You’re at the right place if you are wondering if all diamonds have serials numbers and what they mean. Keep scrolling!
In this guide, we’ll address some of the most frequently asked questions about diamonds with serial numbers including:
- Which types of diamonds lack serial numbers?
- Are serial numbers required for diamonds?
- Why do diamonds have serial numbers?
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Do Diamonds Have Serial Numbers and What Do they Mean?
Why do Diamonds Have Serial Numbers?
When making a purchase, the diamond ring or loose diamond can have a string of letters and numbers carved on it. They may also contain little messages and symbols.
A specific kind of laser inscription is the serial number on a diamond. You can use a laser inscription to check if the diamond has the same grades as those listed on the grading report. A serial number inscription guarantees that the amount you pay is appropriate for the diamond’s grade as shown on the diamond certificate. Typically, it helps ensure that you aren’t being taken advantage of for relatively lower grades.
However, it’s important to understand that not all grading labs are made equal. It’s always advisable to go for natural diamonds that are graded by the Gemological Institute of America –GIA or the American Gem Society.
When it comes to lab-created diamonds, grading reports from GCAL, GIA, IGI and AGS laboratories come highly recommended.
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Finding the Serial Number on Your Diamond
A diamond’s serial number is usually located on the girdle/edge if it has any. Don’t worry about the macro laser inscription affecting the brightness or clarity of the diamond since you can barely see it with your naked eyes.
You’ll certainly need a laser inscription viewer or alternatively take the diamond to a local jeweler to check under a gem microscope or viewer whether or not the gemstone has a serial number.
With their Gemscope, mall jewelers like Kay and Zales can decipher a diamond inscription. They might allow you to see it too. It could require some getting used to be able to notice the lettering oneself because you need a trained eye to do so.
The report number listed on the diamond certificate is frequently the same as the serial number for a diamond. Normally, it will have the report number and the initials of the gemological lab etched on it.
Are There Serial Numbers on all Diamonds?
Diamonds with serial numbers are not universal. A diamond with a serial number has undergone a grading laboratory’s diamond certification process.
A diamond with a serial number may have been created in a lab or by mining.
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Don’t think a diamond’s inscription is a serial number if it isn’t. Several shops offer non-serial and non-grading report related bespoke laser engraving messages on their gems.
Certified Diamonds
Many people believe that all diamonds with certification have serial numbers. This is not true. The GIA is the only diamond grading organization in the US that certifies all of its stones and offers them for sale as such.
There are a few gemological laboratories in the US and other nations that, upon request, will also engrave a report number on your stone. You will pay an extra fee for this. Depending on the organization that certifies your diamonds, each grading laboratory will charge a different price.
In the reputed gemological labs listed below, you can ask for an inscription that is comparable to a GIA inscription:
- Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (Lab-grown Diamonds)
- American Gem Society (Natural Diamonds)
- International Gemological Institute (Lab-grown Diamonds)
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Non-Certified Diamonds
There is no serial number on uncertified stones. There may be some sort of inscription on them, but no serial number. Without a diamond grading report, you cannot have a serial number, which is a report number.
In general, we advise against purchasing engagement rings or loose diamonds without a diamond certificate from a respected lab, such as the GIA or AGS. You won’t find many online vendors for engagement rings that don’t offer certified diamonds.
You won’t discover many of their jewelry to be verified if you buy an engagement ring from Kay or Zales. These are frequently cluster situations. You shouldn’t anticipate that lesser diamonds, which lack serial numbers, will be verified. Loose diamonds are less likely to be uncertified than engagement rings with pre-set stones.
Are Diamond Engagement Rings with Serial Numbers More Expensive?
A GIA-certified diamond engagement ring may cost a little more than one with a similar quality from another lab. Therefore, there shouldn’t be a significant price difference.
For instance, James Allen, one of our favorite shops, is the source of both of these loose diamonds. James Allen offers both GIA- and IGI-certified diamonds for sale, however we advise only purchasing GIA-certified natural diamonds. This is a pricing comparison between the two diamonds with comparable grades:
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But, you will probably pay twice as much if you visit a Kay’s store to buy wedding jewelry with a GIA certificate. It is ridiculous to pay more for an uncertified solitaire diamond ring from Kay than they would charge for a GIA-certified diamond.
Certainly, GIA-certified diamonds will always be more expensive than diamonds without any kind of certificate. Yet, we consider diamond certification to be a very minimum need for any loose diamond. You may be sure that the grades for clarity, cut, carat weight, and color are exactly as stated.
A great investment in your diamond is to buy one with a serial number from a GIA laser inscription because it increases the value. Even though diamonds don’t have a high resale value, having the information noted on a certificate tends to fetch you higher prices.
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Can my diamond have a serial number added to it?
A lot of folks opt to purchase their engagement rings from a mall retailer like Kay or Zales in-person. These are typically uncertified engagement rings without serial numbers most of the time. That might be you. It’s okay that way. Future purchasers of engagement rings and loose stones should not use this information.
You can submit your loose stone for certification by the GIA (it must be removed from the ring mount) and have a laser inscription bearing your report number. Your loose diamond’s 4Cs will be identified by a GIA diamond expert using the grading procedure. Both the GIA laser inscription on the outside edge of the girdle and the diamond certificate will have a report number for your diamond.
The GIA is not the only laboratory capable of performing this grading. You can pay to have the AGS and IGI grade your diamond and ask them to engrave a number on it before returning it.
Conclusion
Inscribing serial numbers on your diamond has many advantages. All diamonds that are GIA certified have serial numbers, albeit they are not on all of them. Diamonds with grading reports that lack a serial number are nonetheless valuable. If you desire, many laboratories will charge you to have your diamond inscribed with a serial number. At no additional charge, the GIA automatically takes care of this for you.
Since there is less transparency between the seller and the customer when buying uncertified diamonds, we do not advise doing so. Just get GIA or AGS certified diamonds if you want natural diamonds, is our advice. But, you can ask for it after making a purchase because the AGS does not always stamp the report number on the polished diamond.
In addition to providing jewelry insurance, serial numbers are fantastic for added protection and peace of mind. They are not necessary, though, unless you consider them to be. If you’ve lost it, it will be simpler to determine if it has been stolen. Yet, beyond from that, it has no bearing on the diamond’s overall quality. Please don’t allow the lack of a serial number stop you; an AGS certified diamond is still excellent in such case.