Diamond lab grading

[Chelsea Palmer]

Can anyone venture a guess as to why supposedly reputable and knowledgeable gemstone vendors refer to diamonds as CERTIFIED? GIA, AGI, AGL, etc., GRADE diamonds. They do not certify diamonds. A diamond tester will certify that a gemstone possesses the qualities that make it a diamond. It really irks me when I see a jeweler advertise lab-certified diamonds. I can see a lay person mistaking a lab report for a certificate, but I cannot understand why jewelers continue to misidentify diamonds as being certified by a grading lab. I would think these folks would want to get this right and educate their consumers. Makes me doubt their credentials.

 

[Karl_K]

I gave up that fight 20 years ago.
Its not something that one can win unless a gov gets involved..

 

[kenny]

I've pointed this out countless times here.
It's bad enough diamond retailers get away with this fraud, but many experienced prosumers here on PS use the term certified even though they must know better.

Like Karl, I've given up being a lone voice in the wilderness.

Ignorance isn't just bliss; it's rampant.
Sad.

 

[tyty333]

I always have to stop myself from typing "certified" and enter "graded". I'm sure I haven't always caught it because I'm
so used to hearing "certified". If I can slow myself down long enough to think about what I'm typing I make sure I
enter "graded".

 

[Dreamer_D]

Language changes over time and its functional. This is the functional meaning of the word now I guess.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Going back 25 years...we were one of the first websites selling diamonds.
I was using the term "GIA certified"....not to defnd it's use, but this was a long time ago and things were different.
Anyway, GIA's legal council sent us a registered letter- telling us to cease and desist using that term.
I immediately realized the implications and stopped using that term.
At the same time, I sent back pictures of all the neon signs on 47th street advertising "GIA CERTIFIED DIAMONDS"
I became part of the solution at that point

 

[Karl_K]

I always have to stop myself from typing "certified" and enter "graded". I'm sure I haven't always caught it because I'm
so used to hearing "certified". If I can slow myself down long enough to think about what I'm typing I make sure I
enter "graded".

Wont have to look hard to find to find me posting "cert" when I mean grading report. I dont catch it all the time.

 

[lovedogs]

Wont have to look hard to find to find me posting "cert" when I mean grading report. I dont catch it all the time.

me too. I do it alllllll the time

 

[Lookinagain]

same here.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Just an old habit that is hard to break! Not sure anyone hangs their hat though on the difference in terms. I realize it is incorrect but there are far worse problems in the industry than that one. Just my two cents!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I mean, "cert" is also short for "certificate", which is a term often used to describe a grading report.