If you’re going to shop for a diamond and want to compare the price of diamonds you must make sure to compare diamonds the way the GIA Tweeted on Twitter,

People often compare #diamonds on price tag alone, but it’s important to compare prices for diamonds that have the same 4Cs quality characteristics and have been graded by the same independent, unbiased laboratory like GIA. https://t.co/6X5XN9OmUg

— GIA (@GIAnews) March 16, 2018

Before Rapaport stopped listing EGL diamonds and there was a push to finally do something about this problem it was a murky market, to say the least.

RAPAPORT… PRESS RELEASE, September 9, 2014, Las Vegas … Effective October 1, 2014, diamond grading reports from all European Gemological Laboratories (EGL) will no longer be listed on the RapNet Diamond Trading Network.

RapNet is concerned about the misrepresentation of diamond quality by laboratories that use Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading terminology while applying alternative grading standards that overstate the quality of diamonds. While some EGL grading reports are more consistent with GIA grading standards than others, there is, in our opinion, confusion and inconsistency among the various EGL grading reports; RapNet has therefore decided not to list any EGL grading reports on RapNet. Read the rest

In 2015 we wrote about this subject and posted a video that explained what the problem with EGL certified diamonds was and how you the consumer was overpaying.

Three years later and yes it’s gotten much better but as you see from the Tweet it’s important to make sure you are comparing the same thing. We’ve had a few occasions now when this has happened. Where there is a problem with comparing a diamond with different dimensions. The cut measurements when shopping for a diamond you can compare price store to store for let’s say a 1.00 carat round brilliant diamond GIA certified SI1 G color. Most people start at one store or online with the size of the diamond (Carat) the shape of the diamond and then the color and clarity.

Take a look at this diamond report from the GIA take a close look at the numbers you see these numbers are measurements of the diamond.  Each of these measurements has an effect on the diamond and how it shines.

Diamonds are renowned for their ability to transmit light and sparkle so intensely. We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but a diamond’s cut grade is really about how well a diamond’s facets interact with light.

Precise artistry and workmanship are required to fashion a stone so its proportions, symmetry and polish deliver the magnificent return of light only possible in a diamond. Source GIA

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Make sure when you are shopping for your diamond that you compare these measurements with other stones you are looking at. If the polish on the stone you look at is listed as (Good) other stones you look at to compare price with should all so be (Good) if you compare Good Polish with a stone that has Excellent Polish you are going to be paying more for the Excellent Polished stone.  Compare apples to apples, not apples and oranges if the Cut Grade is Excellent on the first stone you looked at make sure each stone after that you are getting a price for has the same Cut Grade.

Now you are not going to get all of this information from a price tag on the ring the most you will find is Size of the diamond (carat) the color and the clarity. You should ask if the center stone is certified if it is what laboratory did the certification.  If you have to stand right there and look it up on your phone do so. If the store has any information they can give you about the laboratory make sure to take it.  We recommend you start your research on the various labs before you start shopping.