How to Compare Two Diamond Quotes (IGI Specs Explained)

How do I compare two engagement ring quotes?

Line up the certified specs, not the store names. A diamond's value is set by four graded factors on its lab certificate: carat (weight), color (D–J scale for white diamonds), clarity (IF to SI2), and cut (Excellent to Poor). If two quotes list matching grades from the same lab standard, the diamonds are equivalent — and any price difference is markup, not quality.

What should a legitimate diamond quote include?

Five things: exact carat weight, color grade, clarity grade, cut grade, and the certificate (IGI or GIA) with a verifiable report number. A quote that lists only "1.5ct diamond ring — $8,000" without grades cannot be compared or trusted. Ask for the certificate; verify the number yourself at igi.org.

What tricks make retail quotes look better than they are?

Watch for: quotes without a cut grade (cut drives sparkle); "SI3" or other non-standard clarity grades; in-house certificates instead of independent labs; and total-carat-weight figures that count small side stones as if they were the center diamond. Identical-spec comparison removes all of these games.

What does a real comparison look like?

A real client example: a 4.00ct H VS2 Excellent-cut oval, IGI-certified, quoted $8,512 at a retail jeweler. The identical spec direct from Lavora Diamonds: $4,020. Same stone grades, same certification, $4,492 kept. Typical savings on identical specs run 30–50%.

Where can I get a quote compared for free?

Text a photo of any jeweler quote to (385) 392-7349. Lavora Diamonds matches the exact IGI-certified specs and sends a side-by-side comparison within 12 hours — and beats the quote, or pays you $200.