The Gentleman Magazine Issue 15 | June 2019 | Page 67

This certificate will describe important elements of the diamond
such as the 4cs - colour, clarity, carat and cut. This is achieved
by professionals evaluating and measuring the gem using
industry tools such as a loupe or microscope. It’s important to
note that only qualified individuals can carry this out.
Although certification does cost, the retailer often factors this
in for the price of the jewellery. If you decide you want to buy a
diamond but find it Is not certified yet, don’t panic. It might be
the case that the diamond is newly cut and therefore hasn’t had
time to be certified yet. But it is important to be wary in case
the seller is concerned that a certification might reveal some
defects to the diamond that would make it less attractive.
You might come across some jewellers that claim they don’t
need independent certification. Perhaps they say that they
guarantee that all of their diamonds are high-quality. This is
one claim that you shouldn’t trust – always ensure that your
diamonds have been third-party certified.
Another thing to bear in mind is the lab where the diamond
was certified. Many diamond retailers use WGI (World
Gemological Institute), IGL (International Gemological
Laboratories), IGR (International Gemological Reports) and
GIA (Gemological Institute of America). It’s worth noting
that GIA labs are recognized to be the most prestigious and
respected independent laboratories in the world and these labs
set the standard when it comes to grading. For this reason, you
might find that diamonds graded in these labs are sold at a
higher price.
Metal content
It is also within UK regulations that the metal content in a
jewellery piece is regulated. You shouldn’t experience any
problems with this, but it’s worth bearing in mind before
making a purchase.
Lead can cause problems when it is overly present in jewellery.
This is why jewellery should not be supplied and lead should
not be used in any part of jewellery pieces if the concentration
is equal to or greater than 0.05% by weight. This can cause
irritation which may lead to a reaction in some individuals.
You might be wondering how the karat of a metal is measured
– note that this is different to the carat (the unit of weight
for a diamond). The karat is used to measure the purity and
quality of gold in jewellery. The purest of gold is 24 karat and
this figure decreases as it is mixed with other metals, these may
be silver or copper for example. The purity of this metal gives
it the bright yellow appearance. Although pure, it is not very
wearable as pure gold is very soft and can change shape easily if
it is not mixed with other metals.
Stay vigilant when purchasing your next piece of jewellery
such as a necklace or wedding rings by getting to grips with
UK jewellery regulations.
Sources:
http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/latest-news-and-press/nickel-
testing-%E2%80%93-how-does-the-new-legislation-affect-me
The Gentleman Magazine | 67