How to check a GIA, HRD or IGI certificate
A diamond certificate, officially a grading report, is only worth something if it is genuine and belongs to your stone. You can check much of both yourself. Gemmologists do it in five steps, and so can you.
What does a diamond report say?
A report from a laboratory such as GIA, HRD Antwerp or IGI records the characteristics of one stone: shape, carat weight to a hundredth, colour, clarity, the cut grade for round brilliants, the measurements in millimetres and the fluorescence. At the top is a unique report number and the date.
The report is not a valuation and not proof of ownership. It describes the stone as it lay in the laboratory on that day.
Checking a report number in five steps
- Find the number. It is at the top of the report, often next to a QR code or barcode.
- Go to the laboratory’s website yourself. Type in the address of GIA (Report Check), HRD Antwerp or IGI rather than following a link or QR code someone else gave you. All three have a public lookup register.
- Enter the number. Some laboratories also ask for the carat weight. If the number does not match or there is no result, treat that as a warning.
- Compare the details. Check that the weight, measurements, shape, colour and clarity in the register match the paper exactly. One figure that differs is reason for doubt.
- Compare the report with the stone. Look at the girdle, the narrow edge of the stone, with a loupe: many certified diamonds carry the report number there as a laser inscription. A gemmologist also measures the dimensions and weight.
A genuine report does not yet prove it is about your stone. Reports can become separated from the diamond they were written for. Only when inscription, measurements and weight match does the report belong to the stone.
GIA, HRD and IGI: what is the difference?
All three work with the four Cs and the same colour and clarity scales. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) developed the system and is the most widely used point of reference in the trade. HRD Antwerp is the Belgian laboratory from the Antwerp diamond sector. IGI has offices worldwide and, besides natural diamonds, certifies many grown diamonds.
For a buyer it matters which laboratory issued the report, because the trade knows how strictly each laboratory grades. That is why our diamond calculator only works with reports from these three.
When does a report matter most?
With a small stone a report adds little; our gemmologists measure the four Cs without paperwork too. With a large stone it is different: one colour letter or clarity grade makes a big difference there, and a report removes that uncertainty.
If you have a report, bring it to the valuation, together with any purchase receipts. We look the report up in the register and compare it with the stone while you watch.
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Questions about how to check a GIA, HRD or IGI certificate
How do I check a GIA certificate?
Go to the GIA website yourself and open Report Check. Enter the report number, and the carat weight if asked. Then compare all the details with the paper, and use a loupe to see whether the number is laser-inscribed on the girdle of the stone.
Where do I look up an HRD or IGI report number?
HRD Antwerp and IGI both have a public lookup register on their own website. Type the address in yourself and enter the report number there. If there is no result or the details differ, have the report checked.
Is my diamond worth less without a certificate?
A buyer then has to assess the stone himself, and uncertainty counts in the offer. With small stones the difference is limited, with large stones a report can matter a great deal. Our gemmologists measure the four Cs without a report too.
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Sources
Where you can verify what you have just read.
- LBMAThe London gold and silver price our daily rate is built on
- WaarborgHollandThe Dutch assay office that verifies fineness and strikes hallmarks
Rather just have it looked at?
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