We get the GIA vs IGI certification question on nearly every order that includes a diamond a carat or larger. Good news: it’s not really an either/or for us. We offer both. The honest answer is it depends on the stone and the piece, not on which lab is “better.”
Every single diamond of 1 carat or more is already certified before it’s ever set into one of our pieces. That’s deliberate. It means you’re not stuck sending a finished piece off to a lab afterward, just to get the stone documented.
Why We Certify the Stone Before It’s Set
Certifying loose stones first saves a step most buyers don’t think about until they’re stuck with it. Shipping a finished piece to a lab after the fact means extra time and extra insurance. It also means extra risk while the piece is in transit. Since we certify the stone up front, that whole step just isn’t necessary for most orders.
Full Jewelry Certification: When It’s Worth Asking For
Some clients want more than the center stone covered, and that’s where full jewelry certification comes in. It documents the smaller stones too, not just the main one. That matters if a piece is heavy on melee or accent diamonds. This comes up far more often on lab-grown orders than natural ones. Lab-grown pieces tend to use more small stones across a design in the first place. If that’s what you need, just tell us upfront so we can build it into the order.
GIA vs IGI Certification: The Practical Differences
GIA‘s been around since 1931, and it’s built its reputation as the strictest, most conservative grader in the industry. If a stone sits right on the line between two grades, GIA tends to call it the lower one.
IGI, founded later in 1975, grades a touch more generously on average. It’s become the dominant certifier for lab-grown diamonds specifically. That’s partly because so much of the world’s lab-grown cutting and polishing happens in India, where IGI already has deep infrastructure.
Neither lab is wrong. They’re just calibrated differently, and the market has settled into where each one fits best.
GIA vs IGI Certification: Why GIA Leads for Natural Diamonds
For natural diamonds specifically, most of our retailers ask for GIA, and we get why. It adds an extra layer of confidence around what the stone’s actually worth. It also makes the retailer’s own job easier. GIA is the name most end customers already recognize. So it’s simply an easier sell when a retailer’s trying to convince their own customer the stone’s worth the price.
What to Send Us to Get Started
- Stone carat weight, and whether it’s natural or lab-grown.
- GIA or IGI preference, if you already have one.
- Full jewelry certification or just the center stone — let us know which you need.
- Piece type and any design details you’ve already got.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still weighing lab-grown against natural for your range? Our lab-grown vs natural diamonds guide covers that decision.
Do you offer both GIA and IGI certification? Yes, on every order. Which one makes sense usually comes down to the stone and whether it’s natural or lab-grown. It’s not a fixed rule on our end.
Do all your diamonds come certified? We certify any single diamond of 1 carat or more before it’s set, as standard. We certify smaller stones too if you request full jewelry certification.
What’s full jewelry certification, and when do I need it? It covers the smaller stones in a piece, not just the center one. It’s optional, and it comes up most often on lab-grown orders where a design uses more melee stones.
Should I choose GIA or IGI for a natural diamond? Most of our retailers go with GIA for natural stones. It tends to carry more trust with end customers and makes resale conversations easier down the line.
Is IGI a lower-quality certification than GIA? No — both are legitimate, respected labs. IGI grades slightly more generously on average. It’s become the standard for lab-grown diamonds specifically, largely because of its depth of experience grading that category.
Not sure whether GIA or IGI makes more sense for your next order? Get in touch and we’ll talk it through, or browse the full range to see what’s already certified and ready.