Certified Loose Diamonds
Certified Loose Diamonds by GIA Diamond Institute
The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a non-profit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology. The GIA is also well known for its gem identification and grading services, and developed the famous "Four C's" (Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat weight) methodology of grading diamonds. The educational arm of the GIA confers the Graduate Gemologist diploma upon its graduates; the institute also offers other diploma programs. The GIA was founded in 1931 by Robert Shipley in Los Angeles, California. Today, the institute is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, north of San Diego.
GIA Diamond Certificate
Through its arm the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, GIA provides diamond grading services to describe the characteristics of loose diamonds. The GIA issues two types of reports, the more complete being the Diamond Grading Report (a briefer and less expensive version is called a Diamond Dossier). The Diamond Grading Report identifies the key characteristics of a diamond which can be used to both identify the diamond and determine its value. The reports contain a number of measurements, including of carat weight and critical angles, as well as a diagram of where and what types of inclusions are located in the diamond. This type of report is now offered by competitors to GIA, although GIA's reports are widely considered to be the strictest and therefore most reputable available. Diamond grading reports are now demanded by most consumers purchasing diamonds over a certain size, typically for over 0.5 carat (100 mg), and almost always for over 1.0 carat (200 mg), and are considered an important tool in guaranteeing that a GIA diamond is accurately represented to a potential buyer.
The 4 most trusted names:
- International Gemological Institute (IGI)
- The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
- The American Gem Society (AGS)
- The European Gemological Laboratories (EGL)
Loose Diamonds: Loose Diamond Search Matching Diamond Pairs Search