The diamond certificate can be your best friend in your quest for the right diamond. The certificate is simply a report that has been prepared by professional, experienced gemologists who have given their expert opinion, using a battery of technical tools, as well as their own experience, on the various qualities of a given diamond. They do not assess monetary value, but monetary value for the seller is often founded, in great part, based on the certificate. Be aware that diamond certificates are only of value when issued by a respected independent gemological laboratory.

How to Read Color on a Certificate

Using the color grading scale, alphabet D-Z, you will find it quite easy to read the grade of color on your diamond certificate (referred to by GIA as a "Grading Report"). Looking at the report, you simply follow the left column of the report down to the COLOR GRADE listing. A letter will appear next to this notation, such as 'E'. This is your diamond's color grade, and as a diamond's color does not change over time, it is good for the life of the diamond. By simply reading this grade you will be able to have a strong indication of the value of your diamond. While the value of a diamond will not rest on the color grade alone, it is an important determining factor. The color grade, along with the other information provided on your grading report, will provide you with enough information to assess the value of the diamond.

How to Read Clarity on a Certificate

The clarity grade on a certificate is based on the quantity, color, size, location and type of flaws within and on the surface of the diamond that are visible under 10x magnification. Any flaws that can be found under greater magnification are not taken into account, as they would be far too miniscule to have an impact on the diamond's clarity.

The following are the grades that are assigned by GIA for their clarity scale:

• 7FL: Flawless
• 8IF: Internally Flawless
• 9VVS1 and VVS2: Very, Very Small Inclusions (two separate grades)
• 10VS1 and VS2: Very Small Inclusions (two separate grades)
• 11SI1 and SI2: Small Inclusions
• 12I1, I2 and I3: Inclusions Visible

To identify the clarity of the diamond follow the left column down till you see "Clarity Grade" and one of the above notations next to it, such as SI1.

In addition to this grading, there will be a diagram of the diamond, as seen from the top down and from the bottom down. This diagram is used to mark the flaws found within and on the diamond, and the placement of said flaws. Different colors are used to plot which flaws are which, such as using (in the case of GIA) red lines to indicate a feather, round red circles to indicate clouds, red spots to indicate pinpoints, black markings to indicate naturals and so forth.

*With some grading reports, the flaws will not be plotted on the diagram, although they are indicated by the clarity grade. In these cases the flaws are noted under the "comments" section, located at the bottom of the left column. Under the "comments" section, the un-plotted flaws will be noted. Some flaws are not plotted because they are either to spread apart which makes them difficult to plot clearly on the diagram, or by diagramming the flaws the diamond would appear to be more heavily included than it actually is.

How to Read Cut on a Certification Report

On more recent certificates, the cut is given an evaluative grading. This grading can be easily seen and understood on the certificate. It is usually in the form of a category covering the grade of the cut, under which the topics of light performance, proportion, and finish (which includes symmetry and polish) will appear. The cut grade can be found within the list of qualities in the left column of any certificate. The cut will receive an overall grade (which can be, as in the case with AGS, a rating from 0 for ideal to 10 for poor) and a grade in each of the other sub-topics. This is a useful tool to understand and utilize as it can tell you the diamond's type of cut, and its quality level, quickly and efficiently. In more recent certificates, additional details of the cut may be found on a diagram at the bottom of the certificate next to the clarity diagram.

How To Read Carat on a Certification

When looking at a diamond's certificate there will be a listing of the diamond's weight, at the top of the left column which contains all of the other qualities. This weight will be listed as an exact carat weight. The measuring devices that the laboratories use measure the diamond's weight to the thousandths of a carat. Depending on which laboratory the certificate is issued from, carat weight will be listed in either thousandths of a carat or hundredths of a carat.