GIA Takes Steps to Counter Fraudulent Inscriptions on Lab-Grown

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is hoping to combat the recent influx of lab-grown diamonds bearing fraudulent inscriptions from the lab by offering same-day report verification.

By using the service, which will begin next week, clients will be able to check that the stone they are purchasing matches the corresponding GIA report prior to buying, the GIA said Tuesday. The move comes following a number of instances where the GIA and other labs, including Italy’s Gem-Tech and the International Gemological Institute (IGI), reported stones submitted for grading as natural were in fact synthetics cut to resemble a natural stone graded by the GIA.

“Combatting this fraud is vital to protecting the public and ensuring their confidence in gems and jewelry — this is GIA’s mission,” said GIA CEO Susan Jacques. “We, like Tiffany, Cartier and other well-known global companies who are vigilant about protecting their valuable brands from counterfeiting and fraud, will take rigorous action to protect GIA and the trust consumers place in us.”

The GIA has been training law enforcement officers on diamond identification and counterfeiting, it noted. It encourages any other gemological lab, industry organization or individual that comes across a counterfeit inscription to report it to the authorities and the institute so that appropriate action can be taken against any perpetrators, it added.

Main image: GIA diamond reports (Shutterstock)