What is SGL certification?
SGL (Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories) is an independent diamond grading lab with offices in India, the UK, and the UAE. They are members of CIBJO (the World Jewellery Confederation) and use the same 4C grading standard (Cut · Colour · Clarity · Carat) that GIA and IGI use.
Every diamond piece you buy from Silvee ships with an SGL certificate that specifies:
- Carat weight — to two decimal places
- Colour — typically I–J for our retail range (near-colourless, eye-clean)
- Clarity — typically VS–SI (inclusions invisible to the naked eye)
- Cut grade — proportions, polish, symmetry
- A unique certificate number you can use to verify online
How to verify your certificate
Visit sglindia.com/verify and enter the certificate number printed on the SGL card you received with your diamond. The lab's report will load instantly. If the report doesn't match what's on your card — or if the report doesn't exist — message us on WhatsApp and we'll resolve it the same day.
Why we use SGL instead of in-house grading: independent labs cannot misgrade in our favour. The cert is the same instrument a jeweller's appraiser would use — meaning the piece's resale value is anchored, not invented by us.
Our silver — 92.5 sterling
All our silver pieces are 92.5% pure sterling silver (the international standard for jewellery-grade silver). The remaining 7.5% is copper, which gives the silver its working hardness — pure silver is too soft to hold a setting or take polish.
Our in-house purity guarantee
Every Silvee silver piece carries an in-house purity guarantee, in writing, on the order invoice. If an independent assay (we'll cover the cost) ever shows the silver is below 92.5%, we'll refund the piece in full plus the assay fee — no questions.
Why no formal hallmark?
Nepal doesn't currently operate a state-run silver hallmarking program (the Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS hallmark doesn't apply outside India). Rather than print a hallmark logo we have no right to use — or pay for a foreign one that's irrelevant to a Nepal customer — we issue our own purity guarantee. We believe it's more honest to put our own name on the line than to borrow a stamp we can't certify.
Our gold plating
Our "gold-plated silver" pieces are 92.5 sterling underneath, electroplated with 14k or 18k gold at a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns. That's about 5× the thickness of typical fashion plating (which is usually 0.5 µ flash plate). With normal care it lasts 3–5 years; with light wear, often longer.
We re-plate any Silvee gold-plated piece at cost (around रु 1,500 depending on the size) — bring it in to the atelier and we send it back to the bench for refinishing.
Care to make it last
- Apply perfume, lotion, hairspray before putting your jewellery on.
- Take off pieces before showering, swimming, or strenuous exercise.
- Store each piece individually (the soft pouch your order arrived in is perfect).
- For silver: a quick rub with a microfibre cloth restores shine. Avoid silver dip / liquid polish — it wears plating.
- For diamonds: warm water + a drop of mild detergent + a soft toothbrush. Rinse, pat dry.
Quick FAQ
Is SGL the same as GIA?
Both grade by the same 4C standard. GIA is the most recognised lab globally; SGL is widely accepted in South Asia and uses the same equipment. We chose SGL because it certifies in India at a fraction of GIA's fee — savings we pass to you in the piece's final price rather than the cert's.
What if my silver tarnishes?
Sterling silver oxidises (tarnishes) on contact with air — that's chemistry, not a defect. A microfibre cloth rub takes the bloom off in seconds. If a piece needs deep cleaning, bring it to the atelier and we re-polish it free.
Questions about your piece?
WhatsApp us — we'll walk through the certificate or guarantee with you.