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Diamond Education
Line by line, what the report tells you, what it cannot tell you, and how to verify it.
GIA issues a grading report, an independent laboratory's opinion of a diamond's measurable characteristics. It is the closest thing a diamond has to a title deed, and no diamond should change hands without one. We cover the reasons in why you need a GIA grading report. This page is about reading the one in front of you.
Shape and cutting style describe the outline and the facet arrangement, for example round brilliant or emerald cut. Measurements give the diamond's actual dimensions in millimeters, and for elongated shapes the ratio between length and width matters more to the eye than the carat line does.
Carat weight is weight, not size. Two diamonds of identical weight can face up differently depending on how they are cut, which is why we treat the measurements line as seriously as the carat line. Our guide to carats and diamond size goes deeper.
Color grades run from D, colorless, toward Z. Clarity records the internal characteristics under 10x magnification, from Flawless through Included. The full scales live in The 4 Cs.
Cut grade appears only on reports for standard round brilliants, graded Excellent to Poor. Fancy shapes such as oval, emerald, and pear do not receive a GIA cut grade at all, which is exactly where an experienced eye earns its keep. Polish and symmetry are graded for every shape and describe the quality of the finishing work.
Fluorescence is a description, not a defect. It records how the diamond responds to ultraviolet light. In most diamonds it is invisible in normal wear, and in some it slightly improves the face-up color. We wrote about it honestly in fluorescence and value.
The clarity plot, the small diagram marked with symbols, maps the position and type of each characteristic. Two diamonds can share a clarity grade while one carries a single characteristic hidden under a prong position and the other carries one under the table, dead center. The grade is the same. The diamond is not.
Every report carries a report number, and most diamonds have that number laser inscribed on the girdle. Enter the number at GIA's online Report Check and confirm that the document matches the diamond in front of you. Any seller who hesitates at that request has answered your real question.
If you want a second opinion on a diamond you are considering anywhere, send us the certificate number. ROSI™, our gemological intelligence, scores the diamond and shows you the fair market picture through the ROSI Score Report, and John Anderson reviews every report before it goes out.
The report tells you what the diamond is. It cannot tell you whether the diamond is beautiful, or fairly priced. Those two questions are why gemologists still have jobs.
Talk to a Jeweler
Have a report in hand and want a trained eye on it before you commit? John Anderson, our Lead Gemologist, reviews diamonds and settings with clients every day. The consultation is complimentary and there is no obligation.
Speak with John Anderson1-800-779-1726 · john@rockher.com
