EGL Online Verification

[mikeylanga]

I see many diamonds online at PS and other databases that claim to be EGL certified. Some even show an image of the certificate. However, when I enter the certificate number and carat weight into EGL-International''s and EGL-USA''s online verification service, it comes back without any matches. I e-mailed EGL-International and received this response:

"This certificate does not appear in our data base.

Since we have no information about this certificate we are unable to help
you with your inquiry."

Here is one example: Lab Report Cert No. 7700226327. Weight 1.50 Cts.

Search Result:

"ERROR!
The details you entered:
7700226327
1.50
don''t match any certificate in our database"

Does anyone know why this is? Are these certificates counterfeit? I found these diamonds at several "reputable" online vendors.

I would appreciate any help or advice. There are a number of diamonds I would be very interested in, but obviously not until I could have this concern alleviated.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[bh9]

Why not ask the vendor(s)?

 

[tonyc2387]

mikey, just to complete the example, do you think you could post the vendor link to that (or any) diamond you''re having trouble with?

 

[mikeylanga]

Sure, here is one I found on the Solomon Brothers'' site. I entered the certificate number: 7700226327 and carat weight: 1.50, and the online verification service at http://www.eglinternational.org/cgi-bin/certi_gest.cgi returned the result I mentioned before.

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Diamond_46655855

I also searched the usacerteddiamonds.com database and 90% of the EGL certificates returned the same result.

I''d be surprised if nobody else has encountered this.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[denverappraiser]

That’s EGL international, not EGL-USA. My guess is that it’s a problem with their online database.


Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[mikeylanga]

Right, it seems like only a few can be found in their database. I was just wondering if this affects its reliability and authenticity?

Compare these two EGL International certificates:

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dialog.aspx?ImageUrl=http://www.diamonds.net/UF/33171/Certs/29573.jpg

http://www.solomonbrothers.com/Dialog.aspx?ImageUrl=http://www.diamonds.net/UF/66819/Certs/1.51%20cu%20g%20vvs2.jpg

The first one is one of the certificates that do not match the EGL International database. According to the EGL website, the certificate number indicates the report was probably prepared by EGL Israel and should be included in their database.

The second was verified by the database. It also possesses a few qualities not contained by the first:

1. Shows ISO 9001-2000 / IQ Net
2. States that it is a Natural Diamond IaAB
3. It also directs you to the online verification site.

My biggest concern is whether the 1st one and those like it are authentic certificates.

 

[denverappraiser]

I would be VERY surprised if Solomon Brothers or USA Certed have any stones at all with counterfeit or altered lab paperwork and I'm confident that both companies would aggressively pursue their vendors and in defense of their clients if something somehow slipped through.

Whether or not EGLI paperwork is reliable or useful is a different issue and is the subject of many threads in the forum here. Do a bit of searching for the word 'EGL'.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 12/14/2009 1:08:14 PM
Author: denverappraiser
Whether or not EGLI paperwork is reliable or useful is a different issue and is the subject of many threads in the forum here. Do a bit of searching for the word ''EGL''.

These were my thoughts while reading the thread too.

Why not do yourself a HUGE favor and stick to GIA/AGS stones. The price per carat of the EGL stones can be so very tempting. However, a seemingly good deal can become a horrible deal when you don''t know what you are actually getting. "If it seems too good to be true..."