The cost of a GIA diamond certificate depends
on numerous factors, some of which include;
1. The Attributes of Your
Diamond
These chiefly consist of the four Cs but
with a particular focus on the carat weight. So, as you might expect, the
higher the carat weight, the costlier the diamond certificate will be. The
other elements that comprise the 4Cs also impact the overall cost of a GIA
diamond certificate.
However, price relationships are not always linear for
aspects like color, cut, clarity, fluorescence, etc. For instance, it is
wrong to imagine that the cost of grading and certifying a flawless red diamond
will be relative to the value of that stone regarding its high clarity score
and rare color grade. In most
cases, it is the carat weight that matters.
2. The Kind of Report You
Desire
The GIA provides three types of diamond certificates. The
Full Diamond Report captures as many attributes of a stone as possible and is
the costliest of all the GIA’s certifications. The Smaller Dossier Report is
relatively cheaper as it highlights fewer details of a stone. Lastly, there’s
the eReport which is essentially a digital copy. Unlike the first two, the
eReport is not laminated and mailed back to you. Therefore, it is the cheapest
of the three GIA certificates.
3. Other Features
Available for Purchase
In addition to highlighting the fundamental attributes of
your diamond, a diamond grading certification by the GIA might come with
additional special features. For instance, a GIA laser inscription gives your
diamond a unique identity. It is especially crucial in case you lose or damage
the gem and wish to be compensated by your insurance company.
You can also have your diamond inscribed with a custom
text. The text could be anything, from the initials of your name to a short
quote, company slogan, etc. Lastly, you might request to have the stone
securely sealed in a plastic case before it is sent back to you. Each of these
features comes with a price tag.
Other factors, such as the number of stones you wish to
have certified and whether or not you submit the diamond yourself, will also
impact the cost of a GIA certification.
To put it into a better perspective, a .50 carat round
diamond without a laser inscription will cost you $43 for a smaller diamond
dossier if you submit the stone yourself. The same diamond will cost $76 if you
go for a full diamond report and have the stone laser inscribed. The following
tables will attempt to illustrate the average cost of a GIA diamond
certification as of January 2019.
GIA Reports
|
CARAT
|
FEE
|
|
0.15
to 0.22
|
$53
|
|
0.23
to 0.46
|
$59
|
|
0.47
to 0.69
|
$64
|
|
0.70
to 0.99
|
$78
|
|
1.00
to 1.49
|
$105
|
|
1.50
to 1.99
|
$121
|
|
2.00
to 2.99
|
$169
|
|
3.00
to 3.99
|
$250
|
|
4.00
to 4.99
|
$331
|
|
5.00
to 5.99
|
$470
|
|
6.00
to 7.99
|
$554
|
|
8.00
to 9.99
|
$656
|
|
10.00
to 11.99
|
$910
|
|
12.00
to 14.99
|
$1,067
|
|
15.00
to 19.99
|
$1,309
|
|
20.00
to 24.99
|
$1,707
|
|
25.00
to 29.99
|
$1,992
|
|
30.00
to 39.99
|
$2,417
|
|
40.00
to 49.99
|
$2,845
|
|
50.00
+
|
On
Request
|
The Full Diamond Report details the report number, shape,
cut and cutting style, carat weight, measurements, clarity, color,
fluorescence, symmetry, comments, inscriptions, and a plot.
A GIA Diamond Dossier Report
|
CARAT
|
FEE
|
|
0.15
to 0.22
|
$32
|
|
0.23
to 0.29
|
$34
|
|
0.30
to 0.39
|
$40
|
|
0.40
to 0.49
|
$42
|
|
0.50
to 0.69
|
$43
|
|
0.70
to 0.99
|
$53
|
|
1.00
to 1.49
|
$85
|
|
1.50
to 1.99
|
$110
|
A Diamond Dossier Report captures the report number, shape,
cut and cutting style, carat weight, measurements, clarity, color, symmetry,
polish, fluorescence, comments, and inscriptions. The fundamental difference
between this certificate and the Full Diamond Report lies in the absence of a
plot.
A GIA eReport
|
CARAT
|
FEE
|
|
0.15
to 0.22
|
$32
|
|
0.23
to 0.29
|
$34
|
|
0.30
to 0.39
|
$36
|
|
0.40
to 0.49
|
$38
|
|
0.50
to 0.69
|
$39
|
|
0.70
to 0.99
|
$48
|
|
1.00
to 1.49
|
$80
|
|
1.50
to 1.99
|
$99
|
|
2.00
to 2.99
|
$152
|
As previously shed light upon, the GIA eReport is not
laminated and sent back to you, hence the cheaper rates of grading and
certification.
To seal your diamond certificate in a plastic tamper-proof
package before sending it back to you, the GIA will charge you an additional $9
for diamonds weighing between 0.15 and 8.00 Carats. The cost of having your
diamond laser inscribed with a text, image, or graphic will depend on the
length and size of the inscription. Generally, the texts must not exceed
fifteen characters. It will cost you $15 for diamonds weighing up to 0.99
carats. From there onwards, the cost rises linearly with an increase in carat
weight.
One thing that ensues is the cost-effectiveness of GIA
diamond certifications. Remember, regular gemological labs will charge you
between $150 and $300 for diamond certifications. Even worse, there could be
gross inconsistencies in their grading reports.
A GIA diamond certification is a quality marker and a
cheaper yet more reliable certification for diamond grading. This falls in line
with the company’s mission of making its services accessible to all.
