EGL Industry "Firsts"

EGL USA is internationally known for its state-of-the art technology and innovative services, responding to the needs of consumers and the jewelry industry.  EGL USA's History of "Firsts" includes:

• 1978: First NY lab to grade diamonds under one carat in size.
• 1980: First to employ photographic process to place I.D. mark on diamonds.
• 1983: First to offer 72-hour service on diamond grading reports
• 1986: First to offer retailers a mini certificate, which contains all the information found on a full-size certificate.
• 1997: First lab to issue reports and grading of SI-3 diamonds.
• 1998: First to use X-Ray instant imaging for pearl identification.
• 1999: First to offer Internet purchasers direct shipping of diamonds with their certificates.
• 1999: First lab to announce that high pressure high temperature (HPHT) treated colored diamonds had entered the market.
• 1999: First lab to have a dedicated consumer hotline.
• 2000: First lab to offer diamond laser inscription with the world's most precise equipment.
• 2001: First lab to uncover that Type IaB diamonds could be made near colorless through the HPHT process.
• 2001: First lab to design an identification certificate for HPHT diamonds.
• 2002: First to create a price list for HPHT treated diamonds through its independent appraisal affiliate, Universal Gemological Services.
• 2003: First lab to announce to the industry the presence of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) synthetic diamonds in the marketplace.