This article first appeared in the JNA Lab-Grown Diamond Special 2023.

With an unprecedented influx of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) in the market, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is further augmenting its LGD grading and identification capabilities to better protect consumer trust and confidence.

The goal is to increase the number of LGDs offered in the trade that come with GIA reports, revealed Tom Moses, executive vice president of GIA.

“We tailor our reports to focus on the information that consumers and retailers find most important – the 4Cs and whether the diamond is natural or laboratory-grown,” continued Moses.

In January 2023, the institute introduced a lower-cost Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report-Dossier, which is a revised version of the report that no longer includes the growth method or post-growth treatments, thereby reducing fees. Meanwhile, GIA’s AGS Ideal Report, which is available for natural diamonds and LGDs, measures and assesses the performance, proportions and finish – including symmetry and polish – of a diamond.

LGD developments

Citing continuous improvements in growth technology, Moses explained that LGDs are now available in a broader variety of sizes, colours and qualities that buyers can choose from. He added, “Even with these advances, the vastly different ways in which natural and LGDs form allow GIA to differentiate them with 100 per cent certainty.”

GIA gemmologists and scientists employ advanced instrumentation, backed by decades of research, to examine and analyse LGDs. This allows GIA to stay ahead of any new trends or discoveries in LGD production and identification.

Future of LGDs

Wider acceptance of LGDs as natural diamond alternatives is fuelling sales in the market but proper disclosure is critical for consumers to make informed buying decisions.

The key is choosing a gemstone that comes with a report from reputable laboratories such as GIA, remarked Moses. He added, “LGDs will follow the path of other man-made gems as volumes grow, and creative jewellers find more ways to use them in designs. Recently, we have seen both an improvement in growth quality and a decrease in the cost to produce LGDs.”