Are you considering buying EGL diamonds? If so, is the diamond grading report issued from EGL International or EGL USA? When purchasing an EGL certified diamond, it’s important to understand the fundamental differences between these organizations.
In 1973, Guy Margel opened the first European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) in Antwerp, Belgium. Today, EGL International has a presence in all major diamond sourcing cities in the world, including Antwerp, Johannesburg, Paris, London, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, and Cape Town. Each of the EGL facilities is an independent franchise operating under the EGL International brand.
Originally, EGL USA was a franchisee of EGL International. In 1986, it became independent of the European organization, and today operates as a completely separate company. Headquartered in New York City, EGL USA has laboratories in Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Toronto.
Grading Differences
Diamond grading is a subjective skill. When these skills are put to the test at laboratories maintaining independent diamond grading standards, it’s no surprise that there are sometimes discrepancies. EGL International maintains 10 independently owned and operated testing facilities around the world, while EGL USA’s three laboratories are owned and operated collectively as one entity. This means that EGL USA is able to maintain much more uniform and rigorous standards than EGL International.
Generally speaking, EGL International diamond grades are more lenient than those issued by EGL USA. As a rule of thumb, EGL USA certified diamonds are comparable to EGL International certified diamonds that are graded one color grade and one clarity grade higher. For example, an EGL USA diamond that’s graded H in color and SI1 in clarity would be graded as G and VS2 by EGL International.
Choosing an EGL Certified Diamond
Approximately 23% of certified diamonds sold on the Internet are EGL-graded. When purchasing one of these diamonds, be sure to look for a diamond report with an EGL USA logo. This report will state, “Member of the EGL USA Group”, with certificate numbers preceded by either US (United States) or CA (Canada).
Currently, EGL USA is attempting to stop the import of loose diamonds with EGL International reports. Diamond reports issued by European labs have a universal report with the country of origin printed on the cover card. Each European lab has its own numbering or lettering convention, as outlined in the examples below:
EGL Belgium: Alphanumeric characters; certificate code begins with A
EGL South Africa: Begins with SA
EGL Turkey: Begins with T
EGL India: Begins with letters D – J; maximum of 9 digits
EGL Israel: Usually begins with a number 2
If you’re purchasing an EGL-graded stone, keep in mind that EGL USA has tighter grading standards – especially with regard to diamond color and clarity. However, there’s no guarantee that all EGL USA certified diamonds are better than those certified by EGL International. Although the EGL International’s looser grading standards have made their certification slightly less credible, they have also caused the prices of EGL International certified diamonds to be lower in the diamond market. Therefore, you can sometimes get a great bargain for an EGL International certified diamond that has been under-priced.
When in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult with an experienced jewelry and diamond professional before making your purchase. Contact a Brilliance diamond expert at 866-737-0754 for guidance on which diamond certification is right for you.
Categories: Diamonds, Education
If you’re thinking of buying a piece of diamond jewelry, your head is probably spinning with the variety of options available. Nearly everyone who’s spent any time in a jewelry store has heard of the ‘four C’s’ (carat, cut, color and clarity), but do you know the benefits of buying certified loose diamonds instead of a pre-set piece of jewelry with an ungraded diamond? There are many benefits of buying wholesale loose diamonds online from Brilliance.com instead of in a traditional jewelry store. Some of these benefits include value, selection of certified diamonds, lower prices and being able to easily inspect each stone.
Loose Certified Diamonds Hold Value Longer
Certified loose diamonds hold their value longer than diamonds that are pre-set into jewelry pieces like engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets or earrings. Diamond values do change over time, but certified diamonds are always worth more. If you’re thinking of buying a pre-set piece of jewelry, consider buying the stone separate online and then having a custom setting designed. Since the diamond has been certified by a trained gemologist and then placed into a custom setting, it will hold its value longer than a pre-designed piece with uncertified diamonds.
Availability Of High Quality Loose Diamonds
Shopping online at Brilliance.com for wholesale loose diamonds means you will have access to more than 70,000 different diamonds from which to choose. Even after narrowing the broad selection down to your preferred cut and carat weight, you’ll still have hundreds of diamonds available that meet your needs. The customer service and personal shopping teams at Brilliance.com are specially trained to help you select the perfect stone. They’ll go the extra mile to make sure you’re pleased with your certified diamonds and will even ship them free with UPS overnight delivery so you won’t need to wait long before they arrive.
Now instead of conveniently buying loose diamonds online, imagine you’re walking into your local bricks and mortar retail jewelry store. You ask to see their selection of certified diamonds. The sales representative may have 50 loose diamonds, but only if you’re lucky. Once you narrow your selection down to the ones that meet your preferred cut and carat standards, you may be left with only four of five stones to choose from. Which option would you prefer?
Brilliance.com Offers More Certified Diamonds
Not all loose diamonds are certified diamonds, but Brilliance.com offers a large selection of graded diamonds. If you’re interested in buying certified diamonds, you’ll find some on our site that are graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). While the GIA is one of the most famous laboratories that certify diamonds, Brilliance.com also offers certified diamonds by the American Gem Society, Hoge Raad voor Diamant, European Gemological Laboratory and the International Gemological Institute. Regardless of the certifying laboratory, certified diamonds are accompanied by paperwork with all the important information about the diamond. This will include the clarity, cut, color and carat weight.
If you purchase a pre-set piece of jewelry and later want to have the diamond certified, you’ll have to first have it completely removed from the setting, which can be expensive and may even damage the setting. To avoid excess costs and potential damage, it’s preferable to always buy loose diamonds that are certified.
Low Prices On Loose Wholesale Diamonds
Since Brilliance.com is an online jewelry store, it is able to offer its customers amazing discounts on wholesale loose diamonds. Brilliance.com doesn’t have many of the large overhead costs such as display cases, retail space and special lighting so it is able to pass on considerable savings to its customers.
Additionally, the store’s large selection also means it can negotiate substantial discounts from its suppliers. These two factors mean that loose certified diamonds from Brilliance.com can cost less than those from a traditional jewelry store. This makes the choice to buy loose diamonds and then placing them in a custom designed setting an easy one.
Loose Certified Diamonds Are Easier To Inspect Than Pre-Set Stones
If you’re not a professional jewelry grader, it can be difficult to inspect diamonds for visible flaws or inclusions, especially if the diamond is already set into a piece of jewelry. The metal prongs of the setting can get in the way and hide any flaws.
Loose diamonds, on the other hand, can be easily inspected with a special jeweler’s tool called a loupe and then set into a custom piece of jewelry. If the stones aren’t certified diamonds, you should look for flaws under the loupe’s special magnifying glass. If the stones are certified diamonds, you can check them against the grading report that accompanies each of the loose certified diamonds.
If you’re looking to buy beautiful certified diamonds, make Brilliance.com your first stop. You’ll find more than 70,000 wholesale loose diamonds to choose from, thousands more than any local bricks and mortar store. In addition, you’ll be able to save yourself money since Brilliance.com can negotiate wholesale pricing from its suppliers. Once your certified diamonds arrive via free express UPS shipping, you’ll be able to easily inspect them and feel confident that they will be hold their value longer. With all of these benefits, there’s no reason not to buy wholesale loose diamonds from Brilliance.com and design your own custom piece of jewelry.
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds
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