A GIA certificate is a report from the Gemological Institute of America that records the results of examining a diamond. It is not a price appraisal. It is quality data: weight, color, clarity, cut, and measurements. This guide explains what each part of the report means and how to verify one yourself.
The two most common GIA reports
- GIA Diamond Dossier: a compact report for diamonds under 2 carats. The report number is laser-inscribed on the diamond’s girdle.
- GIA Diamond Grading Report: the full report, which also includes a diagram of the inclusions (the clarity plot).
The parts of a GIA report and what they mean
- Report number: the unique number of the report. This is what you use to verify it.
- Shape and cutting style: the diamond’s shape, such as round brilliant, oval, or emerald cut.
- Measurements: the diamond’s dimensions in millimeters.
- Carat weight: the diamond’s weight. One carat equals 0.2 grams.
- Color grade: a scale from D to Z. D is the most colorless, and the color becomes more yellow toward Z.
- Clarity grade: from Flawless (FL), IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, down to I1, I2, I3.
- Cut grade: from Excellent to Poor. GIA gives this grade only to round brilliant diamonds.
- Polish and symmetry: the smoothness of the surface and how precisely the facets are arranged.
- Fluorescence: how the diamond reacts to ultraviolet light, from None to Very Strong.
- Inscription: text laser-inscribed on the girdle, usually the GIA report number.
How to verify a GIA report
- Open GIA Report Check on the official GIA website and enter the report number.
- Compare the data on the GIA site with the report in your hand: weight, color, clarity, and measurements must match.
- Look at the laser inscription on the girdle with a loupe and match it to the report number.
These three steps confirm two things: the report is real, and the diamond in front of you is the diamond described in that report.
Common misunderstandings
- A GIA report does not state a price. GIA grades quality and does not appraise value.
- Lab-grown diamonds can have GIA reports too, but the report clearly states that the diamond is laboratory-grown. Read the report type, not only the GIA logo.
- Small accent diamonds in a ring are generally not certified one by one.
GIA diamonds at Kimfook
Kimfook sells natural diamonds only. Single diamonds of 0.2 carat and above are generally GIA certified, while small accent diamonds are not. The showroom has a diamond tester that distinguishes natural from lab-grown diamonds, and an XRF tester for gold purity.
See our GIA diamond rings and diamond engagement rings, or read the comparison of 0.3 and 0.5 carat GIA diamonds. The Kimfook showroom is in Alam Sutera, Tangerang. See the visit guide from Jakarta, or how to buy from elsewhere in Indonesia.
Does a GIA report state the diamond’s price?
No. A GIA report records quality only, such as weight, color, clarity, and cut. GIA does not appraise price.
How do I check whether a GIA report is genuine?
Enter the report number in GIA Report Check on the official GIA website, compare the data with the report you hold, then match it to the laser inscription on the diamond’s girdle.
What do color D and clarity VS1 mean on a GIA report?
Color D is the highest color grade, meaning the diamond is colorless. Clarity VS1 means the inclusions are very small and difficult to see under 10x magnification.
Are all diamonds at Kimfook GIA certified?
Single diamonds of 0.2 carat and above are generally GIA certified. Small accent diamonds are not certified one by one.
