Lab-GrownOct 15, 2020
GIA’s New Reports for Lab-Grown Diamonds Are OutLab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown Diamonds
It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Starting later this year, GIA will change its approach to lab-grown diamonds once again, abandoning the use of specific color and clarity grades for the stones in favor of assigning them to one of two categories, “premium” or “standard.”
Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America is once again changing the reports it issues for lab-grown diamonds.
This time, the lab is going right back to where it started from, sort of.
On Monday, GIA announced that beginning later this year, it will quit using the color and clarity nomenclature it developed for natural diamonds in evaluating lab-grown diamonds.
Instead, the lab will, first, confirm that the submitted stone is a laboratory-grown diamond and then evaluate its color, clarity, and finish to determine if it falls into one of two categories: “premium” or “standard.”
If the lab-grown diamond fails to meet the minimum standard for quality, it will not receive a designation from GIA.
The lab said it is making the change in response to the dramatic compression in the range of color and clarity seen in lab-grown diamonds, a change that has come about as a result of continual improvements in diamond-growing technology in recent years.
It also noted that this revision will “help consumers understand the important differences in the two products’ origin, ensuring their confidence and enabling them to make informed and educated purchase decisions.”
GIA said that since 2022, 95 percent of the man-made diamonds submitted to the lab for grading have been colorless, meaning they would receive a grade of D, E, or F, while 98 percent received a clarity grade of VS1 or higher.
Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer Tom Moses remarked, “Similar to other man-made gem materials, we anticipate the continued acceptance and popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds.
“More than 95 percent of laboratory-grown diamonds entering the market fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity. Because of that, it is no longer relevant for GIA to describe man-made diamonds using the nomenclature created for the continuum of color and clarity of natural diamonds.”
Moses’ remarks echo those he made in a 2016 interview with National Jeweler in which he explained the rationale behind GIA’s approach to grading lab-grown diamonds.
At that time, GIA used broader terms to describe lab-grown diamonds, calling stones in the D-F range “colorless” and those in the G-I range “near colorless,” and using only four clarity grades for the stones, VVS, VS, SI or I, compared with 11 for natural diamonds.
Moses said at the time that GIA chose to do it this way because lab-grown diamonds just aren’t going to have the same color and clarity range as mined diamonds.
To GIA, it didn’t make sense to apply its grading system—which Moses noted was developed for “normal mine run” in the 1940s, long before lab-grown diamonds were hitting the market in the quantities they are today—to man-made diamonds.
Related stories will be right here …
This time, the lab is going right back to where it started from, sort of.
On Monday, GIA announced that beginning later this year, it will quit using the color and clarity nomenclature it developed for natural diamonds in evaluating lab-grown diamonds.
Instead, the lab will, first, confirm that the submitted stone is a laboratory-grown diamond and then evaluate its color, clarity, and finish to determine if it falls into one of two categories: “premium” or “standard.”
If the lab-grown diamond fails to meet the minimum standard for quality, it will not receive a designation from GIA.
The lab said it is making the change in response to the dramatic compression in the range of color and clarity seen in lab-grown diamonds, a change that has come about as a result of continual improvements in diamond-growing technology in recent years.
It also noted that this revision will “help consumers understand the important differences in the two products’ origin, ensuring their confidence and enabling them to make informed and educated purchase decisions.”
GIA said that since 2022, 95 percent of the man-made diamonds submitted to the lab for grading have been colorless, meaning they would receive a grade of D, E, or F, while 98 percent received a clarity grade of VS1 or higher.
Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer Tom Moses remarked, “Similar to other man-made gem materials, we anticipate the continued acceptance and popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds.
“More than 95 percent of laboratory-grown diamonds entering the market fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity. Because of that, it is no longer relevant for GIA to describe man-made diamonds using the nomenclature created for the continuum of color and clarity of natural diamonds.”
Moses’ remarks echo those he made in a 2016 interview with National Jeweler in which he explained the rationale behind GIA’s approach to grading lab-grown diamonds.
At that time, GIA used broader terms to describe lab-grown diamonds, calling stones in the D-F range “colorless” and those in the G-I range “near colorless,” and using only four clarity grades for the stones, VVS, VS, SI or I, compared with 11 for natural diamonds.
Moses said at the time that GIA chose to do it this way because lab-grown diamonds just aren’t going to have the same color and clarity range as mined diamonds.
To GIA, it didn’t make sense to apply its grading system—which Moses noted was developed for “normal mine run” in the 1940s, long before lab-grown diamonds were hitting the market in the quantities they are today—to man-made diamonds.
GIA first began accepting lab-grown diamonds for grading in 2006.
It announced the first shift in how it approaches the stones after the Federal Trade Commission rolled out its revised Jewelry Guides in 2018. Among the revisions was the removal of the word “synthetic” from the list of recommended terms for referring to lab-grown diamonds.
In light of this update, the lab announced in April 2019 that it would be changing the name of what was then called the GIA Synthetic Diamond Grading Report to the GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report.
It also started including the standard color, clarity and cut grading scales on the reports, but for reference purposes only; the lab did not start grading lab-grown diamonds the same way it did natural stones.
A little more than a year later, that changed.
In August 2020, GIA announced that it would start using the same specific color and clarity grades for both natural and lab-grown diamonds, citing the “growing acceptance in the trade and by consumers of laboratory-grown diamonds as a distinct category.”
Now, nearly five years since that announcement, GIA is pivoting yet again.
This time, the lab is arguably using even broader terminology than it did when it first started accepting lab-grown diamonds for grading nearly 20 years ago.
It is going from using the terms “colorless” or “near colorless” and a limited range of clarity grades to evaluating both qualities together, along with finish, to determine if man-made stones are “premium” or “standard.”
GIA said it is still developing pricing and submission guidelines for its new lab-grown diamond grading service.
It expects to announce more specifics in the third quarter. In the meantime, existing GIA reports for lab-grown diamonds remain valid.
The release does not mention if the reports, or whatever is forthcoming with this new service, will have a different name.
It also does not mention if there will be any changes to the way GIA applies the other two Cs to lab-grown diamonds—carat weight and cut, which is a factor introduced during the manufacturing process and thereby can exist on a broad continuum for both natural and lab-grown diamonds.
GIA said its current services for lab-grown diamonds will continue to be available until the revised descriptive system for lab-grown diamonds is finalized later this year.
More on Lab-Grown
The Latest
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
WatchesJul 10, 2026
Brilliant Earth Expands Into WatchesIn honor of its 20th anniversary, the jewelry brand has released a limited-edition collection of Swiss-made timepieces.
Weekly QuizJul 09, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJul 09, 2026
Boucheron’s New High Jewelry Collection Is an Ode to the Human Touch“Human Being” highlights the similarities and differences between us through five sets of jewelry that celebrate fine craftsmanship.
WatchesJul 09, 2026
Damiani Group Finalizes Acquisition of Baume & MercierRichemont will continue to provide operational services for the watch brand for a period while the group prepares to integrate it.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
AuctionsJul 09, 2026
Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter Hires Former Bonhams Exec to Head New Watch DivisionNate Borgelt will lead the digital auction house and content platform’s new division as head of watches.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
Halstead Names 2026 Grant WinnerEnoch Platero, founder and designer behind Enoch Michael, is the first Native American jeweler to win the award.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
AGS, GIA Name 2026 Beatrice Shipley Scholarship WinnerAGS also announced the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Kendra Scott Joins ‘Shark Tank’ As Permanent Investor The founder of the billion-dollar jewelry and lifestyle brand will debut as a full-time “Shark” on the upcoming season of the show.
SurveysJul 08, 2026
Signet Jewelers Falls 5 Spots on NRF’s ‘Top 100’ Retailers ListPlus, why retailers should be ready to adjust as the U.S. population may decline this year for the first time since the Great Depression.
CrimeJul 08, 2026
Here’s What Thieves Stole From the Lalique Museum René Lalique’s “Woman Dragonfly With Open Wings” pendant, the first piece the museum acquired, was one of the jewels taken.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Richline Group Promotes 2 ExecsArien Gessner and Moss Makhoulian have been elevated into newly created roles.
ColumnistsJul 07, 2026
Peter Smith: Diamond Branding and the Origin ParadoxA podcast prompted Smith to share his views on where origin fits into the natural diamond story and the viability of branded diamonds.
Events & AwardsJul 07, 2026
JA Announces 2026 Impact Initiative RecipientsThe association selected eight recipients for the funding program, which is in its second year.
TrendsJul 07, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ruby, White and Blue Whether celebrating America’s 250th birthday or the USA’s World Cup run, July birthstone jewelry can double as a patriotic accessory.
CrimeJul 07, 2026
Thieves Steal Millions in Jewels From France’s Musée LaliqueAround 20 pieces of jewelry were stolen from the museum dedicated to French jeweler and glassmaker René Lalique.
CollectionsJul 07, 2026
Robinson Pelham Is Partying Like It’s 1996The “Summer of ’96” campaign and collection celebrate the year the brand was founded for its 30th anniversary.
SourcingJul 06, 2026
Gemfields CEO Sean Gilbertson Steps DownAfter eight years, Gilbertson is leaving his post at the mining company, which is currently facing a slew of operational challenges.
IndependentsJul 06, 2026
Bachendorf’s To Open Fifth Store In DallasThe new location is set to open this winter, featuring the retailer’s first rotating jewelry designer residency.
MajorsJul 06, 2026
Graff Names BTS Star Jung Kook as New AmbassadorThe pop artist appears in the latest campaign for the “Laurence Graff Signature” collection.
CollectionsJul 06, 2026
Pandora’s New Baroque Pearl Collection Is a Whimsical ‘Wonder’One-of-a-kind pearls take the shape of ice cream cones, frogs, submarines, and other imaginative charms.
SourcingJul 02, 2026
London Diamond Bourse Elects First Female PresidentCharlotte Rose said her election is “a sign that this is an industry capable of change.”
Supplier BulletinJul 02, 2026
Elevating Retail Showcases with Today's Necklace & Bracelet TrendsSponsored by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply
TrendsJul 02, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Flag Brooch Celebrates AmericaThe American jewelry house, founded by Latvian immigrants, has been creating American flag brooches since 1917.
