Certificates and Reports

Just for the record my comments have been hijacked from my blogsite
www.thediamondguru.blogspot.com I did not write anything
here.Someone has cut and pasted my comments without my permission
but I do not mind. At the end of the day it is the responsibility
of the diamond consumer to exercise caution and due diligence
because there are too many unethical diamond vendors and rogue
dealers out there ruining the reputations of the honest jewellers
and diamond venfors. Daniel F Katz www.DiamondImports.com.au Sydney
Australia

Pseudo Diamond Grading " Laboratory " Diamond Dealer Quote;"...
most people who know the GIA cut parameters agree that their
grading just plain stinks" : Nikhil Jogia of Jogia Diamonds
International Stop Sniffing the Methanol Now ! " The purpose of the
lab and all the equipment in it is not to replace a GIA
certificate, but rather to add value and instill confidence in our
diamonds " : Nikhil Jogia Diamond Guru: Instil confidence
??????????????????????????? Isn't that the purpose of an accurately
graded diamond with a certificate from a recognised compliant
diamond grading laboratory? " Since we have a colorimeter and
Megascope, we are able to grade the colour and cut of a diamond " :
Nikhil Jogia Colourmeters are a convenient indicator but are NOT
accurate. The colour grade of a diamond can be effected by
fluorescence, inclusions, the make and the hue of the diamond if it
has brown or grey overtones. All respected diamond grading
laboratories worldwide still colour grade diamonds with their own
eyes using a registered diamond colour master set for colour
comparisons.The difference in colours or lack of colour can
translate into thousands of dollars. The cut grade depends on the
different philosophies employed by individual diamond grading
laboratories in regard to their own cut grade parameters. It can be
confusing. This is why viewing a diamond is paramount rather than
analysing a diamond by the specifications mentioned on a grading
report. Those diamond vendors who carry no stock but drop ship
diamonds or are consignees of diamonds are not providing their
clients satisfactory service. Providing Messrs Jogia only uses this
information in conjunction with a grading certificate from a
compliant lab it is acceptable but superfluous. ~~~ However we are
bemused that despite rubbishing GIA, Mr Nikhil Jogia is still
willing to sell GIA graded diamonds. What we are unable to
understand despite advocating GIA and AGS, both compliant , Messrs
Jogia advertise they retain the services of two NON compliant
diamond grading " Labs " in Australia namely Bauer Gemmological
Laboratories and Gem Studies Laboratory. It's like running hot and
cold water. There is no consistency in his etiquette. Chopping and
changing according to each individual situation. Those who try to
instil false confidence in the buyer by retaining the services of a
non compliant diamond grading laboratory are jeopardising their
reputation. Buyers Beware. ~~~ Diamond certification rulings since
1975 have been set down by the WFDB and IDC with help from CIBJO.
There is, and has been for some time now, an international diamond
grading standard recognised by the majority of the diamond industry
worldwide. The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), through
its affiliated Bourses, and the International Diamond Manufacturers
Association (IDMA) together represent by far the majority of
diamond industry participants worldwide. If the UNCERTIFIED diamond
is sold with with an in-house certificate this is NOT a certified
diamond. " getting the entire 4Cs from an in-house lab is
tremendously beneficial " : Nikhil Jogia Beneficial for who? The
buyer or the vendor? We appreciate the efforts young Nikhil Jogia
has put into his "lab" but once again remind the public consumer it
is their responsibility to ensure they are protected against any
possible misrepresentation of a diamond's quality grade
intentionally or unintentionally. We suggest Nikhil Jogia should
decide if he is going to be a damond vendor or a diamond grader.
Being both is non compliant and poses a possible risk yet to
happen. There is no mention in the Jogia " lab" about detecting
treated or synthetic diamonds. Once again we remind the public
consumer of diamonds to seek an independent second opinion of a
diamond by checking the credentials of the diamond by contacting
any recognised independent diamond grading laboratory as a safety
precaution prior to purchase Daniel F Katz GG

Why is it critically important to see the diamond before you
anything pay for it.(even a deposited) buying diamonds is one of
the most personal and exciting purchases you will ever make. Here
are some buying tips. Always make sure that the diamond is
available. if the retailer has to get the stone for you, never pay
a deposit. Australian jewellers have a comprehensive diamond stock
available at all times locally. So if your retailer does not have
the stone and you want to let them get it for you. fine but never,
ever put down a deposit with out seeing the stone first. There is
no reason to lock yourself into a retailer when you do not have
to.WARNING! If they can't get the stone with out paying for it go
somewhere else. So how do you go about it ? First buy from a
jeweller, there is a big difference between a jeweller and a
retailer or drop shipper. A jeweller will be able to advise you and
design you jewellery,they will also have diamonds and designs on
hand. This will make the whole experience more enjoyable. When you
have found the jeweller you wish to use, Don't be shy,check their
credentials ask around about their reputation. It is better to find
out from someone else's bad experience than to go through it your
self. When the jeweller shows you your stone make sure that it is
the same one you will get, and not an example. Two stones of
exactly the same quality can look very different. Take down the
certificate number and weight if you can not get a copy of the
certificate to take with you. This will help you identify the stone
when you pick it up. Some retailers will show one diamond as an
example and supply another which they will import, that is not a
good idea you must see what you are buying, that is why you are
better of dealing with a jeweller. Never ever deal with a retailer
that, grades or assigns the quality of the diamond in-house. These
are known MGR (manufactures grading reports) or (in house reports),
this highly unethical practice is to be avoided at all costs and is
a great indicator of the ethics of the supplier

Certificates or Reports,it does not have a proper
defination,everything is just about competition among all the
diamond labratories,at the end of the day is just mere business for
them rather than A RESPONSIBILITY.Once any Lab becomes well known
the nature of grading ethics changes.It is very difficult to rely
on any of these certs/reports completely as there is no
standarisation among these labs.It has become very important to
train one's eye to grade and inculcate knowledge for any
individual.

“Buy your Diamond from a Reputable Retailer!” What does
this mean? How do I tell if the retailer is reputable or not?
Buying a diamond can be a scary undertaking these days. There is an
abundance of information available to consumers, but not all of it
is accurate. Hopefully we can clear up a few of the myths and give
you some guidelines. Most diamond buying guides advise you on the 4
C’s and suggest that you only shop at honest, reputable
retailers, but how does the average consumer determine this? Our
advice is to ask if the diamond is certified and to see which
laboratory issued the certificate or grading report. The quality of
the certificate, or lack thereof, goes a long way towards telling
if you are dealing with someone reputable and professional. A
diamond certificate or diamond grading report is only as good as
the laboratory who issued it. The certificate should come from a
reputable, independent and recognised laboratory. Diamond
certificates from respectable labs, meaning GIA, HRD, AGS or DCLA,
are totally necessary if you want to compare diamonds
intelligently. If you are unsure we suggest you do some
investigation. Laboratories such as GIA, HRD, AGS and DCLA issue
grading reports of the highest international standards. All of
these diamond grading laboratories utilise strict procedures, have
the most advanced equipment, and affiliations which meet the strict
requirements for recognition by international trade organisations.
It is up to you, the consumer, to verify the credentials of a
diamond grading laboratory. If you are told certification is
unnecessary, or that the diamond certificate will cost you extra we
suggest that you shop elsewhere. Valuations or appraisals are NOT
the same as a diamond certificate or grading report. One important
thing to remember is that a diamond certificate or grading report
never includes an appraisal, or any kind of statement about the
monetary value of the diamond. Be even more cautious of website
vendors who issue their own 'in house diamond certificates' or
'manufacturer's grading reports' as these simply are NOT
independent certificates and they are NOT from a recognised
laboratory. A diamond certificate, is only useful if it is reliable
and has been issued by a reputable independent laboratory which has
no financial interest in the stone. If you've never heard of the
institution that is offering a grading report, don't hesitate to
ask about its credentials and that of the people who graded the
diamond. Diamond grading laboratories which grade to IDC
International Diamond Council rules, do not just use the opinion
and expertise of one person. They must grade the diamond and have
the opinion and consensus of three qualified diamond graders before
the grade is applied to any diamond. Do not judge a certificate by
its cover and title alone Just because someone calls themselves a
laboratory or opens up a business to do diamond certificates and
valuations after having completed a gemology course, that does not
mean they have the needed technical equipment, qualifications,
knowledge and expertise. These small local labs often lay claims of
being independent, recognised, and having state of art equipment
but what about the qualifications of the directors, graders and
that of the person who graded the diamond? Did they test for all
types of treatments and any enhancements? Do they guarantee that
the diamond is natural? Was the diamond laser inscribed using a
cold laser? Do they grade diamonds to set international rules and
standards? It is one thing to produce great looking certificates
but it is extremely important that the certificate or grading
report has accurate information and is technically correct. As a
consumer, the diamond certificate or grading report is your safe
guard when buying a diamond. Diamond certificates are invaluable
documents that show in detail a diamond's credentials, so why
wouldn't you check the credentials of the laboratory who graded the
diamond and the retailer as well?

Diamond buying advice How can you tell if a diamond certificate is
reliable and not just another advertising tool Consumers are
generally not experts in diamond grading and therefore need to rely
on certificates or grading reports in their purchasing decision.
That’s why more and more retailers offer certificates as
proof of what they are selling. In addition, with synthetic
diamonds and treated diamonds on the market it has become a vital
part of the industry to maintain consumer confidence However, not
all diamond certificates are reliable. Some laboratories are owned
or run by the same individuals selling the diamonds and some do not
have the equipment, master sets, processes or expertise to grade
and detect and disclose treatments, synthetics etc… Some
retailers sell with valuations, some with certificates from
questionable Laboratories. This has only one intention, to convince
the consumer to purchase. A reliable diamond certificate is a
detailed description of the stone prepared by a respected
independent laboratory. Its purpose is to verify the authenticity
and quality of the diamond. The certificate is as good as the
laboratory that produces it, so check the credentials. Reputable
laboratories make use of advanced equipment such as the DiamondSure
and DiamondView to screen diamonds and detect synthetics and
treatments. These laboratories are the watchdogs of the industry
and protect consumers. So whether you are buying from a physical
jeweller or an online retailer, be wary of those offering bogus
certificates alongside international recognised certificates. This
tactic is used to lend credibility from reliable certs to “in
house” certs. Make sure your diamond comes with a reliable
cert! Shop safe, Shop Smart. This post has been edited by Michael
Cohen: Today, 12:33 AM -------------------- Michael Cohen Diamond
Certification Laboratory of Australia Suite 1, Level 1 133
Castlereagh Street Sydney, 2000 Tel: 02 9261 2104 Fax: 02 9261 4263
www.dcla.com.au info@dcla.com.au

Consumer confidence I received a call this morning, one which we
get on a regular basis. The question is always the same, and our
answer is always the same. It usually starts with, "I am buying a
diamond how can I be sure that I am getting what I am told". the
answer is simple. No matter where you are buying a stone you need
to firstly make sure the retailer is reputable. A good way to
determine this, is by the certificate they provide you with the
diamond. If you are offered a certificate from a reputable
laboratory that is recognised by the world associations you can be
sure you are getting what you are told. And dealing with a
reputable retailer. If you are offered a bogus certificate or an in
house certificate of valuation you should shop elsewhere. This
advice to be simple and seems logical, YET we constantly see
consumers who have been caught out. Why is this? Well today, I
would like to share what we see. The consumer is sceptical and
mistrusting by nature,YET when they are involved in a emotional
purchase and at their most vulnerable, the sharks come out to
feed,playing on the feeling of the moment and the feeling between
the couple. It takes very little to convince a first time,
uninformed person that they are getting a great deal, especially
with very official looking paperwork. This always ends in tears and
usually the feeling is they will never trust again. It is amazing
that a few unethical traders who perpetuate these problems bring
doubt on to the industry as a whole,and my personal view is that we
should stand together and get rid of them once and for all. Point
out the pit falls to your customers, they do appreciate it. Michael
Cohen Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia Suite 1, Level
1 133 Castlereagh Street Sydney, 2000 Tel: 02 9261 2104 Fax: 02
9261 4263 www.dcla.com.au info@dcla.com.

The problem with the laboratory work is more worrying than that.
Whatever name is being used for the papers they issue, let's call
it report here, IT IS JUST NOT FAIR THAT REPORTS BE PAID FOR ONLY
ON THE BASIS OF AN OPINION AND THAT, WOULD A PROBLEM ARISE
(contradictory report by another lab in another country OR in the
same country, which often happens), THE LABORATORY WHICH ISSUED
THIS REPORT COULD HIDE BEHIND THE FACT IT IS ONLY THIS. IT IS WELL
KNOWN THAT GEMSTONES ARE BEING TRADED ALL OVER THE WORLD ON THE
BASIS OF THESE “OPINIONS”. IF PROBLEMS (LAWSUITS)
ARISE, WHY SHOULD THE DEALERS/RETAILERS BE LIABLE FOR SELLING WITH
REPORTS MOST OF THEM DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL? THE LABORATORY
SHOULD FULLY STAND BEHIND ITS WORK AND NOT CLAIM THAT THIS WAS ONLY
AN OPINION. I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY.
THE LABORATORIES SHOULD COMMIT TO OFFER TO WHOEVER WANTS IT THE
FULL ANALYSIS THAT LED TO IDENTIFY A GEMSTONE. THIS IS SCIENCE AND
NOT FORTUNE TELLING. THIS IS WHAT they are BEING PAID FOR. In fact
this would probably only remove unserious people from the game. Why
would anybody be afraid of this? I have much more to say on the
subject, having over 20 years of experiences over the world and
having proceeded with a "lab survey" not long ago. But this will be
it for now, you can think about this first. Not sure i'll have time
to get back to this blog anyway. Anybody wanting to provide
personal information on the topic of contradictory reports and/or
certificates is more than welcome to contact with the shortest
possible message (and more important, actual facts and proofs) at
ogalibert@gmail.com Best, Olivier Galibert gemologist FGA, Honours,
AIGS, ING