Anyone who has shopped for diamonds and put any effort into the endeavor likely knows about the four C’s involved with the gems. Color, cut, clarity, and carat are all assessed in order to place a value on a diamond in both prestige and price. There is another term that some in the industry like to mention, and that is the certificate. A certificate is provided by a third party that works on neither the behalf of the seller nor the buyer. Some are not quite sure what a certificate is, while others claim that it is not necessary in order to evaluate the worth of a diamond. As stated, a diamond certificate is provided by a third party. The parameters of the four C’s are studied and a value is placed on the diamond. The idea is to place a fair assessment on the stone without the bias of someone hoping to sell or buy the gem. It is important to be wary of someone attempting to sell a diamond without certification, as it likely falls below the stated grades in terms of the four C’s. A certificate allows a buyer to feel certain that a jeweler is not out to make a more handsome profit at his or her expense. The necessity of a certificate then becomes an issue. Is a diamond required to possess certification in order to be sold? No. The presence of a certificate, however, offers the peace of mind that buyers are looking for when shopping for diamonds. A third party is unbiased. Even if a buyer is unfamiliar with the terminology and has never purchased a diamond before, the certificate provides instant reference points that they can utilize. Additionally, they are less likely to get the short end of the stick from a jeweler who is more interested in profit than integrity. This is not to say that the lack of a certificate automatically indicates a rip-off. It often means that a diamond has been enhanced in some way, though. These enhancements, laser treatments for example, decrease the market value of the gem, but that is probably not a major concern to someone looking for a bigger diamond at a smaller price. So the bottom line is this; diamond certification is not necessary to buy and sell diamonds, but it probably should be in the eyes of the buyer. This will help him or her to be sure that the diamond he or she buys is worth what the price tag and placard say it is. Now try – Diamond Earrings