Is IGI as good as GIA?

For lab-grown, IGI is the standard. For natural stones GIA reports command a small premium because its grading is considered stricter.

Does a certificate raise the value?

It removes uncertainty, which is worth a few percent, and it prevents overgrading, which can be worth far more.

Can Kubikly read my certificate?

Yes. Upload a photo or PDF of the report with the piece and the stated values replace the estimates, marked USER PROVIDED.

Jewellery, gold and diamonds

Diamond certificates: GIA vs IGI vs HRD

A grading report turns a photo into facts: exact carat weight, measurements, colour, clarity, cut, fluorescence and whether the stone is natural or grown. Upload one and Kubikly reads every line.

What is on a report

Carat weight to two decimals and measurements to 0.01 mm
Colour (D–Z) and clarity (FL to I3) grades
Cut grade for rounds; polish and symmetry for all shapes
Fluorescence, inscription number, and for lab-grown, the growth method (CVD / HPHT)
A plot of inclusions so the stone can be matched to its paper

GIA, IGI and HRD

GIA (US) is the reference for natural diamonds; its grading is regarded as the strictest and stones with GIA reports sell for a few percent more for the same stated grade. IGI (Antwerp, with labs worldwide) grades most lab-grown diamonds and a large share of naturals; its grades are generally consistent but the market pays slightly less for the same letters. HRD (Antwerp) is common in Europe. AGS merged into GIA in 2022.

What it does to the price

Kubikly's estimate applies a small premium for a GIA report and a smaller one for IGI or other labs on natural main stones of 0.3 carat and up, and no premium on lab-grown stones, where an IGI report is simply the norm. The bigger effect of a report is on the grade itself: an uncertified “G VS” from a seller is often an H SI in a lab's eyes.

How to check a report

Every lab has an online lookup: enter the report number and compare the measurements and inscription with the stone. A report that cannot be found online, or whose numbers do not match the stone, is worth nothing.

Upload a certificate for an exact estimate

Frequently asked

Is IGI as good as GIA?: For lab-grown, IGI is the standard. For natural stones GIA reports command a small premium because its grading is considered stricter.
Does a certificate raise the value?: It removes uncertainty, which is worth a few percent, and it prevents overgrading, which can be worth far more.
Can Kubikly read my certificate?: Yes. Upload a photo or PDF of the report with the piece and the stated values replace the estimates, marked USER PROVIDED.