A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Diamond Certification (IGI, GIA, SGL)
Whether it’s for an engagement ring, a gift, or a personal keepsake, buying a diamond is one of life’s most meaningful purchases. There are so many options available in today’s market, that you end up questioning how can you be sure that the diamond you’re choosing is genuine, high-quality, and fairly priced?
The simple answer lies in one essential document: the diamond certification.
A diamond certificate, also known as a grading report, is a professional assessment of your diamond’s quality, conducted by an independent gemological laboratory. It includes important details and characteristics like the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight), ensuring transparency, authenticity, and trust in every purchase. These are the things that you look out for when purchasing a diamond.
At Devi Diamonds, every lab-grown diamond we offer comes with a certified grading report from a reputed laboratory such as IGI, or GIA, giving you complete confidence in your investment.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about diamond certification and how to read these reports like a pro.
What Is Diamond Certification and Why Is It Important?
A diamond certificate is an official document issued by an independent gemological lab after a thorough evaluation of the diamond’s features. It is kind of like your diamond’s “birth certificate,” which gives you all the details and provides scientific proof of what you are buying.
This report lists key details such as:
- Diamond shape and cutting style
- Measurements and proportions
- The 4Cs — Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight
- Polish, symmetry, and fluorescence
- Laser inscription (if applicable)
Why It Matters:
- Authenticity: Confirms that the diamond is real and not a synthetic imitation.
- Quality Assurance: Helps compare diamonds accurately based on professional grading.
- Fair Pricing: Ensures you’re paying a fair price for the diamond’s quality.
- Resale Value: A certified diamond holds higher resale and trade-in value.
- Trust: Creates confidence in both buyers and jewellers.
Always ask for a certification before purchasing any diamond — whether it’s mined or lab-grown.
The 3 Major Diamond Certification Bodies: IGI, GIA, and SGL
There are the major organizations that are responsible for producing diamond certifications: IGI, GIA, SGL. Let’s take a closer look at all 3 of them and examine them based on their credibility, consistency, and unique grading standards.
1. IGI (International Gemological Institute)
About IGI:
The International Gemological Institute is one of the world’s most recognized diamond grading labs. Mumbai, Antwerp, and New York are the main locations where IGI has its offices. IGI is especially renowned for its expertise in grading lab-grown diamonds, making it a preferred choice for sustainable and ethical jewellery brands like Devi Diamonds.
What IGI Offers:
- Grading for both natural and lab-grown diamonds
- Comprehensive reports covering the 4Cs
- Laser inscription of report numbers on the diamond girdle
- Affordable certification process, widely accepted in India and internationally
Why Choose IGI:
IGI certification provides accuracy, reliability, and transparency, all of these come at a reasonable cost. For lab-grown diamonds, IGI has set global benchmarks for grading consistency and technical precision.
At Devi Diamonds, all our lab-grown diamonds are IGI-certified, ensuring every customer receives verified quality and brilliance.
2. GIA (Gemological Institute of America)
About GIA:
Gemological Institute of America was founded in 1931 and is widely regarded as the gold standard in diamond certification. GIA pioneered the 4Cs grading system used universally today, hence, it receives such high credibility.
What GIA Offers:
- Exceptional accuracy and strict grading standards
- Detailed grading reports with precise measurements
- Advanced testing technology to identify natural and lab-grown diamonds
- Global recognition and strong reputation among jewellers and buyers
Why Choose GIA:
A GIA certificate commands great trust and prestige in the jewellery industry. Diamonds graded by GIA often have higher resale value due to the institute’s stringent grading standards.
Note:
GIA has traditionally focused more on natural diamonds, though it now certifies lab-grown diamonds as well — clearly marking them as such.
At Devi Diamonds, we offer GIA certified lab grown diamonds as well, so that you can confidently make your purchase, and never have a second thought.
3. SGL (Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories)
About SGL:
The Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories is an internationally reputed certification body with labs in India, the UK, and the Middle East. It’s known for providing quick, reliable diamond grading services to retailers and manufacturers.
What SGL Offers:
- Accurate grading for both natural and lab-grown diamonds
- Affordable and accessible certification, especially across India
- Scientific testing using advanced instruments
- Focus on consumer trust through verification and authentication
Why Choose SGL:
SGL is ideal for customers looking for certified diamonds at competitive prices. It’s highly trusted in India’s retail jewellery market due to its reliability and transparency.
How to Read a Diamond Certification Report
A diamond report might look technical at first glance, but it’s simple once you know what to look for. Here’s how to decode it:
- Report Number: A unique ID linked to your diamond (often laser-engraved on the stone).
- Shape and Cutting Style: Round, princess, cushion, oval, etc.
- Measurements: The diamond’s dimensions in millimeters.
- Carat Weight: Indicates the size or weight of the diamond.
- Color Grade: From D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).
- Clarity Grade: From Flawless (FL) to Included (I3) — the fewer inclusions, the better.
- Cut Grade: Ranges from Excellent to Poor and determines brilliance.
- Polish and Symmetry: Evaluate how well the diamond has been finished and aligned.
- Fluorescence: Indicates if the diamond emits a soft glow under UV light.
- Comments: May note any unique features, inscriptions, or observations.
Pro Tip: You can verify your diamond certificate online by entering the report number on the respective lab’s website (IGI, GIA, or SGL).
Why Certification Matters for Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds — but certification is what guarantees that authenticity.
At Devi Diamonds, every lab-grown diamond is IGI and GIA-certified, ensuring that you receive:
- 100% real diamond with zero conflict or mining impact
- Transparent grading and origin disclosure
- Ethical and sustainable luxury backed by trusted certification
By choosing a certified lab-grown diamond, you get the beauty and brilliance of a traditional diamond, without compromising on the quality, sparkle, and most importantly trust.
Devi Diamonds: Certified Brilliance You Can Trust
With over 30 years of diamond expertise, Devi Diamonds stands as one of India’s most trusted jewellery houses, blending tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Every diamond we sell, whether for a bridal set, engagement ring, or festive jewellery, comes with complete certification from IGI or GIA. This ensures that you are getting the right thing, and don’t ever have to worry about quality and authenticity.
Why Choose Devi Diamonds:
- IGI and GIA-certified lab-grown diamonds of the highest quality
- Transparent documentation and lifetime authenticity guarantee
- Elegant, customizable designs for every occasion
- Ethical, eco-friendly, and conflict-free sourcing
When you buy from Devi Diamonds, you don’t just buy jewellery — you invest in trust, transparency, and timeless beauty.
Conclusion: Your Assurance of Quality and Trust
Diamond certification is your strongest assurance of quality, authenticity, and value. Whether you choose an IGI, GIA, or SGL certified diamond, you’re making a confident, informed decision.
At Devi Diamonds, we believe every sparkle should come with trust. That’s why each of our lab-grown diamonds is backed by an internationally recognized certification, making sure that your jewellery isn’t just beautiful, but also verifiable, ethical, and enduring.
Visit our Gurugram store or explore our certified lab-grown diamond collections online today.
Because brilliance deserves proof — and your love deserves nothing less.