If you’ve ever been in the market for diamond jewelry, you’ve probably heard the term “GIA certified.” But do you know what it means? GIA stands for the Gemological Institute of America. But when you hear the words “GIA certified” or “GIA certified diamond”, both terms are technically incorrect. This is because GIA does not “certify” or appraise any diamonds, it grades them. Many people, however, use the term “GIA certified diamond” when they are referring to a diamond that has been evaluated by the GIA.
Through the years, the GIA has been at the forefront of science and geological research, and has developed a reputation for using very stringent processes for grading diamonds. When a diamond is sent to the GIA laboratory, it undergoes multiple tests and evaluations to ensure a high level of accuracy in its analysis. At the end of this process, a GIA Diamond Report is produced, which gives a full assessment of the diamond quality and the 4 C’s (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight).
At Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry, we carry a large selection of diamonds with GIA Diamond Reports to ensure quality. Here’s what our fine jewelers want you to know about GIA diamonds and what it means for your jewelry.
What Is the GIA?
GIA stands for the Gemological Institute of America. It’s a nonprofit organization that focuses on research and education about gemstones and gemstone jewelry. Since 1931, the GIA has been a leading authority on all things gem-related. The GIA is responsible for the development of some of the best innovations in the jewelry business, including the gemological microscope and the diamond grading process (what many people term as “diamond certification rating”).
What Does GIA Certified Mean?
Our fine jewelers ensure that we have hand selected all of our diamonds, and have a large selection of GIA diamonds in stock. The term “GIA certified” is an incorrect term, yet a term still used by many… The correct term is “GIA Diamond Report”. A GIA Diamond Report means a particular gemstone has undergone the GIA’s rigorous standards to determine its quality. GIA Diamond Reports take four main factors into consideration: Cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. In fact, according to the GIA, “grading” is a more accurate term than “certification” to describe the process.
Diamonds are assigned a grade based on each of the above factors based on a predetermined scale. Some of these factors are self-explanatory. Color and clarity are ranked on a scale, while carat weight is literally based on the diamond’s weight. The GIA also looks at other aspects of the diamond’s makeup, such as how evenly the weight is distributed, the shape, symmetry, and how well it is polished. The clearer, whiter, and more symmetrical the diamond, the higher its grade will be. Lower-quality diamonds are assigned lower grades.
Although you usually hear the term “GIA certified” referring to diamonds in engagement ring commercials, the GIA will actually evaluate gemstones of all types. If you’d like to have your gemstone jewelry evaluated by the GIA, they can help. You’ll have to mail or hand-deliver your gemstone or gemstone jewelry, but once it’s been evaluated, you’ll get it back along with official documentation of the evaluation process.
Why Does a GIA Diamond Report Matter?
A GIA Diamond Report is a guarantee of quality. It gives you peace of mind that an unbiased third party has looked at and evaluated the gemstone for quality and authenticity. As jewelry is an investment as much as an accessory, you want to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. When you visit Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry in Grand Rapids, MI, you can rest assured that you have come to the right place.
Our team holds multiple levels of accreditations including a GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional, a GIA Graduate Gemologist, and an AGS Certified Gemologist. We also have multiple designers on staff.
Over the years, we have earned a long-standing reputation as the premier custom fine jewelers in Grand Rapids, MI. We are always happy to help answer any questions you have about diamonds or jewelry. Give us a call at 616-363-4902 or stop by our store to see us in person.
