More Counterfeit Diamond Inscriptions Encountered: Test Everything to be Sure
Gary Roskin
Roskin Gem News Report
In their press release from Monday, December 18, 2023, Gem-Tech Istituto Gemmologico, an independent gemological research, teaching and identification facility, located in Marcianise, Italy, say their lab has encountered “a potential scam involving synthetic diamonds with inconsistent GIA certificates,” possibly involving “a significant number of stones,” and “threatening the Italian market.”
THREE DIAMONDS
On December 12, 2023, Gem-Tech’s gemological laboratory received three colorless diamonds for verification. Each diamond was accompanied by a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) diamond grading report describing them as “natural diamond”.
“The GIA diamond grading reports are as follows: No. 1453958766 dated March 7, 2023, No. 1468722407 dated May 30, 2023, and No. 1465483151 dated May 2, 2023.”
ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME
According to the lab, the synthetic/created diamonds were “essentially identical” to the description – and inscription – on the natural diamond grading report. It was only through testing for origin (spectrophotometric analysis using the Magilabs EXA spectrometer) that the created diamonds were identified.
PAST ENCOUNTERS
In May of 2021, it was noted that GIA was seeing an increase in the number of counterfeit girdle inscriptions for natural diamonds on synthetic/created diamonds. GIA’s 2021 press release reported that their Antwerp Lab had encountered a 3.075 cts., VVS2, H, triple Excellent, “laboratory-grown diamond” with a GIA inscription for a report that had previously been given to a natural diamond. 3.078 cts., Internally Flawless, G, triple Excellent.
2 years later, this time from Italy, we see yet another encounter, with almost identical diamond substitution. GIA’s press release from 2021 also showed diamonds within a few hundredths of a millimeter differences in width and depth measurements. With better cutting technology and little need to save weight on synthetic/created diamond rough, even closer measurements seem more likely to be encountered.
“This report highlights that, with the increased production and falling prices of laboratory-grown diamond material, retailers and consumers should be even more aware and cautious when purchasing diamonds from an unknown source and consider updating the diamond’s GIA report before purchasing.” – Tom Moses, GIA Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer.
“Consistent with GIA’s mission to protect consumers and ensure their trust in gems and jewelry, when GIA encounters these cases, the Institute overwrites the counterfeit inscription, inscribes a newly issued report number and ‘Laboratory-Grown’ on the girdle of the diamond.”
HIGHER CLARITY
It would appear that the higher clarity natural diamonds would be more likely to be copied. Using a diamond tester would be the recommended tool to help in identification. Lower clarities in synthetic/created diamonds may be easier to detect using binocular microscope observation. It would be strongly suggested that all diamond merchants, wholesale and retail, be examining all inventory in order to be vigilant. – gr
