Are JCPenney Diamonds Certified? (Quality + More)

JCPenney has been a reliable retailer since their start in the early 1900s. Today, they are one of the top nationwide retailers in the United States and sell almost anything conceivable.

In fact, they are one of the largest jewelry retailers, albeit having a questionable reputation for quality.

Are JCPenney diamonds certified? Yes, the diamonds you find at JCPenney do have certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and American Gem Society Labs (AGS). Unfortunately, the store doesn’t offer much online information about their diamond certificates.

Overview of All You Need to Know about JC Penney Diamond Certifications

• About JCPenney’s Diamonds
• How to Find a Quality Diamond at JCPenney
• Should You Buy a Diamond from JCPenney?
  • The 5C’s of Diamonds
  • GIA vs. AGS Certification

About JCPenney’s Diamonds

You can find a huge selection of diamonds at JCPenney; all of which range from the uncertified to the certified.

They have natural ones as well as lab-grown gemstones. Some diamonds come in colors but most of what they have is the typical colorless.

They have earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, and brooches. But, the star of their diamond offerings is in the form of rings, specifically engagement rings.

These come in an array of clarity levels and cut variations complete with different features. They even offer customers the opportunity to design their own rings too.

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How to Find a Quality Diamond at JCPenney

When you peruse their online store, you can see the huge collection available. While they do indicate their diamonds do have certification, they don’t give too many details about it.

They indicate stone and clarity grades in the description, but they don’t mention from which lab they received certification.

So, if you are serious about buying a diamond from JCPenney, it’s best to visit their brick-and-mortar stores. There, you will be able to ask questions and get far better details about the diamond you want.

Having said all that, you can use the website to get a good idea of the kind of cut, color, clarity, and fire you’re looking for.

Be sure to make notes about the diamonds you see to make things faster and smoother when you visit the jewelry counter at a JCPenney store.

Write down as many details as possible about the diamond, the metal, the setting, and other grading details.

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Should You Buy a Diamond from JCPenney?

Buying diamonds from JCPenney is perfectly fine. Besides, they have some of the most competitive prices on the market today.

You can find a great gemstone for half the price of what a luxury-name retailer would sell it for.

Remember, they’ve been in business a long time and have provided goods to the public for well over a century.

They didn’t get to be where they are by being dishonest about their products. However, it’s important that you be a scrutinizing and discerning shopper; don’t just jump at the first diamond you see.

This means understanding the 5C’s of diamonds and the meaning of varied certifications. When you have a better conception of these aspects, you are sure to find the best diamond at a great price.

The 5C’s of Diamonds

The industry standard for diamond grading comprises five different components, called the “5C’s.” These are color, carat, clarity, cut, and choice.

All five components make up the stone’s overall grade, which varies depending on the lab providing the certification.

1. Color: The color of a diamond is very important. Yellow is the most common natural coloring but there are others like green, pink and blue.
2. Carat: The carat of a diamond is the weight of the gemstone. This is a unit of measurement determining its mass. One karat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams. However, physical size is not equal to mass, which the cut and shape influence.
3. Clarity: When people talk about a diamond’s clarity, they are referring to the stone’s imperfections. These run on a grade ranging between flawless to inclusions. Varying kinds of defects determine this, such as minerals, unwanted crystals, and cracks.
4. Cut: A diamond’s cut determines the fire and sparkle output, thereby providing the main impact of its appearance. This includes things like symmetry, facets, reflection, and dimensions. Deep or shallow cuts give a dull appearance whereas sharper cuts make light dance. Most diamonds do have at least one inclusion.
5. Choice: You have two options when selecting a diamond. These are natural or lab-grown. Natural ones are more expensive due to the human labor behind them and lab-grown diamonds are far less expensive because it doesn’t come from the earth. The difference between the two in quality comes down to personal preference.

GIA vs. AGS Certification

GIA and AGS are very reputable organizations that provide grading qualities for gemstones, precious metals, and other high-ticket baubles.

They both look for the same five Cs when grading diamonds including color, inclusions, reflection, and so on.

The main difference between the two is how they grade. GIA uses alphabetical classifications starting with color and inclusions. Colorless ones have a D grade and the spectrum of hues after that will begin at E and go all the way to Z. Flawless ones have a grade of IF, which means “internally flawless.”

AGS employs a numerical system starting at 0 or 0.00 (flawless) to 10 (lowest quality). They do not focus on color as much as GIA and many people prefer AGS to GIA for this reason.

JCPenney offers both certification organizations for their diamonds. But, you will have to inquire in person, they do not have this info online.

Conclusion

JCPenney does have certified diamonds in stock. You can find the entire array that they offer online. However, they don’t offer many details.

So, you’ll have to go to an actual store to check them out. Here, you’ll be able to understand the specifics of their grade.

But it also means being smart and educating yourself on certifications and the 5C’s.

References

https://www.jcpenney.com/m/diamond-buying-guide

https://www.jcpenney.com/m/diamond-4cs-cut-carat-clarity-color