Written by Members Only

A Secure Way to Buy and Sell Laboratory-Grown Diamonds

SPONSORED CONTENT FROM GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, INC.

The holidays are coming and many consumers are looking to purchase affordable sparkle for loved ones. Make sure you are ready to answer clients’ questions on the quality of your laboratory-grown diamond inventory.

Laboratory-grown diamonds are increasingly available in greater quantities, higher quality and new colors at price points that many find attractive. It is no wonder then that laboratory-grown diamonds are a growing presence in the marketplace, including the pawn world.  

Laboratory-grown diamonds are appealing options for consumers looking for affordable, attractive alternatives to natural diamonds. They make it easier for consumers to size up or go higher in 4Cs quality. They also come in vibrant colors such as pink, blue, or green that are incredibly rare in natural diamonds. Finally, they are often the go-to for consumers who are looking for diamonds that are ethically sourced or created in an environmentally-friendly way.  

Why are GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Reports Important?  

Are you and your staff prepared to identify or to recognize the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds that you come across? Virtually impossible to separate from natural diamonds with the unaided eye, laboratory-grown diamonds require testing to determine their identity. We at GIA want to ensure that both you and your clients always know the identity and quality of what’s being purchased. That is why we updated our reports for laboratory-grown diamonds in 2020. The GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report (LGDR) makes it easier than ever before for consumers to know the identity of their diamonds as well as fully understand their quality.  

Key Features of the Updated LGDR 

When a laboratory-grown diamond is submitted to our laboratory, it is first examined to determine if it is natural or laboratory-grown. Then, GIA graders evaluate it using the 4Cs, a standard of evaluation created by GIA and implemented all over the world. Our graders evaluate each laboratory-grown diamond with the same meticulous care as natural diamonds. The GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report provides detailed color and clarity specifications, honing in with greater insight than ever before and allowing consumers to make crystal clear decisions. The report also includes a plot of the stone’s clarity characteristics. 

Using spectroscopy and other advanced testing methods, GIA graders can determine how a diamond was grown—through the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method or the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. This information is then included in the report. In addition to stating a diamond’s growth method, the Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report also states whether any post-growth treatments were detected. Diamonds, whether laboratory-grown or natural, can be treated using the HPHT method to acquire a fancy color, such as pink, blue, green or yellow or to improve the color of a D-to-Z diamond. GIA’s LGDR lets consumers know whether their diamonds have been treated in this way to enhance their color. 

A Digital Report 

Our updated Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report is entirely digital. Through the GIA Report Check service on GIA.edu, diamond information can be viewed anytime, anywhere at consumers’ convenience in a secure way. Digital reports improve sustainability and security by storing data securely and reducing the paper and energy needed to produce and transport reports each year. As we continue to advance in technology and consumer protection, we promise that no matter the medium – paper or digital – we will continue to deliver vital gem data and knowledge to the clients that need them. 

Why GIA? 

Determining diamond identity, growth method and treatment require scientific expertise. At GIA, we are uniquely positioned to provide this information due to our over 60 years of diamond research, the knowledge we have gained from grading millions of diamonds every year, and the information we collect from growing CVD diamonds in-house for research purposes. Grown by science, laboratory-grown diamonds deserve the expertise of scientists. Our new Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report serves up the brilliance you expect from the institute you trust. Knowing the identity and quality of the diamonds that you purchase and sell can help you confidently add laboratory-grown diamond inventory to your store and help add sparkle to your clients’ shopping bags.  

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