Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Come with Certification?
This article examines everything you need to know about lab diamond grading, serial numbers, and what to check before buying.
Short answer: yes Lab Grown diamonds come with certification.
At LD Jewellery all of our lab grown diamond jewellery is certified. We provide IGI certificates for all diamonds over 0.5ct. And they are laser engraved with the serial number.
Why Certification Matters When Buying Lab-Grown Diamonds
This is the most important question about certification. Why does it matter?
Lab grown diamonds is an industry full of scammers and unscrumptious jewellers. If you’re lucky, you’ll be scammed by moissanites. At least they still look good. If you’re less lucky, you’ll get some rubbish with cubic zirconia which is relatively as cheap as sand and looks like it.
Certification is your proof of quality. It confirms the diamond is what the seller claims, not moissanite, CZ, or some other simulant.
It also helps with:
- Getting fair resale or trade-in value
- Insuring your diamond
- Building trust when buying online or from a new retailer
What Does “Certified” Mean in the Diamond World?
A diamond certificate is a report from an independent lab. It tells you the quality and characteristics of the diamond. The jeweller doesn’t issue it —a trusted third-party does. This isn’t just some fancy looking paper we’ve printed. Its an internationally recognised symbol of trust that is very easily verified online.
The certificate includes details like:
- Cut
- Clarity
- Colour
- Carat weight
- Proportions
- Polish
- Fluorescence
Certification protects buyers. It also gives peace of mind for insurance or resale.
Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Certified the Same Way as Natural Diamonds?
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds go through the same grading process as natural diamonds. The labs use the same tools, standards, and grading system—the 4Cs.
The certificate report looks just like it does for a mined diamond. There is no shortcut or second-tier grading for lab diamonds.
IGI vs GIA for Lab-Grown Diamonds
The two most well-known labs are IGI and GIA.
IGI (International Gemological Institute) is the most common for lab-grown diamonds. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) also certifies lab-grown stones, but it’s more often used for natural diamonds.
Both are trusted, but their reports look slightly different. At LD Jewellery, we use IGI-certified lab diamonds. IGI is consistent, reliable, and widely accepted in the lab diamond industry.
What to Look for in a Lab-Grown Diamond Certificate
Only buy diamonds certified by respected labs like IGI or GIA.
Make sure the report clearly states:
- It’s a lab-grown diamond
- The 4Cs
- Proportions and finish
- Whether it has fluorescence
You should also check for a laser-inscribed serial number on the diamond. This number should match the one on the certificate.
Lastly, make sure it’s a real diamond, not a simulant like moissanite or cubic zirconia. And for proper comparisons, always compare diamonds graded by the same lab.
Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Have Serial Numbers?
Yes. Most certified diamonds 0.5 carats and larger are laser inscribed.
At LD Jewellery, every diamond 0.5ct and up is IGI certified and comes with a unique serial number. This number is laser-etched on the diamond’s edge (the girdle). It matches the IGI certificate exactly. You can see it if you’re good with a jeweller’s loupe. The numbers are very small though, easier under a microscope.
This helps with insurance, resale, and proves the diamond’s authenticity.
What diamonds aren’t certified? Does LD Jewellery sell uncertified diamonds?
We don’t certify small diamonds (smaller than 0.5ct) because the cost of the report is not justified to include into the price of small diamonds. Especially for pieces that use halos. Imagine buying a halo diamond ring and you have to pay for 13 IGI reports for each of the 0.07ct stones in the halo. Or you buy a diamond tennis bracelet and now you have to pay for and manage 50 IGI reports.
We understand uncertified diamonds are not ideal. However we buy all from the same source and have developed a good understanding of trust with our suppliers. Additionally we personally inspect every piece of jewellery and run it through the basic diamond tests to be certain.
For example this heart shaped diamond pendant wont be IGI certified because even though the total carats are 2, each individual diamond is considerably smaller than 0.5ct.
Conclusion: Lab Grown diamonds come certified above 0.5ct
Don’t buy uncertified diamonds unless they’re very small and you understand the risks.
Always ask to see the certificate. Verify it matches the diamond.
And choose a jeweller you can trust—like LD Jewellery. We use IGI certification so you always know exactly what you’re getting.