From the moment a diamond is entrusted into our hands until the moment it is returned to the client, it is handled and assessed with the utmost care, security and expertise by our team of highly-trained gemmologists and support staff. Using state of the art instruments and industry respected grading procedures, the ADL laboratory identifies, assesses and grades each diamond according to the strict standards to which we are committed.
ADL – The Diamond Grading Experts
People from all over the world send their diamonds to the ADL laboratories for grading and analysis. Our clients put their business in our hands and their trust in our expertise – and we are extremely careful with both.
What is the 8 step process of diamond grading?
1
Registration
As soon as a diamond is submitted to our laboratory, it is weighed and measured, and then assigned with an identification number. The identification number replaces all client information in order to insure unbiased, objective grading. The client is provided with a receipt stating the identification number, initial weight and the measurements of each diamond submitted.
The acquisition of a diamond can be an important expression of love or celebration as well as an important investment. It is essential for the diamond proprietor to have certification of the characteristics of the diamond in order to obtain confidence in the integrity of the purchase. An ADL certificate is a statement issued by an independent laboratory documenting the characteristics of the diamond as determined by our experienced diamond graders at the time of the evaluation.
2
Identification
Each diamond is scanned by diamond Sure™ and, when necessary by Diamond View™. These are scanning devices which have the ability to confirm the diamond is in fact an authentic genuine diamond.
3
Weighing & Measuring
The diamond is then weighed and measured twice with our state of the art measuring equipment. ADL’s measurement devices are located in a controlled environment and calibrated at least twice every day.
4
Cut Grading
The measurements taken by the measurement devices, along with a visual assessment of the diamond’s girdle and culet sizes, are used to calculate the diamond’s cut grade. There are five cut grades, ranging from Excellent Ideal to Poor. The diamond is then visually examined to substantiate the accuracy of the cut grade. It is then evaluated for optical symmetry to determine whether it displays a ‘hearts and arrows’ pattern.
5
Clarity Grading
The diamond is analysed at 10x magnification by a minimum of 3 gemmologists to determine its clarity grade based on the number, type, position and size of the clarity characteristics displayed in the diamond. Each gemmologist examines the diamond without knowing the previous gemmologists findings in order to attain the most accurate clarity grading.
6
Colour Grading
Each diamond’s colour is graded by at least three gemmologists in a controlled environment. The colour grade is based on a scare of D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
7
Certificate Issuance
After the grading process is completed the diamond reaches the ADL documentation station, where the printing is done. The Diamond Grading Certificate indicates all grading results. At this point, the identification number and all grading results for each individual diamond are stored electronically in order to verify the results in the future.
8
Laser Inscription
Upon the customers request we can arrange for the ADL registration number to be laser inscribed on the girdle of the diamond. This may be interesting for dealers or jewellers who hold a lot of stock. After working with the diamonds in a sales environment it can be tricky sometimes to put the diamond back in the right parcel and with the right grading report. Being able to have a quick look at the number on the girdle, makes it easier to put the diamond back where it belongs. The laser inscription is not visible with the naked eye and will not influence the beauty of the diamond.