Melbourne client care · Made in Surat
Every single diamond at Fenora is independently certified by the International Gemological Institute. Not most of them — every one. This guide explains what IGI certification means, what every field on the certificate covers, what the laser inscription does, how to read your certificate and why independent certification matters for every buyer.
The requirement for IGI certification on every Fenora diamond was set at the founding of the business. It is not a marketing differentiator. It is a minimum quality standard — the point at which Fenora considers a stone's quality to be independently verifiable rather than relying on the seller's own assessment.
An uncertified diamond is a diamond whose quality has not been independently verified. Purchasing one means accepting the seller's own description of its colour, clarity and cut quality — an obvious conflict of interest in a transaction that may involve thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. The incentive to describe a stone as better than it is is real and documented across the jewellery industry.
IGI certification removes this conflict entirely. The International Gemological Institute is an independent laboratory. Its graders assess the stone against defined, published standards using calibrated instruments. The certificate they issue is the laboratory's finding — not the seller's opinion. The quality is documented, verifiable and permanent.
An IGI certificate is a precise grading report for a specific diamond. Every field has a defined, standardised meaning. Understanding each one means understanding exactly what you are buying.
| Certificate Field | What It Measures | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Report Number | The unique ID for this specific certificate — also laser-inscribed on the stone girdle | Match this to the girdle inscription to confirm the stone and certificate are linked |
| Shape and Cutting Style | The shape (round, oval, emerald etc) and cutting style (brilliant, step-cut) | Confirms the shape and style match what you ordered |
| Measurements | Diameter or length x width, and depth in millimetres to 2 decimal places | Used to verify carat weight and assess cut proportions |
| Carat Weight | The weight of the stone in carats to 2 decimal places. 1ct = 200mg | The size reference. Fenora shows how each carat weight looks on screen |
| Colour Grade | D (colourless) through Z (clearly tinted) on the IGI scale | Fenora recommends G or H for white metals, H or I for yellow/rose gold |
| Clarity Grade | Flawless through I3 — presence and nature of inclusions under 10x magnification | Fenora recommends VS2 or SI1 eye-clean for most buyers |
| Cut Grade | Excellent through Poor — round brilliants only | Fenora minimum: Excellent. Never compromise on cut quality |
| Polish | Excellent through Poor — quality of the final facet surface finish | Fenora standard: Excellent |
| Symmetry | Excellent through Poor — precision of facet placement and shape symmetry | Fenora standard: Excellent |
| Fluorescence | None through Very Strong — whether the stone fluoresces under UV light and what colour | Most Fenora diamonds have None or Faint fluorescence |
| Clarity Plot | A diagram showing the position of every inclusion in this specific stone | Each stone's plot is unique — it is the fingerprint of that specific diamond |
| Proportions | Table %, depth %, crown angle, pavilion angle, culet, girdle thickness | The precise measurements that determine cut quality and light performance |
Every IGI certified diamond has its report number laser-inscribed on its girdle — the thin outer edge of the stone at its widest point. The inscription is invisible to the naked eye but clearly readable under a 10x loupe or jeweller's magnification.
The laser inscription creates a permanent, physical link between the stone you are holding and the IGI certificate that describes it. It means you can verify at any time — by a jeweller, by an IGI representative or by anyone with a loupe — that the diamond in your ring is the specific stone described in your certificate.
The two most internationally recognised diamond grading laboratories are IGI (International Gemological Institute, founded 1975) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America, founded 1931). Both are independent, internationally accepted and produce certificates that are respected worldwide.
| IGI | GIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1975 — Antwerp, Belgium | 1931 — USA |
| Global laboratory network | Antwerp, Mumbai, New York, Hong Kong, Dubai and others | New York, Carlsbad, Bangkok, London and others |
| Lab grown diamond grading | Yes — full 4C grading on the same scale as mined | Yes — full grading on the same scale as mined |
| Laser inscription | Standard on all reports | Standard on all reports |
| Widely accepted | Yes — worldwide | Yes — worldwide |
| Used by Fenora | Yes — all diamonds | No — Fenora uses IGI |
| Why Fenora uses IGI | IGI has extensive established expertise in lab grown diamond grading, strong global presence and the same grading standards as GIA. The quality of grading for fine jewellery lab grown diamonds is consistent with industry requirements | N/A |
Both laboratories are credible and independent. The important point for any buyer is that the diamond has been graded by one of these laboratories — not by the seller. Both IGI and GIA certificates provide the same core protection: independent, third-party verification of the stone's quality.
When your ring is delivered, the IGI certificate for your diamond is included. Here is exactly how to use it — and how to confirm the certificate matches your specific stone.
Fenora sets its own minimum IGI specification requirements above the IGI minimum grading threshold. Every stone in the Fenora collection meets or exceeds these requirements.
Every certification question that comes up in consultations.
Book a free online consultation. Yash Chandpara explains every field on the IGI certificate and shows you how to read the proportions and grades that matter most for your specific stone.
