A diamond certificate is the single most important piece of paper in your purchase. It converts “trust me” into verifiable fact. Every diamond at Avatar Diamonds ships with an IGI or SGL report — here’s how to read one, and why it matters more than any discount.
What is a diamond certificate?
An independent laboratory report. A gemologist who has no stake in the sale examines your stone with calibrated instruments and records its identity and quality. The jeweller doesn’t grade the diamond; the lab does. That independence is the whole point.
Who are IGI and SGL?
IGI (International Gemological Institute) is one of the world’s largest diamond grading labs and the most widely used authority for lab-grown diamonds globally.
SGL (Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories) is a respected international lab with a strong presence in India, grading both mined and lab-grown stones.
Both grade lab-grown diamonds on exactly the same scales used for mined diamonds.
How to read the report
Report number. Unique to your stone — and laser-inscribed on the diamond’s girdle, visible under magnification. Match them and you know the certificate belongs to your diamond.
Shape and measurements. Round brilliant, oval, pear, and the stone’s exact dimensions in millimetres.
Carat weight. Measured to two decimal places.
Colour grade. From D (colourless) downward. D–F is colourless; G–J near-colourless. Most of our customers choose E–F.
Clarity grade. From FL (flawless) to I (included). VS1–VS2 stones look flawless to the naked eye at a fraction of FL prices.
Cut grade. Excellent, Very Good, Good — this drives sparkle. We recommend never going below Very Good.
Growth method (lab-grown reports). HPHT or CVD — the process used to grow the stone. Both produce real diamonds; neither is “better” for the wearer.
Verify it yourself in two minutes
Both labs let you check any report number free on their websites — igi.org and sglworld.com. Type in the number from your certificate and the full grading appears. Do this with any diamond you buy, from anyone, including us.
Certificate + hallmark = a safe purchase
The diamond’s certificate covers the stone; the BIS hallmark stamped inside the gold covers the metal. Together with an itemised bill showing the diamond, gold weight, and making charges separately, you have a purchase you can verify, insure, exchange, or sell — anywhere, anytime.
Have a certificate you’d like help reading? Bring it to our Mangaluru showroom (open daily, 11 AM – 7 PM) or WhatsApp us a photo — we’ll walk you through it, whether you bought the piece from us or not.