GIA, IGI Introduce Same-Day Service Amid Reports of Fraud
Grading labs IGI and GIA are now offering, in limited capacity, a same-day service to verify if a diamond is lab-grown or natural. Both labs said they plan to expand the service in the near future.
"New York—Following multiple reports of lab-grown diamonds inscribed with report numbers for natural stones, two major grading labs are launching same-day verification services at their facilities in New York.
Both announced the addition of the service this week.
The International Gemological Institute said Tuesday that it has teamed up with the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association to offer a same-day turnaround for diamond verification of both single stones and parcels, including diamonds with or without inscriptions, and jewelry depending on type and size.
For now, the service is available only to DMIA members, who can access it by submitting a form available through DMIA or at the IGI intake counter at its New York office.
The service is available to DMIA members at a discounted rate.
Once established, the lab said, IGI will offer the service, for a fee, to additional groups in the diamond industry.
Also on Tuesday, the Gemological Institute of America announced the launch of a similar service at its lab in New York.
The lab said it is now accepting GIA-graded diamonds, with and without inscriptions, for same-day service confirming the diamond matches its corresponding GIA report.
Existing clients with a current GIA client agreement can submit their diamonds for confirmation by requesting “Report Confirmation Service,” as they would any other GIA service.
It is preferred, but not required, that the original GIA report or a facsimile accompany the submitted diamond, GIA said.
There will be no cost for the service for a limited time.
GIA is accepting both walk-in and courier submissions for the same-day service, but said walk-in clients will be accommodated more quickly.
The projected service time for walk-in clients, subject to change based on volume, is 15 minutes for one loose diamond, one hour for two to five diamonds, and 24 hours for more than five, the lab said.
GIA will accept mounted diamonds for confirmation as well but noted that verification for jewelry could take longer.
Following its launch in New York, GIA plans to expand the service to its other locations in a phased rollout later this month.
Clients can contact their client service representative or email labservice@gia.edu with any questions.
Non-clients interested in the service can ... "
https://nationaljeweler.com/articles/12 ... s-of-fraud
