Not every diamond comes with a GIA diamond grading report, but if yours does, it’s important to not only understand the purpose of the report, but also how to read it and what it all means. If you haven’t ever seen one before, it can look like you are reading a mathematical equation or a foreign language. So, I have found that most of my customers pretend to look at their GIA reports and then drop them in the bag or put them in their pocket and probably don’t look at them again.
I make it a point to educate my customers on the GIA diamond grading reports they get with their diamonds, when they buy a diamond that comes with a report, so they do know what they have. Knowledge is power, and in opinion you can’t have too much when you are investing the type of money you do in a diamond.
The Purpose of a Diamond Grading Report
The diamond grading report lists the four C’s. They are reliable and accurate in their grading because at most labs, several graders will grade each diamond. The GIA diamond grading system is the universally accepted grading system for grading diamonds, however, the only source of an authentic GIA diamond grade is from the GIA lab. The GIA diamond grading report is your diamonds blueprint and will help you distinguish your diamond from every other diamond in the world. Remember, each diamond has its own DNA.
How to Read the GIA Diamond Grading Report
The information is arranged into three sections.
The top section in blue includes the diamonds laser inscription number (if there is one), shape, and basic measurements – the minimum and maximum diameters and depth in millimeters.
The center section has the grading results based of carat, color, clarity and cut. Across from this are the graphics that illustrate the GIA color, clarity and cut scales.
The bottom section has the finish, polish and symmetry, fluorescence, and comments.
Directly under that in the white section there is a plot that documents the location and extent of important clarity features, or where the birthmarks are on the diamond.
Each report includes a scaled profile that displays all of the diamonds essential proportions. The profiles act as the fingerprint for the diamond.
There is a part on the bottom that the dealer tears off and keeps for their records, that isn’t shown here. We attach it to the front of each plastic folder that we keep our reports in.
Each report is laminated to keep them in good condition.
What Each Part of the Grading Report Means?
I realize that I haven’t even begun to touch on everything that is in this report on this blog. In fact, I realized as I was writing this post how lacking this blog was on some very important information. But, now I have about 20 or 30 blog topics that I can expand on. So, what you will see in the next few weeks…
Polish
Symmetry
Finish
Cut Grade
Clarity Guide
Different types of inclusions and how they affect your diamond
And more!
Till then…
