GIA Certificate Check - How To Verify GIA Diamond Certification

The leading certification and authentication authority, the GIA, has made a significant change in regards to authenticating Color Diamond certificates, which can be provided for all colors such as Blue, Green, Red, or Yellow Diamonds. All GIA certificates, including identification and origin reports (Color only certificates) can now be checked online and verify the authenticity of the GIA certificates.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) provides two different types of certification for natural fancy colored diamonds. There is a full certificate, which is known as the Colored Diamond Grading Report and the half certificate, which is known as the Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report.

Up until recently, one was only able to verify the authenticity of a full diamond grading report online in the GIA website. However, this change now enables any natural fancy colored diamond GIA report, regardless of the type of report requested, to be authenticated. It can be checked in the following link:
http://www.gia.edu/report-check-landing

The Colored Diamond Grading Report

The colored diamond grading report, which is recognized as a full GIA diamond certificate, provides all the relevant diamond details. This certificate is issued for natural colored diamonds weighing 0.15 carats or more, and provides a full quality assessment of a colored diamond. The full GIA diamond certificate includes the following data:

• Date the report is issued
• Report Number
• Laser Inscription Registry (if requested)
• Shape and Cutting Style
• Measurements
• Color Origin (natural or treated)
• Color Grade (hue and fancy color grade)
• Color Distribution (even of uneven color)
• Clarity Guide (according to the GIA Clarity Scale)
• Finish (quality of surface condition as well as information re the facets)
• Polish (overall condition of surface)
• Symmetry (exactness of diamond’s outline as well as further information re the facets)
• Fluorescence (strength and fluorescence color of the diamond)
• Plotting Diagram (approximates shape and cutting style of stone)
• Key to Symbols, GIA Clarity Scale, GIA Colored Diamond Scale, Proportion Diagram, and Security Features (of report to ensure authenticity). As an optional service, a full color image of the diamond may also be included.

Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report

As mentioned above, the GIA also offers a second report. It is called the Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report (A.K.A "Color Only" certificate). This diamond certificate is just as valid, but offers less information. It focuses only on the color grade and the Origin of a colored diamond and lists the following data. The report is divided into the following sections:

• General Information
• Grading Results
• Additional Grading Information
• Reference Diagrams
• Scale References
• Bar Code, Disclaimer, and Security Features

The Purpose of the Second Report

A full GIA certificate is always preferable. However, if the clarity level of a diamond were low, it would be wise to request a half certificate, since it is far less expensive and will keep the price of the diamond down. Full certificates include clarity grades, explanations regarding the cuts, polish, symmetry, fluorescence, and other important information. The half certificate on the other hand does not list any of this information, and simply supplies the diamond’s weight, origin, color grade and distribution, measurements, and shape and cutting style.

Once you have the certificate, whether half or full, you are able to verify the authenticity of the diamond through the GIA website. There you can find the Analysis & Grading “Report Check” feature, which efficiently allows you to confirm the validity of the information given to you upon the purchase of your stone. All you have to do is type in the GIA certification number written on the GIA report and make sure it matches up with the information stored in the GIA report database. Leibish & Co. recognizes the importance of verifying the authentication of each GIA graded diamond, therefore offers this feature directly in the diamond details of each GIA graded stone listed online.

The GIA is the most esteemed organization for certifying and grading diamonds and gemstones. Since its establishment in 1931, it has been the number one destination for any certification related issue. Needless to say, stones with the desirable GIA certification are more valuable, sought after, and preferred.