Brilliance

A Satisfied Brilliance Loose Diamond Customer

Part of my job at Brilliance is to help customers find a loose diamond and engagement ring that meets their budget without sacrificing quality and style. I recently worked with a bride who shared with me her story of how she ended up shopping for her bridal jewelry with Brilliance and how satisfied she was with the care and service she received. If you are reading this post, you have surely turned to the internet for answers, perhaps because you find yourself in the same frustrating situation as she did. Here I retell her story to show you how Brilliance can make your loose diamond purchase as easy and stress-free as hers:

It was finally my time to say “I do”, and everything had to be perfect. Growing up in New York, I was always told that the absolute best place to buy a diamond was from “the big guys” in the New York Diamond District. So off I headed to 47th street to begin my quest for my dream diamond.

Walking into the showroom, I immediately felt intimidated by the pushy salesman. It was clear to me that he was solely interested in making money on me and not at all interested in answering my questions. After an hour of listening to his sales pitch, he had only shown me a small selection of diamonds, all of which seemed a little pricey for their quality. I knew that I would never be happy with my loose diamond purchase with the level of care I was receiving from these “big guys” and decided to look for a different avenue to get the diamond quality that I wanted.

After the horrible experience with the salesman at the Diamond District, I decided to then go online and look up some pricing. I tried the first site that came to mind: Ebay. There I found great prices, but no customer service representative to talk to about my concerns and no assurance that the quality of the diamonds were as stated. As I continued searching and visited sites like Amazon and Craigslist, I kept thinking to myself, I am buying a diamond. Is there anywhere I can get a good price without sacrificing the quality, selection, or customer care?

As a last resort for my online quest, I googled a random search for “loose diamond, good price.” The first link I found was a website called Brilliance.com. I was impressed with the elegance and the beauty of the site. I found the box that read “certified loose diamond search” and began my search for the “perfect diamond.”

The left side of the page had everything I was looking for. I selected the shape, carat size, color, clarity, cut, price, and the certification that I wanted. Expecting to be disappointed again, I thought there would only be maybe 10 diamonds that had the qualities that he wanted. Shocked, I got a search result of 77,089 diamonds that fit exactly what I wanted. How could it be that the Diamond District office that I thought I could trust had only 3 options when I received 77,089 results in the comfort of my home? The prices were almost half of what I saw at the Diamond District and I didn’t have to sacrifice on the diamond quality or care. I spoke with a Brilliance representative, who answered all my questions with patience and concern. Within minutes of completing my purchase, I received an email confirming my purchase and a lifetime guarantee for the diamond. A week later, my diamond arrived at my home, carefully packaged and insured for my peach of mind.

With the help of a Brilliance.com representative, I got the care and patience I needed to make this wedding the dream it is supposed to be!

Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds

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How to Certify Diamonds

The loose diamond certification process is an easy way to boost buyers’ confidence during the shopping process. When diamond certification is conducted by a reputable organization, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), buyers can rest assured that the diamond is a genuine, natural diamond, rather than grown in the lab as a synthetic diamond. It also reveals whether or not a loose diamond has been treated.

Since no two diamonds are alike, the certification process assigns value to each individual stone. For example, the GIA uses an internationally recognized grading system to compare common attributes. This system, known as the “four C’s”, determines each certified diamond’s value by grading its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Diamond Color

To determine the color of a diamond, a gemologist compares the stone to a color classification chart ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The loose diamond is compared to a set of master stones representing the colors on the chart.

Certified diamonds classified as “D” are colorless, while those graded “Z” are light yellow or brown. Since truly colorless diamonds are extremely rare, the majority of diamonds used in jewelry are designated as “H” or “I” and have a slightly yellow tint—described by gemologists as “nearly colorless”.

Diamond Clarity

Natural diamonds are formed under considerable heat and pressure, giving most of them internal or external inclusions that can impact diamond clarity. There are eleven grades of diamond clarity, ranging from flawless (no inclusions visible under a magnifying glass) to I3 (inclusions visible to the naked eye).

Much like the human fingerprint, inclusions are markings that distinguish one loose diamond from the next. During certification, gemologists plot a diamond’s inclusions on a diagram to indicate its distinctive features—those that no other diamond has—which then get added to the certification paper. This diagram helps match each diamond to the proper certification, so buyers can be sure the diamond they’re evaluating is the same one on the report.

Clarity tests also reveal authenticity, helping gemologists determine whether a diamond has been treated. Inclusions verify that a diamond is natural, rather than a synthetic look-alike. If it is determined that a diamond has been treated, that will be noted on the certification report.

Diamond Cut

While people often think of cut as indicating the shape of a diamond (i.e. square or round), the term is used during certification to describe the stone’s sparkle and brilliance on a range from “Excellent” to “Poor”. To assist with cut grading, gemologists place each loose diamond in a machine, rotating the stone 360 degrees and capturing every one of its facets to generate a sophisticated 3D model. Many factors are considered to determine the stone’s grade, including proportions, girdle thickness, culet size, polish, and symmetry.

Diamond Carat Weight

As counter-intuitive as it might seem, bigger isn’t always better when it comes to diamonds. Value is determined by all four of the “C’s”, not just its weight.

To determine carat size, certified diamonds are placed in high-tech, sealed-chamber electronic scales. The weights, which measure how close a diamond is to one carat (200 milligrams), round each stone to a second decimal place to arrive at a standard carat size measurement.

Upon completion of the rigorous certification process, a certified diamond is given a report indicating its grading for each of the four C’s, along with other pertinent information. Buyers can ask to see this report before purchasing a certified diamond; some grading agencies also allow them to check the information online.

Want to learn more about how to certify diamonds? Watch the video below, which chronicles one diamond’s certification journey at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Categories: Diamonds, Education

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Black Diamonds

Black diamonds, or carbonados, are one of the many diamond varieties found in the earth’s surface. Unlike conventional diamonds, which are mined in a variety of locations throughout the world, carbonados have only turned up in parts of Brazil and the Central African Republic. They are also believed to be a couple billion years older than their more commonly known white and colored counterparts.

These unusual grey and black stones get their opaque coloring from high concentrations of impurities and inclusions, such as graphite. In their rough form, carbonados resemble small rock pieces of cast iron or porous charcoal.

Tougher than a Diamond

While loose diamonds are legendary for being impossible to crack, carbonado has gained a reputation for being even stronger. While other diamonds are composed of a single crystal that breaks naturally along a line, a carbonado is made up of many crystals that are fused together. Its stronger structure made it popular in heavy industry since its discovery in the late 1800s.

Black diamonds from Brazil were instrumental in early rock-boring efforts, providing key drill tip components for carving out the Panama and Suez canals, as well as tunnels all over Europe. Carbonado is still used in drill bits for tough jobs today, cutting through rocks that even traditional diamonds would have trouble cracking.

Polished to Perfection

Polished and cleaned up from their original carbonado state, black diamonds can enhance jewelry designs by making a dramatic, yet elegant, statement in both women’s and men’s fine diamond jewelry. Whether framed in sterling silver, brilliant white gold, or yellow gold, a black diamond makes any foundation’s surface come to life with a brilliant shine.

A black diamond creates a dramatic centerpiece for an eye-catching pendant, ring, or for earrings, while smaller baguette-style black diamonds serve as elegant backdrops for sophisticated and delicate settings. When set in white gold and paired with lighter stones or pearls, dark accents of black diamonds add an air of sophistication and timeless quality to even the simplest jewelry piece.

Surprisingly Affordable

Their elegant appearance often leads people to believe that black diamonds are expensive. Thanks to industrial use and heavy demand for clearer stones, however, black diamonds haven’t taken center stage in the global marketplace. Less notoriety and demand actually makes this type of jewelry far more affordable than people think.

Equally misleading is the black diamond’s perceived rarity. Though unearthed in few places, uncertified and certified black diamonds are readily available to customers. Loose black wholesale diamonds can be purchased and turned into custom jewelry pieces at an attractive price, making the black diamond a unique and affordable option for high-end jewelry.

Categories: Diamonds, Education, Gems

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Engagement Ring & Jewelry Insurance

Diamonds, fine jewelry, and engagement rings are prized possessions and it important to protect your purchase with jewelry insurance. Although every order from Brilliance is fully insured during shipment, the responsibility for your purchase is transferred to the customer upon arrival at your address. Jewelry insurance can be purchased through your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, or can be bought separately through a specialized jewelry insurance company.

Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurances automatically include coverage from between $500 to $2,500 for all jewelry items within the home. One option is to add your jewelry or diamond purchase to your homeowner’s and renter’s insurance as an additional item to protect you in the event of theft. However, these policies do not always protect against other events such as loss or damage. Additionally, they may only cover a portion of the value of your jewelry or have certain policies that you need to be aware of such as deductibles, source for replacement, coverage amount, and others. If you select this method of insurance, it is important you ask questions regarding these policies and be knowledgeable of your coverage.

The option that offers the most protection is to add a rider to your homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Before insuring your purchase, the insurance company will request a gemological appraisal, which is a document that provides a detailed description of the item to be insured as well as the replacement value of the item. Gemological appraisals are usually conducted by an expert jeweler or gemologist and can cost between $50-$250. As a unique service to you, Brilliance provides a free gemological appraisal certified by our Master Gemologist with every purchase. This option guarantees enough coverage for your jewelry or diamond. Keep in mind that the coverage rates are often negotiable.

If you do not want to add a rider to your homeowner’s or renter’s policy, or do not currently have insurance, you can also purchase insurance through companies like Jeweler’s Mutual or The Chubb Group that specialize in protecting prized assets like fine jewelry or engagement rings. These companies will also require a gemological appraisal prior to insuring your purchase. Jeweler’s Mutual policies generally cover loss, theft, mysterious disappearance, and damage. Additionally, with Jeweler’s Mutual, you get to work with the jeweler of your choice and not through a dictated replacement company, as other companies require. However, a policy through Jeweler’s Mutual does not usually cover unset stones or loose diamonds. The Chubb Group offers a policy that covers personal valuables such as jewelry. This company has an insurance option that provides full coverage for the itemized amount shown on the policy without deductibles. Additionally, this insurance covers loss and theft world-wide. In addition to the option of replacing your jewelry item, Chubb also allows you to receive a cash settlement instead of replacement. An appraisal is recommended for jewelry insurance and required for items valued above $50,000.

Any insurance company will recommend that you have your jewelry inspected and appraised often to prevent potential losses and to update the replacement value of your items. Brilliance offers this service free of charge to our clients twice a year with our care and maintenance program. You can send your Brilliance jewelry to us for free inspection, cleaning, polishing, and refinishing. This way you will keep your jewelry looking like new and your diamonds set securely to help prevent a loss. Additionally, an updated appraisal can be issued to our clients upon request.

A Brilliance representative can explain your insurance options and can assist you in the process of insuring your purchase. Upon request, we can also fax your jewelry appraisal to your insurance company prior to shipment so that your purchase is insured upon arrival to you. Contact a Brilliance representative at 866-737-0754 to get started.

Categories: Diamonds, Education, Engagement, Gems, Jewelry

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Canada Diamond Market

by Brenda Bouw

Canada is set to open its first official diamond trading marketplace in downtown Toronto, a move spurred by the rush in recent years to mine and market the homegrown stones both nationally and worldwide.

The Diamond Bourse of Canada opens Monday and will be the first forum of its kind in the country where both polished and rough stones will be bought and sold.

There are 28 diamond bourses in places such as Belgium, Israel and South Africa. The Canadian bourse will become the 29th on the international circuit, which is overseen by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses. Canada produces about 15 per cent of the world’s annual rough diamonds.

“It’s only logical for Canada to establish a full-fledged bourse,” federation president Avi Paz stated yesterday. “While Canada’s population is small compared to its huge southern neighbour, the country’s jewelry industry and trade, as well as its consumer market, have been growing steadily.”

See the full article from The Globe and Mail…

Categories: Diamonds, News

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Jewelry Trends of 2010

One of the best ways to enhance the style of the New Year is by incorporating complimentary accessories into your everyday wardrobe. Influenced by the elegance and royalty of Britain, oversized diamond brooches are a perfect touch and strive to create a harmonizing balance between the otherwise feminine and masculine appearance. Another unique, main accessory of the 19th Century that is making a comeback is the Fob Chain – also recognized as a vintage chain used to hold a watch - worn on the front waistline of trousers, or in the front pocket of a jacket/vest. Diamond Cravat Pins and Square Brilliant Cut Diamond Cufflinks prove to be excellent additions to a revamp a formal dress shirt.

The paramount accessory choice for this New Year proves to be Victorian-inspired cocktail rings and engagement rings. Due to the scarcity of diamonds during this time period, Victorian rings were typically set in a cluster, using old cut or rose cut diamonds. Antique diamonds normally possess smaller tables, higher crowns, deeper pavilions and thicker girdles than their modern equivalents. Antique diamonds were also cut to maximize carat weight instead of fire, which is the main reason why the proportions of old diamonds vastly differ from diamonds of the present. Rose cut diamonds were introduced in the late 1500’s and remained very popular throughout the 19th Century. The typical characteristics of a Rose cut diamond includes the shape, which resembles the petals of a rose bud, with a flat bottom and rounded crown, and facets that meet as a point in the center. The modern equivalents for these particular diamonds are Round and Oval Brilliant Cut Diamonds.

Brilliance offers a collection of diamonds, rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, and necklaces to match your taste and meet your budget. If you are looking for a unique jewelry item, our jewelry designers can make a custom jewelry piece to meet your exact description. This unique service allows you to achieve the designer look of your dreams at a price you can afford.

Categories: Diamonds, Jewelry

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EGL USA vs. EGL International

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

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Loose Diamonds: Benefits Of Buying Diamonds Online

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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Choosing Loose Diamonds Certified by the Worlds Most Trusted Laboratories

Many people approach buying loose diamonds by just walking into their local jewelry store, but there’s actually lot to think about in order to make an informed decision. The people behind Brilliance.com make it their goal to educate customers all about certified loose diamonds and diamond jewelry. Doing this ensures customers are getting the very best certified diamonds available on the market and the highest quality customer service. Because of Brilliance.com’s dedication to quality and customer service, the diamonds they offer are certified by some of the most qualified and well-respected laboratories in the world.

Laboratory Certified Diamonds

What’s the difference between laboratory certified diamonds and uncertified loose diamonds? It’s easy - laboratory certified diamonds have been graded by a trained gemologist. The gemologist will note all the important details about the diamond, including the cut, carat weight, clarity and color. The professional gemologists will be able to discover any flaws, determine the color, weigh the diamond and evaluate how well the cut maximizes the diamond’s brilliance and fire.

Each stone is graded objectively, regardless of who is grading the diamond. Sometimes more than one gemologist grades each stone to ensure accuracy. Since the world of certified diamonds is a small one, some laboratories even hide the name of the diamond’s owner, allowing the gemologist to grade the stone without bias.

What Can You Expect From Brilliance.com’s Certified Diamonds?

You’ll be sure to find quality diamonds if you’re shopping at Brilliance.com. If you’re shopping for certified diamonds, you can easily compare diamonds of similar sizes, cuts and price ranges. This means you can purchase the best quality diamond regardless of how small or large a budget you have available.

Certified diamonds from Brilliance.com are sold with a detailed grading report. If you’re looking for diamonds from other sources, make sure you’ll receive the grading report along with the diamond. A reputable store selling certified loose diamonds should expect to include this information with your purchase. If they can’t provide it, take your diamond shopping elsewhere.

Trust Only The Best Diamond Laboratories

There are many laboratories that grade certified loose diamonds, but Brilliance.com only chooses to use the very best. These laboratories are the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD), the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Each laboratory uses different methods, but all are considered top sources of certified loose diamonds.

The AGS grades diamonds on a 0-10 scale, with 10 being the worst and 0 being the best. Two different gemologists grade each stone, and the laboratory is known for having some of the industry’s highest ethical standards.

The HRD, located in Belgium, is well respected in the world of certified loose diamonds. The HRD requires that several gemologists grade each stone and the results must be identical before the stones can be considered certified diamonds. Additionally, the HRD has two more steps to ensure graders are completely unbiased. Firstly, gemologists never know the identity of the diamond’s owner. Also, senior gemologists randomly check the certification paperwork against the stone to make sure the diamonds are being accurately graded.

The EGL is also based in Belgium and is known industry-wide for setting new standards in certified loose diamonds. At one time, loose stones under one carat weight weren’t even considered for grading. Now, many of Brilliance.com’s certified loose diamonds are less than one carat, which shows the influence the EGL has in the diamond world. Recently, the EGL created the SI3 grade, which means a stone has visible inclusions under a 10x magnification.

The IGI ensures accurate grading of loose diamonds by using a team of gemologists to grade each stone and some of the most advanced equipment available. The equipment used by the IGI includes an electronic balance that can accurately measure the diamond’s weight to a ten-thousandth of a carat, 10x magnification loupes and high-powered microscopes. The entire team must agree before a stone can be graded.

The Best Of The Best - GIA Loose Diamonds

The GIA is considered the best of the best in the world of certified loose diamonds. The GIA was founded in 1931 and created the International Diamond Grading System in 1953. The International Diamond Grading System sets uniform criteria that graders use when certifying a diamond. Additionally, each GIA certified diamond is graded by two to five different gemologists to ensure accuracy.

Many different gemologists must agree on a diamond’s certification before it can be given a GIA grading report. The report will give the culet and girdle thickness, the weight, color, clarity, measure, polish, symmetry and even a diagram that tells the buyer exactly where any inclusions are located. The written report should be included when you buy certified diamonds.

Buying certified diamonds, whether loose or pre-set into a piece of jewelry, means you’ll be purchasing a beautiful, quality product that’s sure to provide years of enjoyment for the wearer. After reading up on the different laboratories that offer certified diamonds, you can rest assured that you’re buying diamonds from a reputable source when you shop at Brilliance.com.

Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education

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Buying an Engagement Ring and Wedding Tips

A groom shares his tips on buying an engagement ring, including information on solitaire settings and other diamond engagement ring styles, diamond carat, diamond color, diamond clarity, and certified diamonds. As he explains in the video, “Planning a wedding has been an education. Everything from the ring buying to the holidays has been overwhelming, so I’ll try to help you with the things I’ve learned along the way.”

Categories: Diamonds, Education, Engagement

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