The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has intercepted several diamonds submitted to them for verification that were either laboratory-grown or treated stones, but falsely inscribed with GIA inscriptions.

The diamonds, sent to GIA for updated reports or verification services, did not match the GIA report that came with them, revealed the institute.

“Consistent with GIA’s mission to protect consumers and ensure their trust in gems and jewellery, the institute overwrites the counterfeit inscription with Xs; issues a new, accurate report; and inscribes the submitted stone with the number of the new report and, when appropriate, the phrase ‘Laboratory-Grown.’,” explained GIA.

The stones had the following commonalities: The weights and grading parameters of the original and newly submitted diamonds were close to each other; and the diamonds sent for verification were inscribed with counterfeit inscriptions of the original GIA report number.

In a recent example, the report that accompanied a diamond submitted for an update was for a 1.50362-carat, VVS2, E-colour, Type I natural diamond with an excellent cut grade. The newly submitted stone with a counterfeit inscription was a Type IIA man-made diamond of 1.51212 carats, VVS2 clarity grade and D colour with a very good cut grade. 

“It is clear that these are two different diamonds,” noted GIA. “These instances of attempted fraud highlight why it is important, especially in any transaction where the buyer does not have a trusted relationship with the seller, to have the diamond grading report updated prior to completing a purchase.”