The certificate is a document which guarantees the attributes of your diamond. Without the cert, if the shop says it is 0.50ct, F, VS1 how do you know it is true?

Certs are issued by various labs. GIA is perhaps the most famous one. There are others like AGS, HRD, EGL, etc.

Another point is: make sure to match the cert to the diamond. All certs have a serial number and usually this number is micro-engraved into the girdle of the diamond. U need a 10x loupe to see it, so ask the shop to provide you a loupe so you can view the number.

If you are buying a loose stone and then have it mounted, make sure the diamond is mounted so that the number can be inspected (i.e. locate it between the prongs of the ring). When you get the ring after mounting, double check the number again (in case some unscrupulous shop switches the stone).

This post has been edited by jchong: Aug 9 2012, 07:19 PM

Diamond will oxidize and change color? Where did you get this info?

Yes, Lazare does attract premium pricing due to its branding.

You can find equally well cut diamonds without the hefty pricing premium but I think they are not so readily available here. Anyway, if you know about HCA and AGS grading system you're already better educated than most others about cut.

If you want truly well cut stones look at EightStar (don't think available locally though).

For me even if you're buying a stone 0.5ct and above, I feel a cert is important to have.

Why? Well at 0.5ct and above you'll start to pay big bucks. Since diamonds are sold based on the 4Cs isn't it important to know you're getting what you paid for?

You would feel cheated if you paid for E color, but it is really G color. So for a major purchase I won't trust the store's in house grading. Even IGI cert some people say it is not as stringent as GIA grading.

Yes Lazare is more expensive due to both the brand and their ideal cut. You could say Lazare built their brand based on the ideal cut.

However, like you said it is possible to find similarly well cut diamonds (I guess GIA 3ex is quite similar) without paying the brand premium for Lazare.

So fuzzy, have you bought your rock yet?

Very nice. Congrats.

So you got the rock from one place and then took it to Tiffany & Co to set? Didn't know Tiffany does that.

Good to know DeGem can do that for you.

It's a platinum ring right? How much did DeGem charge for the ring itself?

I think that is the ballpark figure for platinum ring nowadays.

A decade ago a 18k white gold Tiffany-style ring from Carat Club was RM485.

Buy something you can afford and within your budget. If 2.5-3K is your budget then get something in that price range.