IGI vs. GCAL: understanding diamond certification
Diamond certification is your guarantee of quality. It's the independent, third-party verification that the stone you're buying is exactly what the seller claims it is. Understanding what these certificates mean — and which labs to trust — is essential for any informed diamond purchase.
The Two Leading Labs for Lab-Grown Diamonds
IGI (International Gemological Institute) is the most widely recognized certification body for lab-grown diamonds. They evaluate the 4Cs — Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight — along with symmetry, polish, fluorescence, and detailed proportions. IGI provides proportion diagrams and a laser inscription number that can be verified on their website. GCAL (Gem Certification & Assurance Lab) is unique in offering a guaranteed light performance grade and an actual photograph of the diamond on the certificate. Their "Guaranteed Certificate" means they stand behind their grading with a money-back guarantee. At KLAREVE, every diamond ships with IGI certification because IGI is the industry standard for lab-grown diamond grading.
What to Look For on Any Certificate
Cut grade: Must be Ideal or Excellent. This is the single most important factor in a diamond's beauty. At KLAREVE, we only source Ideal or Excellent cut stones — no exceptions. Color grade: D through G for near-colorless to colorless. Our Classic collection guarantees F-G, Signature guarantees E-F, and Reserve guarantees D-E. Clarity grade: FL through SI2, with VS2 and above being eye-clean. Our collections range from VS1-VS2 (Classic) to VVS1-VVS2 (Reserve). Laser inscription number: This should match the certificate and be verifiable on the issuing lab's website.
