STANDARDS AND PROVENANCE

ETHICAL SOURCING

Ethically sourced, independently certified diamonds

Every diamond supplied by À Vie Diamonds is independently graded by GIA or IGI and sourced through Kimberley Process-compliant supply chains. You buy with documented confidence, not assumptions.

Every diamond we supply carries an independent grading report from GIA or IGI confirming its cut, colour, clarity, carat, and precise proportions. We use these reports to shortlist stones that meet our performance standards, then review each one for real-world character before presenting it to you.

The Kimberley Process is the international framework that prevents conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Every stone we supply has passed through a KPCS-compliant supply chain, and we apply additional due diligence beyond what compliance requires.

If you want to understand a specific stone’s certification or sourcing, we will walk you through it in plain English before you make any commitment.

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Standards & Provenance

The standards behind every stone we supply

Every diamond À Vie sources is independently graded and traceable. Below are the three bodies whose standards govern how we work.

Global grading authority

GIA

Gemological Institute of America

The global benchmark for diamond grading — the scale, grades, and language every jeweller and buyer relies on.

Founded in 1931, the GIA created the 4Cs grading system — Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat — that became the universal language of diamond quality. Their grading reports are the most widely recognised in the world and provide an objective, independent assessment of a diamond’s characteristics.

When a diamond is GIA certified, it has been assessed by multiple trained gemologists working independently. Each report includes a plotted diagram of the stone’s clarity characteristics, precise measurements, and proportions. This is the documentation we refer to when we explain what a diamond will look like in real life.

At À Vie, we use GIA reports as the primary language when describing a diamond to you. We translate the technical grades into plain terms so you can understand exactly what you are buying before you commit.

1931

Year established

4Cs

Grading framework created

Global

Recognised standard

What a GIA certificate tells you

Cut grade

Evaluates proportions, symmetry, and polish — the primary driver of brilliance and light return.

Colour grade D–Z

Measures the absence of colour on a standardised scale from colourless (D) to noticeable yellow (Z).

Clarity grade

Maps internal inclusions and surface blemishes under 10x magnification, graded from Flawless to Included.

Precise measurements

Millimetre dimensions and depth percentages that let us compare actual size, not just carat weight.

Independent grading institute

IGI

International Gemological Institute

Independent grading with a global laboratory network — particularly prominent for lab-grown diamonds and detailed cut analysis.

The IGI operates a global network of gemological laboratories and is the world’s largest independent gem certification body by volume. It is particularly significant in the lab-grown diamond market, where its grading reports are widely used and trusted by buyers and jewellers alike.

IGI reports assess the same 4Cs as GIA and provide the same style of detailed clarity plot and proportions data. For lab-grown diamonds specifically, IGI is often considered the clearest standard and its reports are among the most detailed available. When we source a lab-grown stone, IGI certification is what we look for first.

We explain the distinctions between IGI and GIA grading when it is relevant to your stone — not all labs apply exactly the same strictness, and we will be transparent about what that means for a specific diamond you are considering.

1975

Year established

20+

Global laboratories

Lab & natural

Diamond types graded

What an IGI certificate tells you

Origin identification

Clearly states whether the diamond is natural or lab-grown — essential for transparency and accurate pricing.

Full 4Cs assessment

Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat graded using the same internationally recognised scale as GIA.

Proportion diagrams

Detailed face-up proportions that let us assess how a stone will look at its actual size, not just its weight.

Laser inscription

Certificate number is laser-inscribed on the girdle, allowing permanent matching of stone to documentation.

International certification scheme

Kimberley Process

KPCS — Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

The international framework designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade — in force since 2003.

Established in 2003 following widespread concern over conflict diamonds funding civil wars in parts of Africa, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is a joint initiative of governments, industry, and civil society. It requires participating countries to certify that rough diamond shipments are conflict-free before they can be exported.

The scheme now has over 80 member countries representing virtually all of the world’s rough diamond production and trade. Participating countries must meet strict requirements covering internal controls, legislation, and border controls. Every rough diamond that enters the legitimate supply chain from a member country is accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate.

At À Vie, we source exclusively through supply chains that comply with the Kimberley Process. We also apply our own additional due diligence through supplier relationships and provenance documentation, going beyond compliance to ensure accountability wherever it is available and meaningful.

2003

Year established

80+

Member countries

99%+

Of world rough trade

What this means for your diamond

Conflict-free sourcing

Every rough diamond we supply has passed through a KPCS-compliant supply chain from country of origin.

Government-backed certification

KP certificates are issued by participating governments — this is a legal export requirement, not a voluntary standard.

Beyond compliance

We apply additional supplier due diligence that goes further than KP compliance requires, including provenance documentation where available.

Full transparency

If you want to understand the sourcing of a specific stone, we will explain what is known, documented, and what it means in practical terms.

Every stone verified. Every source accountable. Every certificate explained.

If you have questions about a specific diamond’s sourcing, certification, or documentation, we will answer them clearly and honestly.

Common Questions

What you need to know about sourcing and certification

Every question we are commonly asked about our diamonds, certification standards, and sourcing practices.

Yes. Every diamond we supply has passed through a Kimberley Process Certification Scheme-compliant supply chain, which is the international standard designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Beyond that legal baseline, we apply our own additional due diligence through supplier relationships and provenance documentation wherever it is available and meaningful.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a joint initiative of governments, industry, and civil society, established in 2003 to stop rough diamonds associated with conflict from reaching the global market. Over 80 countries now participate, representing more than 99 per cent of the world’s rough diamond production. When a diamond enters the legitimate supply chain from a participating country, it is accompanied by a government-issued Kimberley Process certificate. This is a legal export requirement, not a voluntary label.

Both the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemological Institute) are independent certification laboratories that assess a diamond’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight using the same internationally recognised grading scales. GIA is widely regarded as the global benchmark for natural diamonds and created the 4Cs framework in 1931. IGI is particularly prominent for lab-grown diamonds, where its reports are among the most detailed available. We use GIA reports primarily for natural stones and IGI for lab-grown stones, and we will explain the distinctions between the two when it is relevant to a stone you are considering.

Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled laboratory conditions, which means they have no mining supply chain and therefore no exposure to the conflict diamond risks that the Kimberley Process addresses. Every lab-grown diamond we supply is independently graded by IGI and comes with a certificate that clearly states its origin. We present natural and lab-grown options equally, with transparent pricing and honest guidance on the differences, so you can make an informed choice.

Yes, and we encourage it. Every diamond we source comes with a GIA or IGI grading report that includes a unique certificate number. GIA certificates can be verified at gia.edu and IGI certificates at igi.org. When we present a stone to you, we share the full certificate as part of the process. If you have questions about any aspect of the report, we will go through it line by line in plain English.

Fairtrade gold is available on request across all our gold alloys, including 18ct yellow gold, 18ct white gold, and 18ct rose gold. Fairtrade gold is produced to standards that guarantee fair wages and safe working conditions for small-scale miners. If this matters to you, mention it at the consultation stage and we will confirm availability and any associated cost difference for your specific commission.

Still have a question about a specific stone or its documentation? We will answer it clearly and honestly.

Ask us about a stone

Standards & Provenance

Certified and responsibly sourced

Every diamond we supply is independently graded and responsibly sourced.

IGI — International Gemological Institute

IGI Certified Diamonds

Diamonds independently graded by IGI for cut, colour, clarity, and carat.

Independent grading
GIA — Gemological Institute of America

GIA Certified Diamonds

Diamonds graded by GIA, widely recognised as the global standard for diamond certification.

Global standard
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

Kimberley Process Compliant

Diamonds sourced in compliance with the Kimberley Process to prevent conflict diamonds.

Conflict-free sourcing

Every stone verified. Every source accountable.

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