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What Is a GIA Diamond?

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Buying a diamond as an investment or for personal use is a major purchase that deserves due diligence. Knowing that the price of the diamond you’re buying aligns with its quality gives you invaluable peace of mind. After all, it would be a shame to splurge on a diamond that has little intrinsic value.

This is where GIA diamonds or GIA-graded diamonds become relevant. You’d naturally want to know the specs of your stone, just as you would want to know the details of a car or piece of real estate you’re buying.

Having a GIA certificate for your diamond became a big thing in the world of engagement ring trends.

Custom design for Chris ring GIA report

What Does GIA Stand For in Diamonds?

GIA or Gemological Institute of America is a non-profit gemstone research and education institute that was established in 1931 by jeweler Robert Shipley. It has since been the most trusted authority for assessing diamonds, colored stones, and pearls.

What does it mean if a diamond is GIA-certified? In the jewelry industry, the term “GIA-certified diamonds” has been parlance of the trade but it’s actually a misnomer. GIA doesn’t certify diamonds but grades them. It assesses each attribute and assigns a grade to diamonds using the most advanced research and technology. A GIA report is then generated and the report number is marked on the diamond’s girdle as an identifier.

GIA doesn’t engage in commercial activities and assesses diamonds in anonymity. This guarantees the objectivity and integrity of their processes, making GIA the world’s most credible diamond grading authority.

The 4 Cs of Diamonds

The GIA established the 4 Cs (cut, clarity, color, carat weight) of diamonds and the evaluation process that employs universally accepted standards and methods. Now, many of the diamonds in the market, loose and mounted, are GIA-graded. Not only does this assure buyers of a diamond’s quality, but it also serves as a basis for how much a diamond is worth based on its attributes.

How Can You Tell if a Diamond Is GIA Certified?

Every diamond that has been graded by the GIA comes with a GIA report and a report number that is usually inscribed on the diamond’s girdle. You can ask to see this report from your jeweler or diamond retailer. You can also verify the content of the report via GIA’s Report Check service.

Are GIA Diamonds More Expensive?

A “GIA diamond” doesn’t automatically mean that a diamond should command premium prices. The diamond’s value will still depend on what the GIA grading report says about the diamond’s 4 Cs.

A report that shows that a diamond has a high-grade cut, clarity, color, and carat weight gives it greater credibility, allowing it to be sold for more. While the assessment alone shouldn’t be the sole basis for a diamond’s value, it provides transparency that helps justify its pricing.

In addition to the regular parameters taken into consideration, it’s worth noting that certain diamond shapes, such as the round diamond, are more expensive in general.

Does a GIA Diamond Mean a Good Diamond?

Not necessarily. Any diamond can be submitted to the GIA for grading and the quality will be based on the GIA report after it has been examined. A GIA-graded diamond may have excellent or poor quality in terms of cut, color, and clarity.

Because of the report, you can find out if a GIA-graded diamond is worth its price.

How Long Does It Take To Get a GIA Report on Your Diamond?

It takes an average of three weeks to get a GIA grading report through GIA’s rush services. The turnaround time for the report usually depends on the carat weight.

Are GIA Diamonds Real?

Diamonds with GIA reports are real diamonds since fake diamonds aren’t given GIA grade reports. This is because inauthentic stones can’t be subjected to GIA’s grading system, to begin with.

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Can Lab Created Diamonds Be GIA-certified?

Because lab-grown diamonds have the same composition and character as natural diamonds, they can also be subjected to the same stringent grading process as the latter.

The sophisticated equipment and assessment methods used by the GIA can detect any treatments or traces in a lab-grown diamond, enabling them to identify and include such details in their report.  You can then expect the diamond’s girdle to reflect if it is a lab diamond. Essentially, they can certify that a diamond is lab-grown.

Can GIA Reports Be Faked?

GIA reports contain security features such as hologram and microprint lines. The GIA also has a Report Verification service that lets you compare information in a printed report against the institute’s actual database to verify a report’s authenticity.

Is a GIA Certificate Worth It?

Definitely. The certificate is a reliable way to know if you’re purchasing a real diamond of high quality that is worthy of its price.

For average-carat diamonds, it only costs around $50 to $100 per diamond to get a GIA report. For the GIA to examine it, you only need to submit your diamond to any of their laboratories. You can also have it sent via a trusted courier if it’s insured. Note that GIA only grades loose diamonds.

Othergems: Reliable Source of High-grade Diamonds

Othergems is a certified and trusted jewelry retailer in New York and globally. We have over 30 years of expertise in dealing with diamonds. We offer only high-quality, authentic diamonds with a wide selection of premium, GIA-graded natural and lab-grown diamond jewelry.

Contact us today for your custom design needs. We offer a wide variety of engagement rings, wedding bands, and other wearable luxury pieces.

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Diamond Color Chart

Color is one of the four important factors that determine the value and quality of a diamond (carat, color, clarity and cut grade). The colors range from D which is colorless, all the way through Z which is a light yellow or brown. The more colorless a diamond is, the more it is rare and expensive.

D, E, F

COLORLESS

G, H

NEAR COLORLESS

I, J

NEAR COLORLESS SLIGHTLY TINTED

K-M

FAINT YELLOW

N-R

VERY LIGHT YELLOW

S-Z

LIGHT YELLOW

FANCY

YELLOW

Diamond Clarity Chart

Clarity is one of the four important factors that determine the value and quality of a diamond (carat, color, clarity and cut grade). Almost every diamond has inclusions in it, and that’s what makes it unique. The shape, placement and amount of inclusions determine the clarity of a diamond. The highest level of clarity is FL and the lowest is I3.

GRADE & CATEGORY

FL

FLAWLESS

IF

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS

VVS1, VVS2

VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED

VS1, VS2

VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED

SI1 & SI2,SI3

SLIGHTLY INCLUDED

I1,I2& I3

INCLUDED

Ring size guide

Still unsure? Check out our Ring Size Guide

We stand behind every jewelry we sell. We are aware of the challenges of shopping online, and customer satisfaction is our top priority.

 

Therefore, if for some reason you are not a 100 percent satisfied with your jewelry, you can return it free of charge within 30 days of arrival for a full refund or exchange. This does not include custom-made orders.

 

Refunds will be credited to the original form of payment you made. 

 

If you wish to make an exchange or return after this time frame, it will be at the discretion of the company.

 

Free cancellation within 2 hours of the time of purchase.