Investigation Into Fraudulent GIA Reports Continues in India
The lab said “most” of the diamonds paired with reports stating they were natural and untreated are actually lab-grown or treated diamonds.

In mid-August, The Times of India reported that police in Surat detained a diamond trader and seized 24 GIA reports and five lower-quality diamonds inscribed with numbers that matched five reports for higher-quality stones.
Authorities also seized the laser machine believed to have been used to inscribe the stones with fraudulent report numbers, The Times reported.
In a statement issued Monday from its headquarters in Carlsbad, GIA said police in India asked its lab there to aid in the investigation.
What GIA India determined is that some of the reports were legitimate GIA reports—The Times said the diamond trader obtained reports from business associates of his who provided them without diamonds—while some were counterfeits that used legitimate GIA report numbers.
The lab also determined “most” of the diamonds paired with reports stating they were natural, untreated stones were actually treated or lab-grown diamonds.
“GIA India is continuing to cooperate with local authorities,” the lab said. “In addition, GIA India requested police conduct the necessary investigations and take the necessary steps to identify and arrest the perpetrators of these malicious acts against GIA and the innocent people who this fraud may have deceived.”
This “unfortunate” situation in India also underscores the need to have GIA update the diamond grading report before completing a purchase, particularly when the buyer doesn’t know the seller very well, GIA added.
The counterfeit inscriptions that turned up in India recently are the latest in a string for GIA.
An article in the Lab Notes section of the fall issue of “Gems & Gemology” detailed how graders at the GIA lab in Johannesburg, South Africa caught three moissanites inscribed with GIA report numbers for natural diamonds.
Another case was reported in February, this one involving lab-grown or treated natural diamonds inscribed with report numbers for untreated natural stones that had been submitted to various GIA labs worldwide.
The Latest

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.


The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

The jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.