Buying an engagement ring is an investment, so it’s important to make sure you’ve done everything through the right channels and are getting what you paid for. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just saying ‘I do’. A lot of research and paperwork is involved, so best do your homework.

If you’re searching for the perfect gemstone to centre your ring, a term that will come up a lot is ‘diamond certification’. This is a system created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to evaluate the merits of a particular diamond.

Factors considered in the certification include the four Cs – cut, carat, clarity and colour. Other characteristics it will mention include its symmetry and fluorescence.

This certificate is essentially proof that you are receiving a genuine diamond and is being shown at the same grade that it is being sold at. As such, this works to give buyers ease of mind of their diamond’s quality and identity.

Diamond certification also helps in the valuation process, as a valuer will require all this information when placing a monetary value on your diamond. This is important to have for insurance purposes, but also in the event you decide to re-sell the diamond in future.