How Much It Costs to Get a Diamond GIA Certified

GIA-certified diamonds are usually the cream of the crop when it comes to purchasing the gems.

Many people will recommend that you only spend your money on certified diamonds, as they have the proof to show their authenticity.

While you could easily find GIA-certified diamonds for sale and purchase them at a retailer, some prefer to take their diamonds and certify them personally.

In this Shira Diamonds guide, we’ll look through the process that goes into getting a GIA certification and how much it can cost.

GIA Certification: What Is It and Why Do You Need It?

In every industry, some methods and standards are used to ensure product quality and guarantee assurance for customers.

These products go through several tests and analyses to investigate their availability for use and safety of application.

Other tests help to approve a commodity’s value and ascertain whether it is truly worth the price it is going for.

In the diamond industry, this is essentially what you get with GIA-certified diamonds.

These diamonds have been tested and evaluated by experts at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and they have been confirmed to be real.

Naturally, they will cost more.

Grading Process

The grading process for these diamonds will culminate in the issuance of a certificate showing that the diamond is real and worth the hefty price tag.

When you buy a GIA-certified diamond, you will get the diamond certificate as well to show its properties.

The diamond certificate lists the gem’s features—primarily, color, weight, carat, clarity, and cut.

GIA-Certified Lab Created Diamonds

Some diamond certificates from reputable GIA-certified labs will also review features like girdle thickness, fluorescence, polish, symmetry, etc.

Why the GIA Certification Is Necessary

The reason for this certification is simple: you want to be sure that your diamond is real and worth what you pay for it.

Most sellers get GIA certification to justify the prices they’re asking for a diamond, while buyers can also get a certificate as vindication for spending the money they did.

Diamonds are expensive gems, and you want to be sure you’re not being duped. The GIA certification goes a long way to prove that.

How Much Does a GIA Certification Cost?

There’s no definitive answer to this question. It depends on several factors:

Your Diamond’s Attributes

This will most likely be the most significant factor to affect your cost implications. Chiefly, these attributes consist of the four Cs.

Carat
Color
Cut
Clarity

The carat weight holds the most significant pull here.

As you can expect, diamonds with higher carat weights will cost more to get diamond certificates.

The Type of Report You Want

Generally, there are three types of diamond certificates that you get from the GIA.

There is the Full Diamond Report, which captures as many attributes as possible. As expected, it is the most expensive diamond certificate.

Then there’s the Smaller Dossier Report, which highlights fewer details and is cheaper, and the eReport, which the GIA-certified lab will simply mail to you.

Other Features You Can Buy

Asides from showing the attributes your diamond has, a diamond certificate from the GIA could also have unique features.

For instance, you can get a laser inscription, which gives your diamond a unique identity. If you’re hoping to insure the diamond, then this could come in handy.

You could also get custom text inscriptions on your diamond, and you could ask for the gem to be sealed in a case before being sent to you.

Each of these features will have a specific price tag.

Miscellaneous Factors

Several other factors, such as the number of stones you’re looking to certify and whether or not you’ll submit the diamond in person, can affect the cost.

To help you understand these costs, you can check the full fee schedule from the GIA here.

The portal provides all the information you need to assess your fees effectively.

How Do I Get My Diamond Certified?

The process is pretty simple. If you have a diamond, you will have to send it to a GIA-certified lab. Their experts and professionals will analyze and evaluate the diamond, and they will collect all the relevant data concerning it.

When they’re through, they provide the grading report and certificate to you.

On average, you will need to wait about three weeks to a month to get your diamond certified.

Is it Worth Buying a GIA-Certified Diamond?

In general, a GIA-certified diamond is worth it if you’re looking to ascertain a gem’s qualities.

For most sellers, getting the certification will serve as additional justification for the price you’re charging.

Most people who come to you to buy GIA-certified diamonds will want to see some proof, and the certification is the proper way to show them.

As a buyer, you also want to have peace of mind and proof that the high price you paid for a diamond wasn’t a waste.

If you’re the type who puts a premium on originality and authenticity, getting a GIA-certified diamond is definitely a great way to go. Contact us today to your own GIA-certified diamonds!