The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) released information Wednesday regarding its international grading standards and how it maintains the consistency and reliability of its reports worldwide.

 

The report states that GIA laboratories operate under a system meant to enforce the objectivity and accuracy of each of its reports, regardless of the lab’s location. It also details, in bullet form, the GIA’s standards for equality, objectivity, accuracy and consistency and integrity and security for each of its reports.

 

See the full report below.

 

GIA International Grading Standards Used Worldwide

 

Consumers around the world rely on GIA reports as the final word on gemstone quality. They turn to GIA for its strict impartiality and its adherence to the international grading standards it created. If you are not familiar with GIA Laboratory operations, you may wonder how a global company like GIA can ensure the consistency and reliability of its reports worldwide.

 

Regardless of location, all GIA Laboratories operate under a set of core principles designed to protect the objectivity and accuracy of every report issued. These tenets are supported by research, highly trained staff, state-of-the-art security and monitoring features, and a suite of best-practices. Here are some of the ways GIA puts its operating principles into action:

 

Equality

All diamonds – and all customers – are treated equally. Regardless of the size, origin or ownership, each diamond undergoes the same rigorous testing and grading procedures as all others. Neither the client nor the customer service representative at the take-in window determines where the diamond will be graded. GIA does not disclose this information in adherence to its security guidelines and “Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics Policy.” There is no preferential treatment for either the diamonds or owners.

 

Objectivity

Anonymity ensures the most objective grading results possible. GIA upholds this principle by focusing on the following:

• After verifying all items submitted by a client, each diamond is placed in a transparent storage case and the owner references are removed.
• The case is assigned a bar-coded label with a unique internal identification number that tracks it anonymously through the grading process.
• Client information is masked in the software used by the graders and gemologists to enter assessments.

• The Inventory Control Department in each GIA Laboratory serves as the hub for operations. Diamonds are distributed randomly to and from this department between grading steps. It is impossible to predict who will grade any diamond.

• Frequently, items submitted in one location are transported to other locations for grading. GIA does this to optimize efficiency and quality control.
• A GIA report from any laboratory looks the same as any other report of its type, regardless of the location that generates it. While the report will likely be printed by the location that completes the grading process, the content may come from multiple locations.

 

Accuracy and Consistency

GIA continues to invest heavily in research, staff, training and quality assurance technologies at all of its lab locations, to deliver the most accurate and consistent assessments of gemstone quality.  

• GIA maintains rigorous calibration standards for all lab instruments. Depending on the device, frequent calibrations are done to maintain consistent results from one location to another.
• Every item submitted for grading is tested and screened at multiple steps during the grading process and every GIA Laboratory follows the same screening policies and procedures. If a determination is inconclusive at one lab location, the gemstone will be routed to another for further testing. 
• A global database captures hundreds of data points for every diamond during the grading process. By providing GIA researchers with the data to detect emerging trends in treatments, it gives GIA the ability to pinpoint a diamond’s exact location during the grading process; it also monitors grader performance.
• Control stones that represent diamond grading standards also move anonymously through GIA’s worldwide grading pipeline. This constant stream of quality-control stones, randomly mixed with client stones, lets GIA track the uniformity of its practices.

• Teams of quality analysts representing GIA’s most experienced graders and its highest ranking management regularly rotate to GIA locations worldwide to train staff and ensure adherence to consistent practices.

 

Integrity and Security

GIA rigorously monitors its grading and related processes worldwide to protect against any breach in conduct or security. Customers and employees can anonymously report any suspected cases of misconduct.

• An independent, third-party firm issues Global Compliance Reports based on the data collected for each diamond. The reports cover items such as grader-to-client frequency and client servicing time, which allow the lab to spot potential breaches in conduct or security.
• The database, a permanent repository of information on every diamond graded by GIA, is also a resource to track a lost or stolen diamond or report. 
• Every GIA employee around the world is required to abide by the Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics Policy designed to protect against conflicts of interest. This zero-tolerance policy prohibits the acceptance of gifts from clients and vendors.
• GIA’s Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics Policy can be viewed on the Institute’s website at www.gia.edu/nav/footer/gia-ethics-helpline/index.html. Any actual or suspected instance of potential misconduct can be reported anonymously from this link. All complaints are rigorously investigated.

 

Diamond buyers have counted on the GIA International Diamond Grading System™ for more than 50 years. Its grading standards and core principals will remain the central focus as GIA adds more laboratories around the world. GIA’s goal is to continue upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity in evaluating gemstones.