Gemstone Certification

Gems have fascinated people forever! From ancient times, shiny stones like emeralds and sapphires captivated kings and queens. Today, gems still dazzle us with their sparkle and color. 

But if you want to buy or sell gems, how can you know if that stone is legit?  The easiest way is to get a gemstone certification or lab report from a professional company.

These certifications are done by labs approved to evaluate gems, to tell if the stone is natural or treated, and give its quality grades.  

Let us break down a few of the top certification groups that you can depend on for gem certification!

Gemstone Certifications – A List Of The Important Certifications 

• GIA Certification 

The Gemological Institute of America is the gold standard certification worldwide! Started in 1931 in California, GIA does research and education too. Their diamond grading system is used everywhere. 

GIA has high standards and checks color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Their reports even include where the stone is from as well as any treatments related to the stone. 

• AGS Certification 

The American Gem Society has been around since 1934. Located in Vegas, they were the first lab focused on diamond grading. AGS is respected for its tough quality standards. They grade with the same 4Cs as GIA. 

Their certification also lists the origin and treatments as well as other related information. 

• GRS Certification 

GemResearch SwissLab in Switzerland is a leader in colored gems like ruby and sapphire. They use cool tools like microscopes and spectrometers to analyze stones. 

GRS is known for detecting even tiny treatments in the gemstone. Their ruby grading system is unique. For sapphires, they even reveal their geographic origin. 

• IGI Certification 

Founded in 1975, these gem geniuses have offices everywhere. The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is known for grading diamonds and identifying them. They use the 4Cs method checking color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. 

Their reports even say where the diamond’s from and if it’s treated or not.

• EGL Certification 

Started in 1974, the European Gem Lab (EGL) has offices around the globe. They’re widely known for their diamond grading and quality reports. EGL uses the 4C too but is known for more flexible grading. This can mean overvaluing a diamond’s quality sometimes. Not ideal for investing, but it could be good if you just want beauty on a budget!

• AGL Certification 

Founded in NYC in 1977, the American Gem Lab (AGL)  is all about grading colorful gems to reveal their hidden beauty. They use a fancy system to measure a gem’s color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. 

This helps determine quality and value. AGL’s reports also uncover where the gem came from and any special treatments.

Final Thoughts 

These are just a few lists of gemstone certifications. Depending on your requirement, you can find many more!

So if you’re buying that special emerald or ruby engagement ring, get it certified! The certifications really help make sure you’re getting the real thing at a fair price. And they show how one-of-a-kind your gem is. Pretty stones spark joy, but science tells their full story!