IGI vs. GIA

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GIA Graded

Besides being the only gemological lab with active presence
 and operations in nearly every continent, the <a href="https://www.igi.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IGI</a> is the oldest gemological
 laboratory in Antwerp, the world’s biggest diamond center. This feat speaks to
 the IGI’s experience and reputation as a jewelry grader.

The idea behind establishing gemological labs was to
 enhance the diamond trade by offering accurate grading reports to diamond
 dealers. Hence, by default, most of these labs ought to have been based in
 diamond-mining countries, although, for justifiable reasons, this is not the
 case.

Most diamonds are not processed in their countries of
 origin. Africa is a significant producer of rough diamonds, and so is the
 Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been producing diamonds since immemorial.
 However, no serious diamond processing firms have been established around the
 mining sites to date. Therefore, the DRC exports nearly all its diamonds to
 other countries, where they are cut, polished, and graded.

Most countries where much of the processing occurs may have
 few active diamond mining sites; a case in point is India. In light of this,
 the IGI sought to open up operational bases in diamond-processing regions. That
 way, diamond vendors would comfortably have their diamonds graded locally. For
 the most part, the IGI did succeed in eliminating geographical limitations.
 Moreover, the institute offers a range of services, the most common of which is
 its independent diamond grading.<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diamonds/?a_aid=5c83f22427304" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/img-1687674586.webp" alt="James Allen Diamonds In HD" width="431" height="241" title="James Allen Diamonds"></a>

Other services by the IGI
 include:

<ol start="1" type="1">
 <li class="MsoNormal">Identification
 and appraisal of gems, thereby issuing reports.</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Authentication
 and attestation of the origins of diamonds.</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Laser
 inscription services.</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Offering
 courses on diamonds and other colored stones through their School of
 Gemology.</li>
</ol>

Presently, the IGI issues over one million reports
 annually. This high number results mainly from the organization’s ability to
 cater to corporate diamond dealers and individual investors. Modern-day
 consumers have also become more jewelry conscious. When the idea of diamond
 grading was conceptualized, vendors mainly used it as a pricing mechanism.
 Nowadays, consumers are keen on learning about the details of the diamonds they
 wish to buy, implying that the focus is on information and not only on whether
 the value matches the price asked.

Apart from diamond vendors, consumers, and individual
 investors, the IGI caters to several other market segments, such as insurance
 corporations, catalog companies, internet sales organizations, and accounting
 and securities firms.

IGI in the Diamond Grading Industry

Like any other reputable grading lab, the IGI deploys
 state-of-the-art scientific equipment designed for accuracy and consistency.

The grading process involves an analysis of the elements
 that make up the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/4cs-of-diamond/">Four Cs</a>—weight,
 color,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-cut-vs-clarity/">clarity and cut</a>.
 Each aspect is carefully analyzed, following which process the findings are
 noted in the reports.

The process starts by examining the diamond carat, which
 involves Gemologists carefully deploying calibrated instruments to arrive at
 the most accurate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-carat-weight/">carat weight</a>.
 Afterward, they analyze the color of the stone for which the graders use the
 color scale that ranges from D (colorless) to Z (yellow). Usually, the color of
 a diamond is determined by comparing it to one of the lab’s master stones with
 predetermined colors. They also check for more detailed aspects like
 fluorescence when evaluating the color.

The next step involves checking the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-clarity/">clarity of a diamond</a>.
 Here, the experts use a powerful 10x magnification loupe to check for any
 inclusions, and when they find any, the graders list them on the diamond
 report. The diamond is then assigned an appropriate clarity rating depending on
 its score on the clarity scale. The scale ranges from IF (internally flawless)
 to I3 (heavily included).

The final element to examine is cut. In this step, IGI
 gemologists evaluate how the stone is cut and polished. Some aspects analyzed
 here include the cutter’s design, crown height, girdle thickness, culet size,
 and table diameter. The cut grade ranges from Poor to Excellent. The grade not
 only depends on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-shapes/">shape of the diamond</a>&nbsp;but
 also on how it impacts the stone’s overall symmetry and proportions.

For accuracy purposes, all collected data is verified
 through further tests. The IGI tries to ensure that there is as minimal error
 margin as possible, thereby guaranteeing the uniqueness of a diamond.
 A report is drafted, a passport-size document detailing all the
 stone's specific features.<a href="https://www.bluenile.com/education/diamonds/buying-guides?a_aid=5c83f22427304/" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/img-1687677013.webp" alt="Diamond Cheat Sheet Blue Nile" width="300px" title="Diamond Cheat Sheet"></a>

How IGI Diamond Grading Works

The IGI has employed 650 qualified staff comprising
 gemologists and accredited appraisers, among other office personnel.

To keep up with the emerging trends in the industry, the
 IGI has always been adaptive to technological changes. The company has created
 an effective Online Data Retrieval program that enables its clients to track
 the progress of their samples. Most importantly, a client can verify the
 authenticity of their diamond reports. The ODR works for all IGI-issued reports
 post-June 2004. The program has immensely assisted most jewelry buyers,
 especially those in countries where the laboratory does not have regional
 offices. Therefore, besides asking for a report from a diamond dealer, the
 authenticity of such a report can also be ascertained.

In addition to the Online Data Retrieval program, the IGI
 has also created the Registration and Recovery Service, via which a piece of
 diamond jewelry can be registered in the IGI data bank. This arrangement makes
 diamond identification and recovery hassle-free and is especially beneficial
 for insured diamonds. If a diamond is lost, the insurance company will almost
 always indemnify its owner with a similar jewel.

If a diamond owner happens to lose or damage their diamond,
 they can call IGI’s toll-free number and report the matter. If the diamond is
 destroyed, the IGI issues a computer printout describing the diamond in detail.
 But if it is stolen, the company will contact the local police. Additionally,
 the institute would search on the diamond auction market in case the stolen
 jewelry comes up for sale. The company would also alert the industry so manufacturers,
 retailers, and pawn stores can know about and watch for the stolen diamond.

Besides all these services, the IGI provides gemology courses
 through their School of Gemology. The school was the first to offer a practical
 Rough Diamond course. Some areas of study that the school focuses on include
 training on rough diamonds and colored stones, jewelry design, jewelry CAD, and
 retail workshops.

The IGI is one of the world’s largest gemological labs,
 bent upon continually offering professionally graded diamonds to their clients worldwide.
 The institute has succeeded in delivering on that mandate for its existence.
 Besides amazing offers, the IGI website is a goldmine of diamond information.
 Such information is useful when intending to purchase a diamond.

IGI Operations and Its Strongest Selling Points

The International Gemological
                Institute (IGI) certifies or grades diamonds, colored
        stones, and other jewelry. It is one of the world’

IGI Certification: are their diamond grading reports reliable?