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What
 is GIA?

The
 <a href="https://www.gia.edu/">Gemological Institution of America</a> was founded in 1931 as a non-profit
 institution dedicated to researching, educating, and grading natural gemstones.
 It wanted to develop a standard so everyone in the industry could use a
 unified and standard methodology for grading diamonds and other gemstones.

As a
 result of their dedication and hard work, GIA introduced the International
 Diamond Grading System (also known as the&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/4cs-of-diamond/">4Cs</a>&nbsp;– cut,
 clarity, color, and carat weight) in 1953. Today, this system is used by
 everyone, including IGI.

GIA
 also trains gemologists and has 11 campuses. Moreover, they have nine laboratories
 and four research centers across 13 countries.

Check out
 GIA certified diamonds at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diamonds/?a_aid=5c83f22427304" class="external" rel="nofollow">James Allen</a>.

What is IGI?

The
 <a href="https://www.igi.org/">International Gemological Institute</a> is the largest independent gem lab in the
 world. It is headquartered in the heart of the diamond trade, Antwerp, where De
 Beers has major operations. The company also has offices in diamond centers worldwide, such as New York, New Delhi, Surat, Hong Kong, Dubai, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv.

IGI,
 which has more than 650 gemologists and professionals in the jewelry
 business, has been trying to make itself a well-known diamond grading lab.

Check out
 IGI graded diamonds at&nbsp;<a href="https://goto.bluenile.com/zDaXx" class="external" rel="nofollow">Blue Nile</a>.

GIA and IGI: Who are they?

In Europe and Asia, IGI's grading reports are widespread.
 However, GIA has gained more market share in recent years. In
 the United States, GIA is the first go-to lab.

IGI is not as strict as GIA when grading diamonds, but it does
 not mean you should entirely rule them out. As explained below, if
 you make an informed decision, you will still get a decent diamond for your
 money.<a href="https://www.bluenile.com/education/diamonds/buying-guides?a_aid=5c83f22427304/" target="_blank"><img src="https://admin.petragems.com/api/Images/img-1687677013.jpeg" alt="Diamond Cheat Sheet Blue Nile" width="300px" title="Diamond Cheat Sheet"></a>

Here is what to expect: The Difference between IGI and GIA
 in grading the 4Cs.

IGI, being loosely structured globally, may exhibit slight
 inconsistencies among its labs depending on their location.

As a rule of thumb, it is generally safe to assume a
 one-grade color inconsistency between D-I color diamonds graded by GIA and IGI.
 This inconsistency is much less pronounced for diamonds in the J and lower
 color range. You can also anticipate a one-grade clarity inconsistency in IGI
 and GIA graded diamonds, particularly for high investment-grade diamonds with
 D-F color and Flawless to VVS clarity range.

When considering SI1 and SI2 IGI graded diamonds, it's
 advisable to communicate clearly with the retailer and inquire about their
 clarity, as they may not be eye-clean. Ensure that IGI diamonds with lower
 clarity grades are indeed eye-clean, with no readily noticeable inclusions.

On the bright side, approximately 10-20% of IGI graded
 diamonds might align with how GIA would grade them. This can be attributed to human
 beings' grades of diamonds, and individual gemologists assess and cross-examine
 them. Therefore, some gemologists within IGI may maintain the same level of
 strictness as those within GIA. The challenge lies in the lack of consistent
 grading standards across the entire IGI organization compared to GIA.

Consider this: Dealers are aware that they can fetch a
 better price and sell a GIA graded diamond more swiftly if it's a high-quality
 stone, as indicated in the report. Consequently, they have an incentive to
 choose IGI for grading because they know it tends to be more lenient than GIA
 and may yield more favorable results.

When buying IGI and GIA graded diamonds, pay attention to
 the types of reports available:

<ul type="disc">
 <li class="MsoNormal">GIA
 offers diamond dossiers, typically for small diamonds, as well as full
 grading reports for diamonds of any size.</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">IGI
 provides two types of diamond grading reports: mini-reports and full
 grading reports.</li>
</ul><img src="https://admin.petragems.com/api/Images/Picture44.jpg" alt="GIA certification" width="700" height="549" title="GIA certificate">

Unlike
 GIA dossiers with sufficient information on them, IGI's mini grading reports,
 often issued to vendors in shopping malls, are notoriously limited in providing sufficient data about a diamond, especially about the cut of a diamond.<img src="https://admin.petragems.com/api/Images/Picture76.jpg" alt="IGI Certification" width="461" title="IGI Certification" height="602">

If you
 are buying an IGI graded diamond, make sure you buy a diamond with a full IGI
 report issued by one of their well-established labs in the U.S. or Antwerp.

<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-certification/" target="_blank"><img src="https://admin.petragems.com/api/Images/Picture77.jpg" alt="IGI certification dossier " width="512" height="389" title="IGI certification"></a>&nbsp;

Differences between IGI and GIA

While IGI is a reliable lab, it is still not as consistent as GIA, though you must not entirely rule out the former. Instead, please work
 with the assumption that there might be a slight inconsistency between IGI and
 GIA regarding diamond clarity and color.

When
 buying IGI graded diamonds, buy ones with a full IGI report, not the
 mini-reports, as they do not have any information related to the cut. Moreover,
 purchasing an IGI diamond with lab reports from their more established U.S. and European labs might be a good idea. It is also important to note that IGI is more consistent with low-grade than high-grade diamonds.

Our best
 advice would be to go for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/diamonds/">GIA certified diamond</a>&nbsp;and
 avoid the risk altogether if you are a first-time buyer.

As you
 shop for a perfect diamond, we also suggest that you familiarize yourself with
 the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/comparing-diamond-prices-seven-important-factors/">seven factors that affect the
 price of a diamond</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/how-compromise-diamonds/">four scenarios</a>&nbsp;buyers consider while shopping.

The seven
 factors include diamond shape, carat weight,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-color/">color</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-cut/">cut</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-clarity/">clarity</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-fluorescence/">fluorescence</a>, and
 certification.

Finally,
 here is a list of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/best-place-to-buy-diamonds-or-engagement-rings-online/">top online websites for buying diamonds or engagement rings</a>.

Final Thoughts

While GIA and IGI are reputable labs, there are noticeable differences in how they grade diamonds. In a nutshell, IGI is not as consistent or strict in grading 

IGI vs GIA | What is the Difference?

Sharif Khan

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