Neil Lane is a celebrated jewelry designer of bridal rings, engagement rings, and other amazing pieces.
One of the signatures of Neil Lane jewelry is their use of diamonds in everything they make – but have they certified diamonds with a proven quality?
Neil Lane Diamonds have a reputation for being high quality and well-cut. And if you’re ordering straight from their couture line on the official website, they’ll also come with an official GIA certification, for added buyer confidence.
Let’s take a closer look at the certification for Neil Lane Diamonds.
Table of Contents
Are Neil Lane Diamonds Certified?
While Neil Lane doesn’t openly advertise their certifications on their website, if you click on any of their offered designs, there’s a good chance you’ll find an official GIA certification, or grading report, next to the image.
You’ll also see a summary of the main details of the report, describing the carat weight, the color, and the clarity of the main diamond in the summary of the diamond characteristics.
Are All Neil Lane Diamonds Certified?
No certifications are listed for diamonds in designs priced under $12,000. However, that doesn’t mean that these diamonds are uncertified, only that the certifications are not provided on the website.
If you have questions regarding the certification of a specific diamond or specific design, it’s best to consult with a Neil Lane expert regarding the certification status of the stones in question.
What If The Design or Diamond I Want Is Uncertified?
If you’ve confirmed that the diamond you’re interested in is uncertified, you can ask a Neil Lane consultant for options.
If all else fails, you can send your diamond to be certified at a laboratory yourself, for a fee.
Read also >> How Long Does GIA Certification Take? (Here Is What To Do)
Read also >> Where to Buy GIA Certified Diamonds (11 Best Places)
Why Are Certifications Important?
Certifications provide a third party guarantee as to the quality of the merchandise you’re purchasing. When it comes to an investment as expensive as a diamond, you want to know that you’re getting exactly what you pay for.
Certifications also provide a guarantee if you find yourself needing to resell for any reason.
What Kind Of Information Do Certifications Give You?
Certifications grade a diamond based on the 4 C’s:
– Carat Weight: The size and weight of the diamond
– Color: For Diamonds, the color should be as close to clear as possible, unless it’s a special kind of diamond, such as a black diamond or a yellow diamond.
– Clarity: Describes any inclusions, flaws, or cloudiness apparent in the diamond
– Cut Quality: Describes how well the facets are cut, the number of facets, and how the appearance of the diamond matches the ideal for a specific cut.
All of these are put together to give your diamond a final ‘grade’, which helps determine the price of a given stone or the overall piece of jewelry it is set in.
Example:
Let’s look at a Neil Lane Couture Step-Cut Diamond, the central diamond of one of their engagement rings.
The description given is of a 3.01 carat diamond with an F color, and an SI1 clarity.
Carat Weight: 3.01 carat refers to the diamond’s weight.
A single carat weighs about 0.2 grams, so a 3 carat diamond is about 0.6 grams in weight.
Color: Colors are graded from D to Z, with D being a completely colorless diamond, which is considered the best clarity.
An F grade in color is only two steps below perfectly clear, so that’s a very good color.
Clarity: Clarity refers to the level of blemishes and inclusions, or flaws, that can be found inside the diamond.
The highest grade is IF (Internally Flawless) while the lowest grade is I2 or I3 (Including first or second degree), which describes diamonds with flaws visible to the naked eye.
An SI1 grade of clarity is about the middle of the line and stands for Slightly Included in the First Degree.
It describes a stone that would look flawless to the naked eye but has slight defects visible to a jeweler’s loupe set at 10x magnification.
In Short: This diamond is not perfect in either color or clarity, but it’s not visibly defective, and aesthetically, you’re not losing anything in its appearance.
It’s an excellent quality for a diamond this size and gives you visible perfection without the increase in price that technical perfection might command.
Read also >> What Does It Mean if a Diamond Is GIA Certified? (Full Guide)
Read also >> Are All Diamonds GIA Certified? (All You Need To Know)
Are All Certifications The Same?
There are several labs that can provide gemstone certifications or grading reports, but they don’t all have the same reputation for consistency and reliability.
While Carat Weight and Cut Quality have concrete measurements that can be quantified for a final grade, Color and Clarity are somewhat subjective in nature.
This can lead to inconsistencies in the final grading of diamonds, which can affect the credibility of the lab as a whole.
Certifications from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) are considered the most reputable.
Certifications from AGS (American Gem Society) Are often considered a close second in terms of reputation.
Certifications from IGI (International Gem Institute) are popular, but experts in the industry say their reputation has diminished, and there are reports of inconsistencies in their grading.
There are other laboratories that offer gemstone grading services, but these are the top three in terms of reputation.
What Certifications Does Neil Lane Use?
Neil Lane has their diamonds certified by the GIA.
This offers you the highest level of confidence possible for the quality of your purchase.
A GIA certification promises that the diamond you get is exactly what you pay for in terms of size, color, and clarity.
James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices.
They also have the nicest collection of lab created diamonds online. Save 10% off select lab grown diamonds and 25% off ring settings during limited time sale!
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THEM:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
Final Thoughts
Neil Lane diamonds offer gorgeous options for engagement rings and bridal jewelry, both on their own site and through third parties such as Kay Jewelers.
If you’re shopping from Neil Lane directly, you can shop with confidence, knowing that the quality of your purchase is assured through the highest level of certification.
If you’re shopping the Neil Lane line through a third party supplier, you may need to do some research, but there’s no reason not to expect quality merchandise, worthy of the Neil Lane label.
References
https://www.neillanecouture.com/collections/create-your-ring
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