Radical Transparency
At Haejin Jewelry, we do not just sell jewelry. We stand for something. In an industry where sparkle can sometimes distract from truth, we believe in radical transparency. That means giving you the full picture, even when it is not convenient for us.
Before you make one of the most meaningful purchases of your life, we want you to know exactly what you are buying, what the certificate means, and what other retailers may not be telling you.
Because not all diamonds or diamond sellers are created equal.
What Is a Diamond Certificate
A diamond certificate is a detailed report issued by an independent gemological laboratory. It verifies key characteristics of the diamond such as cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.
You will hear a lot about grading labs, but only two names consistently stand above the rest:
GIA – Gemological Institute of America
IGI – International Gemological Institute
Both are independent organizations that play an important role in today’s diamond market. GIA is a nonprofit institute known for setting the global standard in diamond grading. IGI, while operated as a for profit lab, is widely recognized and trusted by many jewelers and retailers, especially in the lab grown diamond space. Each serves a slightly different role, offering consumers valuable information to make confident, informed choices.
GIA vs IGI — What’s the Difference
The GIA has long been considered the gold standard for grading natural diamonds. Their reports are famously strict, conservative, and meticulous. GIA only began grading lab grown diamonds in recent years, and while they are slowly catching up, their primary expertise is still in natural stones.
On the other hand, IGI was one of the first major organizations to embrace lab grown diamonds. They have been grading lab grown stones for over a decade and have established consistent, reliable practices trusted by major jewelry houses across the world.
That is why most lab grown diamonds today are IGI certified. The turnaround is faster, the grading is fair, and the certification is widely accepted, especially in the United States and Europe.
At Haejin Jewelry, we work with both labs. We believe in truth over marketing. If a diamond is IGI certified, it is because we trust their experience with lab grown stones. If it is GIA certified, it is because that particular stone matched GIA’s grading scope. Either way, the report will be authentic, verifiable, and matched to your diamond.
What Many Retailers Do Not Want to Talk About
In the rush to capitalize on the growing demand for lab grown diamonds, many companies are cutting corners behind the scenes.
They buy stones in bulk from overseas manufacturers, often from factories where quality control takes a back seat to volume.
They request grading certificates, but match them loosely and sometimes inaccurately.
They upcharge lower quality stones by misrepresenting the grade or using third party labs that sound impressive but lack independent authority.
They source from anonymous offshore factories where chain of custody and authenticity are questionable.
And most customers never know, because they are not told what to look for, and no one encourages them to check.
But there is another risk almost no one talks about.
Not All Lab Grown Diamonds Are the Same
On paper, two diamonds may look identical same report number, same grading. In reality one might be authentic and ethically sourced, the other possibly a lower quality stone wearing a stolen identity.
Every certified diamond is assigned a unique report number. IGI and GIA let anyone look it up online, and that number is also laser inscribed on the diamond’s girdle.
That openness is a double edged sword. Dishonest sellers can take a real report number and inscribe it on a different diamond. Under magnification, it may appear legitimate but unless professional verification is performed, the deception can go undetected.
Labs have caught this exact fraud in action, including:
- IGI detecting a 6.01 carat lab grown diamond inscribed with a GIA report number belonging to a natural diamond of the same shape and size but with mismatched depth, inclusions, and photoluminescence spectra (National Jeweler, Rapaport)
- GIA reporting multiple cases of lab grown or treated stones with counterfeit inscriptions, which they corrected by removing the fake inscription and issuing an accurate new report (GIA)
- Italian lab Gem Tech uncovering three synthetic diamonds, each paired with a GIA report number assigned to natural diamonds, exposed only through advanced spectroscopy (Rapaport)
Why You Should Verify the Stone, Not Just the Number
Because report lookup is open to all, number fraud is easy to attempt. Your certificate may be genuine, but the stone requires inspection matching:
- Inscription: Does the laser number on the stone match the certificate
- Measurements: Are weight, dimensions, and depth consistent with the report
- Inclusions and plotting: Do the unique fingerprints of the stone match the documented diagram
- Advanced testing: In cases of doubt, labs like GIA and IGI can reexamine the stone and reissue correct documentation
Certification alone is not enough. Same number fraud has been documented so often that labs now emphasize verification, overwriting counterfeit inscriptions, and issuing fraud alerts.
How to Check a Diamond’s Certificate
Every certified diamond from Haejin Jewelry comes with a matching report you can look up yourself directly from the lab’s own database.
Verify IGI Report: https://www.igi.org/verify-your-report
Verify GIA Report: https://www.gia.edu/report-check-landing
Do not just take our word for it. Trust the independent labs. If anything ever feels off, let us know and we will walk through it with you. No dodging. No vague answers. Just clarity.
Our Promise to You
At Haejin, we do not just talk authenticity, we live it.
- We only purchase from vetted US based wholesalers with documented ethical sourcing
- We never source from anonymous offshore factories or from any overseas suppliers. Every diamond and jewelry we offer is acquired within the United States.
- Every diamond we sell goes through intake verification inscription, specifications, and a visual match to its certificate
- We keep all diamonds fully prepared and ready for audit or re verification if needed
We operate with a carefully managed storefront and a lean team, focusing on quality rather than unnecessary overhead. Our prices are fair because we run efficiently, not because we cut corners.
Why Lab Grown Still Faces Misunderstanding
Even though lab grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, some customers still hesitate. Not because of the quality, but because of the perception.
That is normal. Every innovation faces doubt at first. But we are well past the early days. Lab grown diamonds are now recognized by every major grading lab, offered by top jewelers worldwide, and chosen by a growing number of couples who believe in modern love and conscious choices.
If you are one of them, you are not behind. You are ahead.
What Makes Haejin Jewelry Different
We do not just sell ethical jewelry. We live by ethical values.
We donate 10 percent of our profits to causes that support communities harmed by unethical mining practices.
We only use diamonds that are fully certified and traceable.
We do not use gimmicks, inflated pricing, or emotional pressure.
We stand by every piece we sell. If something does not feel right, we will fix it.
You are not just buying a ring. You are joining a movement that honors love, integrity, and the belief that beauty should never come at someone else’s expense.
We are not here to sell you the most expensive ring.
We are here to help you choose one that means something.
Let us know if you have questions. We will tell you everything we know honestly, transparently, and without ego.
Because we believe that is how love should be too.
