GIA Synthetic Diamonds

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has been in the business of grading diamonds and gemstones since its establishment. But the organization’s grading policy for lab-grown diamonds wasn’t always clear.

GIA researchers carefully studied synthetic diamonds to determine whether they’re actually created in a laboratory or naturally. Using sophisticated instrumentation, they could read the diamonds’ spectral signatures and decide their origin.

How They’re Made

The process used to grow synthetic diamonds in a lab mimics the conditions natural diamonds undergo when they form deep within Earth’s mantle over millions of years. However, the time from seed to faceted stone is much shorter and can be as little as a couple of months.

Synthetic diamonds can be grown in a variety of ways, depending on the specific characteristics you are looking for. One of the most common methods is the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method. This process exposes carbon atoms to extremely high temperatures and pressures to create diamond crystals.

GIA scientists can use spectroscopy to determine which type of diamond growth process was used, along with whether the diamond had any post-growth treatments applied. This information is incorporated into the laboratory-grown diamond report, also known as the LGDR.

The report also provides important details about the diamond’s origin and the treatments that were used on it. For example, if a lab-grown diamond is treated with nitrogen to make it colorless, this information is included in the report.

Another treatment that can be applied to a laboratory-grown diamond is boron, which can turn the stone blue. This is done using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique.

Other colored treatment techniques are used to create fancy colors in diamonds, including pink, yellow and red. These treatments are often applied to lower-quality diamonds, but are also commonly done to D-to-Z stones.

Finally, some lab-grown diamonds have metallic inclusions that can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. These are typically only visible to the trained professional at a jeweler’s shop.

If you are considering buying a gia synthetic diamond, it is best to shop with a reputable jeweler who will provide you with a certificate from a respected gemological laboratory. This will ensure that the grading and quality of the diamond is accurate, and the customer can be confident in the purchase.

GIA is the world’s most trusted diamond authority, and they have been certifying diamonds since 1931. They are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to ensuring consumers have confidence in their diamonds and in the jewelry industry as a whole. They are committed to protecting the public by providing a safe and honest grading system for all types of diamonds.

Color

The color of gia synthetic diamonds can vary depending on the type of process used to grow them. These lab-grown diamonds are sometimes subjected to heat and pressure after they’re grown, which can make them look more red or pink. GIA discloses these processes in its grading reports, so consumers can know what they’re getting before they purchase them.

One of the most common treatment processes is irradiation. This can change a diamond’s color from white to yellow, red, blue or pink. Another popular treatment process is called HPHT, which uses high temperatures to create diamonds.

While a lot of people think a diamond’s color grade is based on its appearance, it’s actually a very complex matter. Gemologists have color masters, or sets of master stones, that are used to determine the exact color of a stone. This helps to ensure that the grading report accurately assesses the diamond’s 4 Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) as well as its proportions and other characteristics.

The International Gemological Institute, or GIA, is the world’s leading source of gem and jewelry research and the foremost authority on evaluating diamond quality. Its grading reports, or IGI certifications, include a 4Cs assessment and plotted diagrams showing a diamond’s clarity and proportions.

GIA’s grading reports are issued through its online portal, which is also available via mobile phones and tablet devices. These reports are available for diamonds weighing 0.15 carats and larger.

These reports are a great way for diamond lovers to evaluate the color of their gia synthetic diamonds before purchasing them. These reports also show the lab’s certificate number, which is a unique code assigned to every diamond.

If a consumer is concerned about the color of their gia synthetic, they can try to find an unbiased diamond broker who can provide an independent opinion. However, if the buyer wants to ensure that their diamond is authentic, they should always shop with a gemological laboratory.

The GIA has recently noticed an increase in submissions of lab-grown diamonds that have fake inscriptions that misrepresent them as natural. These are referred to as “simulants,” and are sometimes used to mislead people into thinking that they’re buying a real diamond.

Clarity

As the fourth C in the four-C system (carat weight, cut, color and clarity), diamond grading is one of the most important aspects of a diamond’s value. With the advent of high-tech technology, color and cut grading are largely automated, but clarity grading still requires expert handwork.

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence of imperfections, including blemishes or inclusions, in a diamond. The closer a diamond is to being free of imperfections, the more valuable it becomes.

In addition to being a major factor in the value of a diamond, clarity also influences how it looks and sparkles. It’s the main reason why GIA created a grading system that assigns grades to diamonds based on their clarity.

The clarity grading system assigns a grade after experts examine a diamond under 10x magnification and note the number, relief and placement of any inclusions. Inclusions are anything that affects the light’s ability to pass through the stone freely, including cracks, surface blemishes and small particles of metal or graphite.

Lab-grown diamonds created using the high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) method often contain tiny metallic inclusions left over from the metal flux that transports the carbon gas onto the diamond seed. These inclusions are usually difficult to see without magnification, but they can still impact the clarity of a lab-grown diamond.

GIA’s clarity grading system assigns grades after experts examine a diamond under 10x magnifying glass and note the number, relief and placement of inclusions. Inclusions are anything that impacts the light’s ability to pass through the diamond freely, including cracks, surface blemishes or small particles of metal or graphite.

Laboratory-grown diamonds can be treated post-growth to improve their clarity or even make them colorless. If this treatment is done to a lab-grown diamond, it will be indicated on its GIA report.

When shopping for a diamond, it’s best to choose one that is above the SI2 GIA clarity grade and is free from clouds, which will severely affect its clarity. It’s also a good idea to avoid diamonds with a clarity grade solely based on clouds because they look ugly.

Cut

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the world’s leading gemological education and research institution, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, and 15 research centers worldwide. Its grading report is the gold standard in diamond certification and has become synonymous with the 4Cs of diamond quality: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight.

In addition to grading natural diamonds, GIA is also approved to certify lab-grown diamonds so that consumers can be sure they’re buying real stones. GIA graders and experts use high-end equipment to detect physical, optical and chemical properties that can help distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a natural one.

Unlike mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds aren’t naturally colored. However, they can be treated to change the color after growth, like in this fancy blue lab-grown diamond.

After testing lab-grown diamonds, GIA will issue a grading report for them that looks similar to a natural diamond grading report. The girdle of the lab-grown diamond will be inscribed with the GIA grading report number as well as “Laboratory-Grown.”

Lab-grown diamonds have been around since the 1950s, when Union Carbide developed the first Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process to produce diamonds for industrial use. Later, companies used the High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) process to produce diamonds for jewelry and other uses.

Today, GIA offers a grading report for man-made diamonds that are created in a laboratory using CVD or HPHT processes. The new report includes the same color, clarity and cut-grade terms as those on a natural diamond report.

The GIA’s decision to offer this report is a huge step forward in the industry and helps make lab-grown diamonds more transparent. Previously, GIA only offered full reports for mined diamonds. This policy switch will give consumers more options for making their purchases and help them navigate the confusing world of diamonds.

In addition, the GIA will include information on the diamond’s origin and growth process. It will also list the specific chemical, physical and optical properties of the diamond. Those specifications are more trade-oriented and may be less familiar to the consumer than the ones included in the natural diamond grading report.

GIA Synthetic Diamonds