IGI vs GIA
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IGI Diamond Certification
The IGI started out as the blue color workhorse of the diamond business. They were, and still are, the most popular gem lab for the major jewelry chains in the US and Canada (Kay, Zales, etc.) They are like a factory. They work fast, and they work cheap.
Lately, though, they have been trying to position themselves as a legitimate contender against the other labs and not just a certificate factory for the major chains. While they haven’t succeeded so much in America, they have actually gained quite impressive market share in Europe and the Middle East. I used to travel to sell diamonds in Dubai, and the two major certificates sold in that market are HRD and IGI.
The bottom line with IGI in comparison to GIA is that they are consistently looser in color, and partially looser in clarity. What I mean by this is that specifically in the “SI3″ range, they generally upgrade to an SI2. Diamonds used for “SI2″ programs at the major chains would almost never pass a GIA “SI2.” I know this particularly well, as throughout my professional career, I must have personally selected thousands of diamonds to be sold as IGI SI2s at the major jewelry store chains in the US and UK. These programs (usually the middle-ground price point offering great value as it’s the cheapest of the eye-clean grades) all have a minimum of SI2 clarity. For these programs, we would always strive to find diamonds that were in that “SI3″ sweet spot — diamonds that would not receive an “SI2″ from GIA, but were too nice to sell as an “I1.”
If you have any questions, please post them in the comments below. I will usually respond within 24 hours.
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Hi Ira,
I have come across from my local jewelary store and saw something that fits my needs, Will need your advice.
Here are the diamond details, which is on the IGI cert:
Description: Natural Diamond
Shape And Cut: Round Brilliant
Carat Weight: 1.50 Carat
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: SI 2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Measurements: 7.34 – 7.37 x 4.53 mm
Table: 56%
Crown Height – Angle: 15% – 34.8°
Pavilion Depth – Angle: 43% – 40.8°
Girdle Thickness: Medium (Faceted)
Culet: Pointed
Fluorescence: None
Comments: Hearts & Arrows “IDEAL CUT ROUND BRILLIANT”
Was quoted USD$12,300 for it with setting.
Is the price ok?
Thanks!
Sounds expensive. THis is probably a nicer stone (AGS certified), and it’s a lot cheaper.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1430211.asp
Hi Ira,
I’ve been offerd the following stone for $8,500. I would like to know if I am getting my monies worth or should I move on?
Round Brilliant Cut
7.31-7.35×4.45MM
1.5Ct
I Color
VS2
Good Polish
Good Symmetry
IGI Certified.
Woops! Still, what is the cut grade?
Hi Andrew. What kind of certificate? IGI or GIA? What is the cut grade?
IGI Certified, Ex cut grade
Then it sounds like a very good deal.
Hi Ira,
I have been offered the following ring from a Jeweller in Dublin.
Round Brilliant
Platinum Band
1.5 Carat
E Colour
VS2
Very Good Cut & Polish
IGI Cert
Price €17,500
Do you think this is good value? Advice much appreciated as I am getting lost looking at so many rings!
Thks
John
Hi John. Does that price include VAT?
Hi Mike,
Yes it does. They told me that was a “special price”. Really not sure.
What you reckon?
Judge for yourself. See this to compare:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1436044.asp
A GIA F SI1 is like an IGI E VS2. This stone also has a VG cut.
Putting the $14,370 price into their currency converter + VAT calculator, the price delivered to Dublin would be: 13463.69 EUR
Add another $1000 USD for a basic plat band, and it looks like you’re still paying too much!
Hi Ira,
Would like to ask for your advice. My boyfriend just bought an IGI 0.41 carat G SI1 excellent cut diamond platinum engagement ring from Rosendorffs (Australia). He paid $4,200 AUD. Do you think it was too expensive? Or did we get a good deal?
When I asked them about IGI and GIA certificates, they mentioned that they only used international grading on diamonds. Hope they didn’t rip us off. Thanks!
This stone is certified by GIA:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1446006.asp
The price in USD is $860. Assuming it’s a basic platinum ring, so lets say that’s about $1000. So putting $1860 into James Allen’s currency converter (which calculates for VAT and Duties as well), the price in AUD comes to $2017 AUD. So if you got just a basic platinum setting, then I’d say that you did pay a bit too much. Sorry
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the quick response! I think you’ve priced it right. Diamonds shouldn’t cost so much! Though, I’m not sure if it costs more because they are making it from a specific design that we wanted — and have included labour costs? The ring design we saw was in white gold, but we requested platinum. Also, my boyfriend wanted to see the diamond and ring in person before purchase, which would be hard if we went with James Allen. They initially quoted us about $4,900 – $5’500. We told them if they dropped the price, we’d give them cash! So it got down to $4,200.
Initially, we went to another jeweller showing them the design we wanted and chose a Passion 8 0.4 carat D SI1 excellent brillian cut diamond (http://www.passion8diamonds.com/). They were going to charge us $4,600 (as mates rates) and for the specific ‘handmade’ design we wanted, $5,600. Anyway, I thought that was outrageous and was willing to forgo the whole diamond ring thing.
I’m not sure why everything in Australia cost so much! Oh well, thanks so much again!
I am looking at a IGI Cert 1.02 carat Round Brilliant. OF F color, SI2 Clarity for $5,385 plus tax. Decent Deal? Any help is much appreciated
Hi Neil. IGI Si2s have a tendency to be eye visible. They’re usually the equivalent of a nice GIA I1. Your stone is probably the color and clarity equivalent of this:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-I1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279532.asp
But this stone is larger and a better cut, and depending on your state, most likely without any tax.
But I think a stone like this would be a better option, as it will for sure be eye clean:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440129.asp
my husband got a ring. its tolkowsky 1 ct. igi. which is better igi,, color h, vs(1), cut ideal , execellent, v. good . or the same with the GIA . only difference is clarity si(1), polish/symmetry good/good or good, v. good. i forgot sorry. plus ct. is same for both. and the measurements are a little different. the Agi cert. was little more and looked slightly bigger. the Igi was a little less and looked a little smaller in the eye. when i came home i realized the certificates were different. so i am doing research. please tell me which is better for my money. spent around 8,000 dollars. please help.
sorry i forgot if it was Gia or Ags….thank you soo much…I thought we were getting better deal comparing…
Hi Emmy. It sounds expensive. Here’s an Ex/Ex/Vg to compare with what you bought:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1425470.asp
thank you for replying promptly….i really love your advice. mine is a princess cut..its an upgrade so i have to get it from that store. but my question is that should i stay with the igi certificate with excellent/v. good symmetry, with vs(1) clarity grade…
or should i go with the Gia or Ags certificate with good/v.good or good/good (i forgot sorry). symmetry with si(1) clarity grade….i am in a dilemma… also the AGS/Gia ones measurement was a tinsy bit bigger….please help me.
thank you for replying promptly….i really love your advice. mine is a princess cut..its an upgrade so i have to get it from that store. but my question is that should i stay with the igi certificate with excellent/v. good symmetry, with vs(1) clarity grade…
or should i go with the GSI ( i found out later) certificate with good/v.good or good/good (i forgot sorry). symmetry with si(1) clarity grade….i am in a dilemma… also the GSI ones measurement was a tinsy bit bigger….please help me.
both are ideal cut…its the hearts & arrows collection.
what are the measurements of the two stones? LxW and Depth and Table %s?
The one with the igi is 5.48 x5.42×4.06mm
the other i forgot….
its something like 5.53 ish and on… sorry memory isn’t that good.
which one would be a better deal? sorry to bother u!!!!
I’m sorry, but I can’t answer without knowing the details!
Was the stone certified while mounted?
I’ve just bought a 0.51 diamond… excellent, D, IF spending 5700 dollars (Igi certificate) do you think I spent too much? or do you think that this price is okay? thank you
Yes, you spent too much. Compare it with this GIA certified stone:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-IF-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1434659.asp
thank you for your answer
Is this a good purchase? 0.84 carat F VS2 good cut IGI cert zero fluorescent
Measuremnt is 5.74-5.80-3.84 price $3200.
I don’t recommend people buy Good cut. You should stick with VG or better.
Hi Ira,
Please advice on below.
earring of 0.50ct each
E
VVS1, SI1
Very good cut
GIA certificate
S$4400.
Seems like a good price