If you follow this blog, you know to look for GIA reports when making a diamond, pearl or colored gemstone purchase. The “blue” GIA report had been around for more years than we can count – that is, until January of this year, when GIA began issuing its trusted reports in a new look. By integrating new technologies and simplifying the format, the reports were redesigned to set a new standard for jewelry buyers in terms of ease of use and credibility.

GIA’s trusted gem evaluation doesn’t change, but the redesigned reports include some new features:

• They use a lot less paper and other materials, making for a smaller environmental footprint and underscoring GIA’s dedication to environmentally-friendly business practices.

• Reports are printed on paper that is proprietary to GIA and specially designed for security and your peace of mind.

• Reports display grading and evaluation details in a simpler, easier-to-read format.

• A QR code gives you direct access to GIA’s Report Check service, allowing you to quickly and easily confirm the authenticity of the report with a single click.

Since the 1950s, GIA’s diamond grading reports have represented the highest standard of reliability, credibility and integrity. Every GIA report is the result of a meticulous scientific process that provides an objective assessment of a gem’s quality. So whether your jeweler presents you with a 2014 GIA report in the new format or a previous version, rest assured you’re getting the same benchmark evaluation, regardless of report format..

Reports in the new format are just starting to appear in jewelry stores, so expect them to phase in over time.

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Our exclusive video takes you through the history of the 4Cs, and explains why they remain the universal standard for assessing your diamond. Watch it, and tell us what you think!

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As artists, jewelry designers are inspired in different ways. Some create to echo iconic eras of the past, like Art Deco or Art Nouveau. Some provide their own perspective on famous works of art in galleries and museums. But some have a keen eye for taking a part of their ordinary, everyday life, and turning it into something exquisite.

Erik Stewart is one of these artists. His award-winning cuff, Transit, was inspired by New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. The palladium and 18k gold bracelet has stainless steel cables that imitate the bridge’s iconic cabling, and is set with amethyst, citrine, peridot, pink tourmaline, rainbow moonstone and blue topaz. According to Stewart, the bracelet took two months of planning and two weeks of working night and day to create the intricate cables, which, aside from their beauty, are also functional and can be played like a guitar!

Cuff bracelet image courtesy of Erik Stewart, GIA GG

Take a close look at this 1933 Cartier diamond baguette bracelet. It’s easy to imagine the similarities between the linear design of this bracelet and the French cobblestone streets from the early 20th century. Perhaps the jeweler was inspired by what he found right beneath his feet during his daily walk to work.

Bracelet image courtesy of Neil Lane, Inc., Beverly Hills, California.

The name of this unique brooch, 36,000 Ft. Above Flaming Gorge, is a clue to the inspiration behind its design. Richard Kimball saw the 91-mile stretch of water that cuts through Wyoming and Utah from an airplane, and brought it to life in gold, palladium, diamond and opal.

Brooch image courtesy of Richard K. Kimball.

Inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places and objects. Take a fresh look at some of the more mundane things in your life. Can you imagine how they could appear in jewelry?

Main image of orange spessartine garnet ring courtesy of Nancy’s Collection

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As with any significant purchase, start by researching your options. Educate yourself about the diamond 4Cs and determine which diamond qualities are most important to you. This decision, along with your budget, will help guide your online diamond buying.

When shopping online, make sure you know exactly what you are buying. Some sites show diamonds with a range in carat weight, color or clarity. To ensure you know the value of the stone you’re purchasing, ask for specifics on its 4Cs, not a range. Then, make sure the stone comes with an independent diamond grading report, like those provided by GIA, which provides an unbiased analysis of the diamond’s 4Cs. For added security, you can verify a GIA grading report using the online Report Check tool, which will confirm that the information on the report matches the GIA database.

Once you’ve decided on the diamond that’s right for you, there are a few quick checks to do on the company you’re buying from. You’ll want to know:

• How long has the company been in business?
• What kind of reviews has the company received?
• Does it belong to any jewelry trade associations? (Associations often have strict requirements around quality and service)
• Do they offer secure transactions?
• How is their customer service?
• What is their return policy?
• How will the diamond be shipped? Is the shipment insured? Is signature required for delivery?

There are a few more considerations when buying from online auction sites. In addition to the questions listed above, you’ll also want to look into:

• Seller feedback & comments
• Is payment processed through a secure service such as PayPal or PayDirect?
• Is the seller located in the US?
• Is the seller providing sufficient evidence of the diamond’s authenticity? (photographs, diamond grading report)
Working with foreign sellers, or using cash, check or money order for your purchase, can greatly reduce your options for recourse in case of a fraudulent sale.

Once your beautiful diamond is in-hand, have an independent appraiser confirm that it matches the description and accompanying paperwork, and provide you with the value of the diamond for insurance purposes.

You can also choose to have it laser-inscribed with a permanent and microscopic marking on the gem’s girdle (in some cases the diamond comes with an inscription, or it can be requested at the time of purchase). GIA can inscribe a diamond with its unique GIA report number, or a personal message or symbol, for identification.

While the vast majority of online diamond purchases go smoothly, there are cases of false or misleading online sales. US-based consumers have options for recourse, including reporting the website to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or pursuing the case in civil court. Foreign-based retailers that do not have a physical presence in the US, are, for the most part, insulated from recourse, and attempts to recover funds can be very frustrating. However, by following the recommendations above, you greatly increase your chances for a stress-free and secure online diamond purchase.

Have you ever purchased a diamond online? How was your experience? Let us know if you have any tips for others about the process.

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Adding to its educational efforts in Africa, GIA recently entered into a collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory to provide Mandela Day Libraries to four South African elementary schools.

Example of the inside of a Mandela container library.

The Mandela Day Libraries project began in 2011, bringing recycled shipping containers that have been outfitted with flooring, electricity, book shelves, and a selection of books to schools without reading facilities. Librarians run the facilities and work with the children to inspire a love of reading among South Africa’s youth. For many children, these libraries will be their first access to reading material in their own languages.

Sello Hatang, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Susan Jacques, chair of the GIA Board of Governors, sign a Memorandum of Understanding between GIA and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

GIA will provide libraries to two schools in 2013 and two more in 2014. The partnership, which focuses on increasing literacy among African youth, is closely aligned with GIA’s education-centered mission and benefication initiative.

GIA supports the diamond industry benefication effort, which promotes activities like sorting, cutting and polishing being conducted in-country in order to bring more value to the countries that are the source of the gems. GIA’s educational programs further these efforts by providing education that will help local communities develop and improve the skills  that can lead to sustainable employment in the gem and jewelry industry.

In addition to this exciting collaboration with the Mandela Day Libraries, GIA’s educational programs for youth include its Junior Gemologist Program™, which was introduced in 2012 in Johannesburg and Botswana, and gives 10-to-15-year-old students the opportunity to discover the world of gemology through hands-on, practical training. More than 1,000 students receive gem and jewelry educational materials and learn about jewelry program options at the Johannesburg Career Indaba trade show during Africa Education Week.

Learn more about the collaboration between GIA and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.

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In addition to setting standards for determining gem quality and conducting front-line research, GIA protects the gem-buying public by educating gem and jewelry professionals. In fact, GIA was founded more than 80 years ago as an educational institution to help jewelers accurately and ethically communicate gem information to the public.

As you shop for diamonds or gemstones, you may notice that many jewelers proudly display their diplomas and credentials from GIA. Here are descriptions of a few of those internationally recognized credentials and what they mean for you.

• GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) Diploma:
  This is the highest professional credential conferred by GIA. In this respected and world-recognized program, students acquire a comprehensive gemology education across the entire spectrum of diamonds and colored stones. Through extensive practice, they learn how to identify and grade hundreds of common and unusual gemstones and detect the latest treatments and synthetics. They study gemstones from mines to market, and practice their gemological techniques using instruments such as a microscope, polariscope, spectroscope, and other professional gemological equipment. GG diploma recipients achieve the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary for careers as buyers, appraisers, retailers, or senior professionals within the jewelry industry. A GG credential ensures that a highly trained jeweler is present to assist you.

• GIA Graduate Diamonds Diploma:
  Graduates from this program have learned the technical expertise needed to grade, buy, and sell diamonds. Students analyze crown, pavilion, and total depth. They learn GIA diamond grading processes to access the 4Cs, and how the 4Cs affect value. They practice using professional diamond grading equipment, and also learn to determine proportions, create plotting diagrams, and detect synthetics and treatments.

• GIA Graduate Colored Stones Diploma:
  This program offers a wide array of opportunities to build a knowledge base about colored stones and the colored stones market and identify common and unusual gemstones. Students will use GIA’s Colored Stone Grading System to grade color and clarity; identify synthetics, treatments, and imitations using professional gemological equipment; identify a gemstone’s geographic origin; understand how quality, rarity, and color affect value; determine market factors that impact gem value; and much more.

• GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) Diploma:
  Graduates from this program learn tremendous product knowledge to help their customers make the most informed purchases possible. Graduates know how to explain the 4Cs of diamond value, and the differences between treated, synthetic and imitation stones to ensure full disclosure. They also know a lot about the lore and attributes of the most popular gemstones, which makes their knowledge indispensable when you’re making a purchasing decision.

• GIA Graduate Pearls Diploma:
  GIA’s Graduate Pearls diploma program teaches students about GIA’s 7 Pearl Value Factors™, which helps them evaluate, buy, and sell pearls. After graduation, students can effectively communicate the relationship of beauty, benefits, value and quality to pearl-loving customers. Graduates know how to distinguish the differences in pearls, including cultured pearls, aiding consumers in finding exactly which pearl they’re looking for.

• GIA Jewelry Design & Technology (JDT) Diploma:
  Ready to learn cutting-edge jewelry design in a cutting-edge environment? That’s what you’ll experience in the GIA Jewelry Design & Technology program. You’ll learn CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing), rapid prototyping, and other technologies and innovations that are revolutionizing the gem and jewelry industry. In addition, understand common manufacturing processes; learn important jewelry engineering concepts; troubleshoot problems arising from the design and manufacture of pieces; and more. At the conclusion of the program, you will have a portfolio of your jewelry design renderings and rapid prototypes. (Offered at GIA Carlsbad Campus)

• GIA Graduate Jeweler (GJ) Diploma:
  If you’re looking to have a custom piece of jewelry made, or need to repair a long-worn favorite, look for a jeweler with a GIA Graduate Jeweler diploma.  This program teaches students how to transform precious metals and gemstones into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Students are trained at a workbench, just as professional jewelers work, learning skills such as sizing, soldering, finishing and polishing. Students are introduced to the latest technologies, like laser welding with pulse profiling, and acquire the time-honored skills of hand fabrication, custom order and jewelry repair. (Offered at GIA Carlsbad Campus)

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One frequent request GIA receives is, “Can you recommend a reputable jeweler?” The jewelry-buying landscape offers so many options: buying online, through retail chains, neighborhood jewelry stores, and even independent sellers. Establishing a relationship with a jeweler can seem daunting and confusing. GIA is here to help. While it can’t recommend specific jewelers or businesses, it does offer tools and tips to help you navigate your way through choices.

Why doesn’t GIA endorse specific businesses? As a nonprofit, research and educational institute GIA operates outside the realm of everyday commerce. That means that GIA doesn’t price, sell or trade in diamonds or any other gems, nor is it affiliated with any retailers, industry groups, trade associations, or lobbyists. GIA’s mission is to protect the gem buying public, and it does so by remaining completely independent and unbiased.

However, GIA has services available to help you identify potential jewelers during your diamond or gem-buying process. The Retailer Lookup tool found on the GIA website, will direct you to jewelers in your area who have opted to list that they carry GIA-graded diamonds or employ GIA-trained staff..

You can also use GIA’s global online Alumni Directory, to verify a retailer’s GIA credentials. The directory is elective, so it doesn’t list every graduate, but it can provide another check point if you want to confirm that the jeweler you’re buying from is GIA-trained.

Finally, you can use the Report Check tool to confirm that the data of a GIA report matches the information archived in GIA’s global database. A GIA grading report provides a scientific and impartial assessment of the 4Cs of diamond quality, and discloses any known treatments used to alter the stone’s appearance. You can learn more about how GIA conducts diamond grading.

This is just one of the questions most frequently submitted to us, please let us know if you have any others! We’re here to help you through your diamond or gem purchase.

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Pardieu decided to pursue his passion for gems after working for ten years as a tour guide in Southeast Asia. He always had an interest in nature, but after seeing how gemstones touch everything from art to history, to chemistry and geology, he earned his GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma.

Pardieu has made numerous expeditions to some of the most remote parts of the world, chronicling the mining, trading and production of gems. “GIA has to do its homework to be able to identify the origin of gemstones, and this requires having a reference sample. The best way to get a reference stone is to go to the source,” said Pardieu.

He described to us one of his favorite trips to date, to a ruby mine in Vietnam. “The landscape was so beautiful it looked like it could have been in a movie. There were vast stretches of rice fields, jungles and bamboo groves.”

Pardieu particularly enjoys the exciting atmosphere at a mining site. “You have thousands of miners thinking, ‘This is my chance to become a millionaire!’”

The comprehensive courses Pardieu took at GIA taught him to properly identify gemstones, a skill he uses daily. Learn more on earning the gem and jewelry industry’s most prestigious credential.

Travel the world with Vincent Pardieu in this great video:

If you could travel the world as a field gemologist like Pardieu, where would you most like to visit?

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To be recognized as an honoree, organizations must demonstrate an active role in promoting ethical business practices internally and exceed legal compliance standards. GIA was awarded the honor for its efforts in building and maintaining a superior ethics and compliance program, which is an essential component to fulfilling on GIA’s mission to ensure public trust in gems and jewelry.

“As a public benefit organization, we strive to apply the strictest ethical standards each day and adhere to our core principles in serving the public interest in every country and city where we operate. We’re honored that the Ethisphere Institute has recognized GIA, the only organization of its kind to receive this designation, as one of the most ethical companies in the world,” said Donna Baker, GIA’s president and CEO.

Check out more information about the 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies, and tell us why you think leadership in ethics is important!

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Owners of Android phones and tablets like the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy can now benefit from GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) free interactive diamond app for consumers and retailers, available in both English and Simplified Chinese. The app engages consumers with interactive features, video content and information on the GIA-created 4Cs (Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight) of diamond quality.

“Bringing objective information about gems and jewelry to people when and where they want it is central to GIA’s public-benefit mission,” said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA vice president and chief marketing officer. “The Android 4Cs app puts GIA’s 82 years of innovation and research right on the screens of the most widely used smart phones in the world.”

Users can explore diamond color across the GIA D-to-Z Color Scale, see typical inclusions on the GIA Clarity Scale, and how cut can make a significant difference in the look of a diamond. The app also explains the GIA Diamond Grading Report, the recognized global credential for diamond quality.

The app provides direct access to GIA Report Check, a secure online database of GIA grading reports, and a new social feature in “My Diamond Wish List,” where users can email, tweet, or share on Facebook the diamonds they’ve saved in their personal wish list.

The free 4Cs app for Android is downloadable in English and Simplified Chinese.

The GIA app is also available for iPhone and iPad. A retailer version, designed for use at point of sale, is downloadable for free from GIA’s retailer support site www.retailer.gia.edu.

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