Certificates, Serial Numbers, and Returns: The Complete Paperwork Guide

Introduction

When you buy a lab-grown diamond, you’re not just investing in beauty - you’re investing in trust.

A diamond may sparkle in your hand, but what makes it credible is the paperwork that accompanies it: the certification, the serial number, the invoice, the return policy, and the written proof of everything you were promised.

In India’s fast-growing lab-grown diamond market, certification is more than a technicality - it’s your protection from misrepresentation, poor grading, artificial stones, and resale issues.

This blog is a complete guide to lab-grown diamond paperwork in India  from IGI and GIA certificates to serial numbers, to how to verify your diamond online, to what must be on your invoice, to how returns actually work.

Whether you're preparing to buy your first lab-grown diamond or reviewing a past purchase, this guide will help you understand exactly what to ask, what to collect, and how to verify the authenticity of what you’re buying.

Let’s begin where it all starts: the certification.

Learn About Ivana’s Lab-Grown Diamond Standards

1. Why Certification Matters in Lab-Grown Diamond Purchases

A diamond certificate isn’t a “good-to-have.”
It’s the foundation of transparency and legal protection.

It verifies 4 key properties:

• Carat weight
  

• Color grade
  

• Clarity grade
  

• Cut grade
  
  

It also confirms:

• Whether the diamond is lab-grown or mined
  

• Whether it was grown using CVD or HPHT method
  

• Laser inscription details (if applicable)
  

• Certification authority information (IGI, GIA, etc.)
  
  

Without certification:

• You cannot prove the stone’s quality
  

• You may struggle to insure or resell it
  

• You cannot confirm whether it’s real, synthetic, or treated
  

• You risk overpaying for a low-grade or uncertified gemstone
  
  

In simple terms:
No certificate = no certainty.

That’s why every Ivana lab-grown diamond is sold with global-grade documentation and verifiable serial details

Learn more on Ivana’s Diamond Certification page

2. Types of Certification for Lab-Grown Diamonds in India (IGI vs GIA)

There are two primary international authorities that certify lab-grown diamonds in India:

IGI (International Gemological Institute)

• Most widely used for lab-grown diamonds in India
  

• Based in Antwerp, with labs in Mumbai & Surat
  

• Known for fast certification process + global acceptance
  

• Certificates include QR codes + laser inscription details
  
  

IGI - Verify your report

GIA (Gemological Institute of America)

• Oldest and most respected authority in mined diamond certification
  

• Now certifies lab-grown diamonds since 2020
  

• Usually slightly more expensive certification
  

• Accepted at premium resale and exchange markets globally
  
  

Which one is better for lab-grown diamonds?

Both IGI and GIA certification are credible and globally recognized.
However:

If you’re buying a lab-grown diamond in India, IGI certification is most common - but choosing a GIA-certified diamond may offer stronger resale flexibility.

Ivana’s Lab-Grown Diamond Collection

GIA - Official Report Check & Verification Page

3. How to Verify a Diamond Certificate Online (Step-by-Step)

A certificate is only useful if it’s both legitimate and verifiable.

Here’s how to verify your lab-grown diamond certificate yourself - without involving the seller.

How to Verify an IGI Certificate

1. Go to: https://www.igi.org/verify-your-report
   

2. Enter the certificate number (found under “Report Number”)
   

3. Type the carat weight or verification code
   

4. Match diamond details on screen with your physical certificate
   
   

Your results should show:

• Carat weight
  

• Shape
  

• Cut grade
  

• Stone type (“Lab-Grown Diamond”)
  

• Report issue date
  
  

If your diamond has a laser-inscribed number, the platform will confirm it under “Laser Inscription Registry.”

How to Verify a GIA Certificate

1. Visit: https://www.gia.edu/report-check-landing

2. Enter the GIA Report Number
   

3. Click Search
   

4. Match the returned details with your paperwork
   
   

If the diamond was grown using CVD/HPHT, it will state “Laboratory-Grown Diamond” clearly in the report.

What to Watch For:

If the number doesn’t match what’s on the certificate:
→ The diamond may be uncertified, tampered with, or replaced.

 If the diamond details online don’t match the physical stone:
→ Walk away immediately. This is a common fraud indicator.

Ivana jewels lab grown diamonds certified

IGI — Verify Your Diamond Certificate

4. Laser Inscriptions & Digital Certificates: What They Are & Why They Matter

A lab-grown diamond certificate backs the paperwork — but what backs the stone itself?

That’s where laser inscriptions come in.

What is laser inscription on a diamond?

It’s a microscopic number engraved on the diamond’s girdle (outer edge).
You can see it using a jeweller’s loupe or microscope.

It usually contains:

• Certificate number (IGI or GIA)
  

• Sometimes a brand or laboratory mark (ex: “LABGROWN”)
  
  

Purpose: To match the diamond to the certificate.
Benefit: Prevents replacement or stone swapping.

 What Are Digital Diamond Certificates?

Instead of paper, some certifications now include:

• QR code for instant verification
  

• Digital portfolio with 360° video
  

• Cloud-based certificate access
  
  

This is becoming more common in India — especially with IGI digital certs.

See an example of Ivana’s certified diamond collection

5. Why Paperless (Digital-Only) Diamond Certificates Are Growing in India

In the past, diamond certificates were always physical - printed, sealed, and delivered in the box with your jewellery. Today, buyers are increasingly seeing digital-only certification, especially with lab-grown diamonds.

So what does that mean - and should you be concerned?

Not at all.
Digital certifications are not replacements for real documentation - they’re evolutions of it.

Why digital certification is growing in India

• Mobile-first buyers don’t want to manage fragile paper certificates
  

• Digital grading reports are harder to forge than printed ones
  

• IGI & GIA now offer cloud-based verification with QR scan access
  

• Jewellers can instantly email certificates for pre-purchase review
  

• Buyers can store and retrieve certificates any time, even years later
  
  

How to recognize a proper digital diamond certificate

Comes directly from GIA/IGI (not just the jeweller)

Includes report number + grading data + cloud access
Can be retrieved via an official verification portal

Usually links to a PDF and summary page

Still pairs with a physical laser inscription on the stone

Warning:

If you're offered only a “brand card” or “in-house authenticity note” without IGI/GIA registration, that’s not a certificate — that’s branding.

Always confirm:

“Will I receive an IGI or GIA certificate number I can verify myself?”

A digital document that comes with verifiable details is just as legitimate as a printed one - and in many ways, more secure.

6. What a Diamond Certificate Includes (Sample Breakdown)

Here’s what every proper lab-grown diamond certificate should include:

• Carat (weight of the diamond)
  

• Cut grade (Excellent, Very Good, etc.)
  

• Clarity grade (VS1, VVS2, SI1, etc.)
  

• Color grade (E, F, G, etc.)
  

• Polish / Symmetry score
  

• Shape + measurements
  

• Growth type: CVD or HPHT
  

• Laser inscription number
  

• Certification authority’s seal

7. Why Invoice Details Matter as Much as the Diamond Certificate

Here’s the part most buyers don’t realize  a diamond certificate alone does not legally protect your purchase.

The document that protects you is the invoice.

In India, an invoice is a legal proof of transaction that identifies:

• What you bought
  

• What you paid
  

• What you were promised
  

• When the purchase happened
  

• Whether the seller is accountable
  
  

So what should a proper diamond invoice include?

If any jeweller offers a diamond "with certificate" but doesn’t include grading details on the invoice, you're not fully protected.

Tip for future exchanges

If buying a lab-grown diamond engagement ring or pendant today, your invoice + certificate combination should help you:

Reclaim value later
Gift or insure with paperwork
 Return or upgrade the product under policy terms

In short:
The certificate proves the diamond is real.
 The invoice proves it's legally yours.

8. Diamond Buyer’s Paperwork Checklist (For India)

Use this checklist when buying a lab-grown diamond:

Print it. Save it. Use it at every diamond purchase conversation.

Link: https://ivanajewels.com/pages/diamond-buying-checklist

Downloadable : importance of certificate

9. Returns, Warranty, and Serial Number Matching in India

A proper diamond seller never stops at certification.
They provide paper-backed return, exchange, and repair assurance.

Ivana’s paperwork includes:

• 7–14 day returns for unused diamonds
  

• Lifetime maintenance for jewellery settings
  

• Serial number–linked records for every diamond sold
  

• Replacement guarantee in case of certified authenticity disputes

You should always get return policy details in writing.

Never trust “verbal confirmation of warranty.”

See Ivana’s Returns & Warranty Page

10. Conclusion

A diamond is only as real as the paperwork that supports it.

Whether you’re buying a ₹40,000 solitaire pendant or a ₹2,00,000 lab-grown engagement ring, the certificate, serial number, invoice, and return policy define its truth — not just its sparkle.

Buying a diamond without paperwork is like buying property with no title deed — you may love it, but you’ll never fully own it.

Ivana Jewels exists for buyers who want more than diamonds.
They want clarity, accountability, certification, and trust.

Every diamond tells a story, but authenticity is what gives that story value. Certificates from trusted authorities like IGI or GIA verify a diamond’s origin, grading, and quality — ensuring what you hold is genuine, ethical, and fairly priced. At Ivana, every piece comes with transparent documentation, from serial numbers and certification to detailed invoices and lifetime support.

This isn’t just about proof of purchase; it’s about peace of mind. When you buy from Ivana, you’re not just investing in sparkle — you’re investing in integrity. Because true luxury isn’t only what shines on the surface; it’s the trust that stands behind it.

 Explore Ivana’s Certified Lab-Grown Diamond Collection