the quality as defined by gem experts. The diamond grading chart puts all of these factors right in front of purchasers.

Beyond defining diamond value, however, there is another advantage the diamond grading chart on a diamond certificate offers. It is something of a side-benefit, but diamond certificates with diamond grading charts can be used to identify diamonds as well. Diamonds are as unique as a person’s fingerprint (even more so, because diamonds never have twins), so when a flaw is listed with the other characteristics of a diamonds, it identifies that diamond.

Though a diamond grading system determines characteristics and places one diamond above another in value, diamond grades are not appraisals. They are simply placement charts, putting each diamond in perspective in terms of value. A dollar–figure appraisal can rely on what is known in a diamond grade to determine current market value.

Lesser grades of diamonds do not mean that they are not desirable stones. Sometimes some of the things that are noted as flaws make unique looking diamonds, and having low grade diamonds for sale makes owning diamonds an option for every budget. Low grade diamonds for sale also allow buyers to purchase diamonds for daily wear as opposed to those worn only on special occasions.

Diamond grading is not meant to sway a buyer or tell them which diamond to buy. Diamond grades were created as informational tools for gemologists, dealers, and buyers. Diamond grades have made diamond buying fair again, and put the buyers in control of not only what diamond they can afford, but what characteristics of diamonds are most valuable to them personally.