ping online that EGL tended to be a lot cheaper than GIA, and after he talked to a few online companies, and also went to a local jeweler that he eventually ended up getting my ring from, he found that the general concensus was this: EGL is typically at least one-two shades off in color off, and at least one mark off for the other C’s. So he was told that GIA has the highest standards, and if you want to be sure, then go GIA. Especially when ordering online, sight unseen. If you want to make sure the diamond is at least a J in color for instance, then order an H in EGL…He also said that the local jeweler had about 8 diamonds brought in for him to look at after he gave them his parameters (he wanted J color, VS1, brilliant cut) and he said there was a significant difference between the couple of EGLs, and the GIAs. That visit made him pretty adamant that just to protect his investment and know that he got what he paid for, he only wanted to buy GIA.
I definitely think that you can find a fabulous EGL in person….You just have to look at diamonds. But to order online, for example to get the best deal, FI said that he found the only way to know exactly what you’ll end up with is to go GIA b/c they’re the strictest.
Read more: http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/diamond-ladies-egl-usa-vs-gia/#ixzz3WxvOugWJ