What is the GIA?
GIA (the Gemmological Institute of America) is an organization whose work is to research and educate about the jewellery arts and gemmology.
GIA was founded in 1931, with a dedicated mission to protect everyone who buys and sells gemstones by setting certain standards (and maintaining them) that weigh up the quality of gemstones. This setting and maintaining of standards is done through gem identification, research, services dedicated to grading diamonds and a vast number of educational programs.
GIA has a large number of experts in the field in its employ. The institution acts as a source of information regarding the trade of gemstones to the public and the world’s media outlets.
GIA and the Four C’s
The institute developed the Four Cs (Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight) and the International Diamond Grading System in 1953. This sets the standard for comparison and evaluation of the quality and value of diamonds.
The Gemological Institute of America has its headquarters in Carlsbad, California. It operates out of 11 campuses, four research centers and nine laboratories in 13 countries worldwide.
GIA Certification
A diamond report or a diamond certificate (one and the same thing) is a document that is issued by an ascribed and independent gemological laboratory. A diamond certificate includes the diamond’s carat weight, its measurements, the grades for its cut and clarity and color. Also in the certificates are information about a diamond’s symmetry, its polish and its fluorescence. They also contain a graphical representation of the diamond that shows where the diamond’s inclusions are located.
The contents of these certificates (the grades) are based on an individual lab’s grading standards—that is, they are of the opinion of the lab that graded them.
GIA uses instruments of the highest quality to determine the various grades of every individual diamond they analyze. There is a whole department called GIA Instruments, which works closely with the research, lab and education teams, and also with the jewellery trade (for the development of the instrumentation).
If you are a seller of gemstones, using GIA Instruments will guarantee you exceptional quality and smooth-sailing operation that will impress both you and your customers.
The first ever GIA instrument was registered early in the 1930s. Since then, GIA has been building products that help you (a seller or buyer) understand all there is to understand about specific gemstones. Knowledge about diamonds and other gemstones will not be a problem with GIA Instruments. They provide you with the information you will need to buy gemstones, evaluate and grade them with nothing less than pin-point precision. GIA Instruments ensure you have an edge over your competition; whether you are dealing with loose diamonds, wholesale diamonds or any other type of gemstone.
The people who work as staff and developers for GIA Instruments are scientists, jewelers, researchers, engineers and educators who have the utmost experience in the field. All these individuals have a passion for building the very best gemmology, jewelery and metalurgy. They ensure that all their equipment has the practicality of everyday use and the efficacy that will suit you and your business.
Take the specialized GIA microscopes, for example. They are used more than any other in the western hemisphere to buy and sell diamonds. They are easy to use, they are adaptable and they are steadfast. These factors are what make them so popular among the vast majority of professionals that make use of GIA Instruments.
Thinking of a Colorless Diamond? Check Out the GIA Certificate First
As of May of 2015, GIA had reason to believe that just about 500 colorless and almost colorless diamonds that were submitted to their lab in Israel had been temporarily (and secretly) treated to improve certain grades.
According to GIA, this temporary treatment process is designed to mask the intrinsic color of the diamond and hence can lead to the diamond receiving a higher grade than it would have initially. In some cases, the difference in color can go to as much as three whole grades. This temporary treatment process has yet to be identified by GIA, but the research into it goes on. The good news is that it is not a large number of clients that have submitted diamonds that have undergone such treatment.
Many diamond wholesalers make use of GIA’s services and will only sell diamonds that have received GIA certification (GIA diamonds). If you have diamonds for sale, you would probably want to ensure they have been certified by a reputable laboratory like GIA, which is the oldest and largest in the world.
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