For the first time in history, GIA has finally, at least seriously, entered the race to certify colourless (white) lab grown diamonds using the same methodology and standards they use for mined diamonds. In this article, we will cover what this means to you, the end user, and to the global man-made diamond market at large, in addition to exploring the meandering journey GIA took to reach here.

GIA’S HISTORY WITH LAB GROWN DIAMONDS

The history of both GIA and lab grown diamonds is intertwined with many twists and turns, and therefore, very interesting to say the least. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) was a pioneer in embracing lab grown diamonds and one of the first labs to certify them. It is important to note that, at that time, some 15 years ago, man-made diamonds had a yellowish colour and therefore, thought of as inferior to mined diamonds.

However, the industry underwent a radical transformation just 4 years ago when the first gem quality white lab grown diamonds were unveiled to the industry. With the increased exposure and proliferation of lab grown diamonds, GIA, as one of early adopters, was in an enviable position to rapidly, with minimal effort, expand their certification business and capitalise on the hype. However, they inexplicably did the opposite and stopped certifying the newer white man-made diamonds altogether. This baffling decision was widely condemned and debated by the diamond industry insiders like us who tried to figure out the mysterious reasoning behind seemingly self-destructive decision.

The prevailing theory that emerged, and accepted by most, was that De Beers, allegedly, pressured GIA to halt the certification of the newer lab created diamonds that were now identical to mined ones.

De Beers influence on GIA cannot be understated. For those who are unaware, De Beers is a global diamond conglomerate of South African origin and is credited with makings diamonds what they are today. De Beers pioneered in transforming the diamond’s role from simply being precious gems into mandatory purchases for engagements and weddings of every single urban society in the world. They are the ones that coined and marketed the now ubiquitous phrase “Diamonds are forever”, embedding themselves into the fabric of society and, therefore, forever change how love and romance are conducted. Thus, with their astronomic success, they quickly dominated the market and established a near total monopoly of the global diamond supply and, consequently, their price.

Now that you have an idea about the power and influence that De Beers wielded in the diamond industry, let us return to the exploration of the connection between them and GIA. Back in the middle of 2019, GIA announced that by the end of that year it would re-start certifying all lab grown diamonds, including colourless stones. This news was welcomed by the industry as it indicated that lab grown diamonds was now too big to ignore, even by those who are against them.

Nevertheless, to the disappointment of all, GIA would end up sneakily using a different grading method to certify lab grown diamonds which was unfairly designed to devalue lab grown diamonds. This blatant favouritism from the once prestigious institution further led credence to the widely accepted suspicion that De Beers was once again flexing their influence to curtail the rise of man-made diamonds in their attempt to protect their monopoly.

For the first time in history, GIA has finally, at least seriously, entered the race to certify colourless (white) lab grown diamonds using the same methodology and standards they use for mined diamonds. In this article, we will cover what this means to you, the end user, and to the global man-made diamond market at large, in addition to exploring the meandering journey GIA took to reach here.

GIA’S HISTORY WITH LAB GROWN DIAMONDS

The history of both GIA and lab grown diamonds is intertwined with many twists and turns, and therefore, very interesting to say the least. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) was a pioneer in embracing lab grown diamonds and one of the first labs to certify them. It is important to note that, at that time, some 15 years ago, man-made diamonds had a yellowish colour and therefore, thought of as inferior to mined diamonds.

However, the industry underwent a radical transformation just 4 years ago when the first gem quality white lab grown diamonds were unveiled to the industry. With the increased exposure and proliferation of lab grown diamonds, GIA, as one of early adopters, was in an enviable position to rapidly, with minimal effort, expand their certification business and capitalise on the hype. However, they inexplicably did the opposite and stopped certifying the newer white man-made diamonds altogether. This baffling decision was widely condemned and debated by the diamond industry insiders like us who tried to figure out the mysterious reasoning behind seemingly self-destructive decision.

The prevailing theory that emerged, and accepted by most, was that De Beers, allegedly, pressured GIA to halt the certification of the newer lab created diamonds that were now identical to mined ones.

De Beers influence on GIA cannot be understated. For those who are unaware, De Beers is a global diamond conglomerate of South African origin and is credited with makings diamonds what they are today. De Beers pioneered in transforming the diamond’s role from simply being precious gems into mandatory purchases for engagements and weddings of every single urban society in the world. They are the ones that coined and marketed the now ubiquitous phrase “Diamonds are forever”, embedding themselves into the fabric of society and, therefore, forever change how love and romance are conducted. Thus, with their astronomic success, they quickly dominated the market and established a near total monopoly of the global diamond supply and, consequently, their price.

Now that you have an idea about the power and influence that De Beers wielded in the diamond industry, let us return to the exploration of the connection between them and GIA. Back in the middle of 2019, GIA announced that by the end of that year it would re-start certifying all lab grown diamonds, including colourless stones. This news was welcomed by the industry as it indicated that lab grown diamonds was now too big to ignore, even by those who are against them.

Nevertheless, to the disappointment of all, GIA would end up sneakily using a different grading method to certify lab grown diamonds which was unfairly designed to devalue lab grown diamonds. This blatant favouritism from the once prestigious institution further led credence to the widely accepted suspicion that De Beers was once again flexing their influence to curtail the rise of man-made diamonds in their attempt to protect their monopoly.