| Those who are planning the purchase of wholesale | | | | saturation, with colorless gems being at the |
| certified diamonds or gemstones from jewelry | | | | beginning of the scale and those with deep color |
| wholesalers do well to educate themselves on | | | | at the end. |
| issues related to the diamond market - including | | | | While the diamond market and industry is |
| diamond appraisal and diamond certification. | | | | controlled by a relatively few individuals and |
| Although these terms are sometimes used | | | | corporate entities, most jewelry wholesalers |
| interchangeably, they are in fact two different | | | | agree that the most reliable certifications are done |
| things, both of which are necessary in order to | | | | through either the Gemological Institute of |
| determine the market value of certified loose | | | | America or the American Gem Society |
| diamonds. | | | | Laboratories. |
| Certification | | | | It is important to understand that such labs |
| This is also known as a "diamond grading report." | | | | cannot certify gems that are mounted. However, |
| It is used to describe loose diamonds in terms of | | | | a reputable jewelry wholesaler should provide you |
| mass (carat), clarity and color. This report is | | | | with a certificate at the time of purchase. |
| prepared for jewelry wholesalers, retailers, | | | | Appraisal |
| collectors and investors by geologists who | | | | Unlike loose stones, a diamond appraisal can be |
| specialize in the sub-field of gemology, or the | | | | performed on mounted stones (those placed in |
| study and evaluation of precious stones and | | | | settings). Unlike certification, it is less objective, |
| gems. | | | | and based on estimations made as a result of |
| Certified loose diamonds are those which are | | | | what can be seen. There are several different |
| accompanied by such a grading report. This report | | | | techniques for this, but the main purpose is to |
| gives information about the diamond's objective | | | | determine the diamond's monetary value. Jewelry |
| physical characteristics - those which can be | | | | wholesalers base their selling price primarily on |
| measured with scientific methods and tools. Such | | | | such an appraisal. |
| a certificate will include an evaluation of the gem's | | | | The Importance of Independence |
| clarity and color as well as its symmetry and | | | | It seems obvious that any certification and/or |
| "fire," or light reflecting characteristics. Obviously, a | | | | appraisal should be done by and outside, |
| clear diamond without visible flaws (such as a | | | | independent agency, but less experienced diamond |
| "cottony" appearance within) is far more valuable | | | | buyers may not consider that jewelry wholesalers |
| than one that contains scratches or internal | | | | using their own in-house appraisers will have a |
| blemishes. | | | | natural tendency to overvalue their own |
| Rather than receiving a monetary value, certified | | | | merchandise. For that reason, it is important to |
| loose diamonds are evaluated on different scales, | | | | have any diamonds you are considering certified |
| which includes the "SI3 Clarity Grade" and a Color | | | | and appraised by an outside third party that is not |
| Scale that uses numbers and letters D-Z. The | | | | affiliated with your jewelry wholesaler. |
| latter describes the gem in terms of hue and | | | | |