Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
And the Winners of the 2025 Couture Design Awards Are … Designers were recognized in 12 categories, from platinum to pearls, before the evening ended with a new, retail-focused award.
Brought to you by
Full Disclosure at Your Fingertips
Distinguishing natural diamonds from laboratory-grown stones – now more available than ever – has been difficult for jewelers. Until now.
Brought To You By GIA
The Growing Popularity of Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Laboratory-grown diamonds are increasingly available in greater quantities, higher quality and new colors at price points that many find attractive. It is no wonder then that laboratory-grown diamonds are a growing presence in the marketplace, with more and more being sent to GIA laboratories for evaluation and grading.
These diamonds play an important role in the marketplace. However, laboratory-grown and natural diamonds have vastly different origin stories, and consumers purchase each with different considerations in mind. Whatever their preference, consumers deserve to know what they’re purchasing. It is with consumer protection in mind that we, as the most trusted organization in diamond research and diamond grading, strive continually towards advancements in diamond detection techniques and technology.
The Challenge of Distinguishing Laboratory-Grown from Natural Diamonds
Recently, GIA encountered several instances of laboratory-grown diamonds inscribed with report numbers belonging to natural diamonds. These laboratory-grown diamonds had 4Cs grades and measurements closely resembling those listed on accompanying natural diamond reports. Driven by our mission to protect consumers, GIA performs detailed and thorough analysis and overwrites these counterfeit inscriptions with Xs, issues a GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report, and inscribes the stone with the new report number and the phrase ‘Laboratory-Grown.’
These occurrences demonstrate the need for reliable ways to identify laboratory-grown diamonds. Impossible to differentiate from natural diamonds with the unaided eye, they typically require advanced testing in gemological laboratories to determine their identity.
Identify Diamonds In-Store with the GIA iD100®
In response to the needs of the trade, GIA created the GIA iD100® – a convenient desktop instrument that can distinguish natural diamonds from laboratory-grown diamonds, diamond simulants and some treated diamonds in under two seconds with 100% accuracy. With this small yet powerful instrument, you can test diamonds, both loose and mounted, from the convenience of your own store. It can also be used for demonstrations to increase client confidence.
Highly adaptable, the GIA iD100 is able to test colorless to near-colorless, blue-to-green and brown diamonds, as well as pink diamonds if the GIA iD100 Pink Diamond Software Upgrade is added. The Pink Diamond Software Upgrade utilizes the advanced spectroscopic technology in the device combined with GIA's diamond identification research to distinguish natural pink diamonds from laboratory-grown (HPHT and CVD) diamonds, simulants and natural diamonds whose pink color is introduced by treatments involving irradiation and annealing.
To use, simply point its probe at a stone to receive a result; the probe can be manipulated to reach every diamond in mounted jewelry and can read stones as small as 0.9mm in diameter. Results are easy to read. You don’t need to interpret graphs, colors, reference charts or data to know whether your stone is natural. In just two seconds, you get a simple “Pass” for natural diamonds and “Refer” for stones that need further testing.
In the event that your stone needs further testing, let the experts at GIA tell you the identity of your stone. If the stone proves to be laboratory-grown, our graders can issue a GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report. Our new, updated Laboratory-Grown Diamond report is fully digital and provides detailed color and clarity specifications and a plot of the laboratory-grown stone’s clarity characteristics, so that you know the quality of your stone. The report also states the stone’s growth method (high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor dipositive (CVD)), as well as any post-growth treatments.
The Innovative Research Behind the GIA iD100
At GIA, we are uniquely positioned to offer this advanced diamond-detecting instrument due to our over sixty years of diamond research, our insight from grading millions of diamonds every year, and the information we collect from growing CVD diamonds in-house for research purposes. Our laboratory has performed systematic studies of natural diamonds, laboratory-grown diamonds, colored diamonds and simulants, so that we are familiar with each and can ensure accurate stone identification.
The technology of the GIA iD100 sets this device apart from other diamond testing devices. Rather than using UV light, which can lead to false readings, the GIA iD100 uses highly-sensitive spectroscopy technologies to detect trace amounts of lattice defects in diamonds – one of the most accurate and advanced techniques available to determine if a stone is natural. The portable device is non-destructive to stones and was created to be fast, accurate, affordable, the ultimate diamond-detecting triple-threat. It encapsulates GIA’s diamond-detecting expertise and technology for the best price in its class—$5,495.00. According to third-party testing results, the iD100 has a 0% false positive rate, meaning it will never pass a laboratory-grown diamond as a natural diamond. With the GIA iD100, you can be confident about the identity of the jewelry that you acquire and sell every day.
Learn More at GIA.edu/id100
More on Lab-Grown
The Latest
AuctionsJun 09, 2025
Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Sells for $1.2MThe rare turquoise and diamond jewel was the top lot at Bonhams’ June jewelry sale.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsJun 09, 2025
RDI Diamonds Partners With LavalierThe diamond wholesaler is working with the insurance provider to seamlessly offer personal jewelry insurance to RDI retailers’ clients.
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
CrimeJun 04, 2025
10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into GoldThe designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand AmbassadorThe actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade ReportsThe company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
