A capacity crowd of DCWC members filled the Los Angeles bourse to listen to Phillip Yantzer, Vice President of Laboratory Operations, explain the changes experienced at GIA’s laboratories across the world in 2018 - 2019, and give a comprehensive update on GIA’s laboratory activity.
Yantzer discussed the changes in stone sizes taken in by the GIA lab and the qualitative measures taken by GIA to maintain the high standard of grading set by GIA.
Adversarial questions included: inconsistencies in diamond reports, perceived inconsistencies between stones emerging from different GIA labs; the results produced by tech machinery compared to human graders; the need to create more distinction between natural and lab-grown diamonds; and with questions about emerging technologies for more subjective grading (cut and make, and inclusions).
Regarding grading reports for lab grown diamonds, DCWC President Moshe Salem echoed the sentiment that “GIA reports must go farther to distinguish between natural and lab-grown diamonds in order to allow the consumer to make the best decision that is aligned with their interest.”
About GIA
Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls. A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry. Students around the globe turn to GIA for the knowledge, skills, and credentials that launch successful gem and jewelry careers. The world leader in gemological research, GIA’s breakthrough discoveries deepen our understanding of gemstones and the world. Through research, education, and unbiased gem grading and analysis, GIA strives to protect the gem and jewelry buying public by setting global quality standards. For more information, please visit www.gia.edu.
