Our review of IGI.

Started in 1975, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) is the biggest independent gemological laboratory in the world, with offices in all major diamond trading cities.

Every diamond is scientifically examined by several gemologists, who combine their experience with state-of-the-art tools to produce an exact description of the features of the diamond and the quality of its cut.

• Diamond Carat
  A diamond's carat weight is measured with calibrated instruments.
• Diamond Color  The color of a diamond is based on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (yellow) by comparing it to stones of a predetermined color. The amount of fluorescence is noted on a scale from None to Strong.

• Diamond Clarity
  A diamond's clarity is given by an expert gemologist using a microscope with a10x magnification loupe. Clarity is given based on a scale ranging from IF (internally flawless) to I3 (imperfect or heavily included). The diamonds characteristics are plotted on a diamond diagram.
• Finish 
  A diamond's finish includes factors as polish, symmetry, and proportions. Assigned a grade from Excellent to Poor, polish and symmetry are evaluated based on the quality of the polish and the precision of the cutting details. Proportions are evaluated based on the execution of the cutter's design, rating factors such as table diameter, crown height, pavilion depth, girdle thickness, and culet size, and is assigned a grade from Excellent to Poor..