Gregory Diamond
12-06-2005, 12:58 PM
GIA warns of counterfeit grading reports in Antwerp
DECEMBER 05, 2005 - Carlsbad, Calif. -- The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory has discovered two counterfeit GIA Diamond Grading Reports in Antwerp and is taking steps to alert the trade by highlighting the security features in authentic GIA reports and how to verify them, according to a GIA release issued Friday.
Tom Moses, senior vice president of the GIA Lab, said this is the latest instance of counterfeit GIA reports. Back in 2003, GIA uncovered a scam in which fraudulent GIA reports were used to help sell clarity-enhanced diamonds, mainly through the Internet. The scheme was stopped after GIA coordinated with international law enforcement agencies and one of the perpetrators was arrested in Italy.
"The two reports discovered in Antwerp purported to represent high quality-diamonds," Moses said in GIA's statement. "Both were more than three carats, and the report information indicated they were D color and internally flawless. We were told that a buyer became suspicious and had one of the diamonds tested. It turned out to be high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) annealed."
After receiving a copy of that report, GIA confirmed it had issued a report for the diamond, but that its color on the original report was E and its clarity was VVS1, Moses explained.
"In addition, our normal screening and testing process had determined that the diamond was HPHT-annealed," he said. "The diamond left our laboratory with full disclosure of the treatment on the report, and an inscription on its girdle indicating it had been HPHT-processed. That inscription had obviously been removed. We were told that both diamonds were purchased in a pawn shop in Asia."
The counterfeit incident comes at a time when the lab is dealing with its own legal quagmire over accusations that it upgraded diamond grading reports. GIA lab previously encountered some instances in which original GIA reports were deliberately mismatched with different diamonds having similar measurements and slightly different grades, Moses said.
"The intent apparently was to deceive buyers, who presumably would not examine the diamond closely enough based on a quick inspection, and the 'wrong' diamond would be accepted as the diamond described on the original report," he said, adding that GIA goes to great lengths to incorporate strong security measures in its grading reports, including a hologram, security screen, microprint lines, chemically sensitive paper and other proprietary security components.
"We want to make the industry aware of this and to remind everyone in the diamond trade that authentic GIA reports include a number of important security features," said Moses. "We ask that anyone who comes across a suspected counterfeit report inform us as soon as possible."
Information on GIA reports can be verified by phone. If is does not match the "GIA file" the client will be informed immediately. GIA also offers a verification process enabling the holder of an original GIA report the option of submitting the report with the diamond to confirm that the information on the report matches the accompanying diamond. The original grading report can also be updated, meaning that the diamond is submitted to the laboratory and is fully graded again, including all of the screening steps for treatments. To view an example of a GIA Diamond Grading Report or GIA Diamond Dossier, visit GIA.edu and click on GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, then Reports & Services.
Anyone with questions about the authenticity of a GIA report, or the validity of the information contained therein, may contact the lab by calling (760) 603-4500 or via fax at (760) 603-1814.
DECEMBER 05, 2005 - Carlsbad, Calif. -- The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory has discovered two counterfeit GIA Diamond Grading Reports in Antwerp and is taking steps to alert the trade by highlighting the security features in authentic GIA reports and how to verify them, according to a GIA release issued Friday.
Tom Moses, senior vice president of the GIA Lab, said this is the latest instance of counterfeit GIA reports. Back in 2003, GIA uncovered a scam in which fraudulent GIA reports were used to help sell clarity-enhanced diamonds, mainly through the Internet. The scheme was stopped after GIA coordinated with international law enforcement agencies and one of the perpetrators was arrested in Italy.
"The two reports discovered in Antwerp purported to represent high quality-diamonds," Moses said in GIA's statement. "Both were more than three carats, and the report information indicated they were D color and internally flawless. We were told that a buyer became suspicious and had one of the diamonds tested. It turned out to be high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) annealed."
After receiving a copy of that report, GIA confirmed it had issued a report for the diamond, but that its color on the original report was E and its clarity was VVS1, Moses explained.
"In addition, our normal screening and testing process had determined that the diamond was HPHT-annealed," he said. "The diamond left our laboratory with full disclosure of the treatment on the report, and an inscription on its girdle indicating it had been HPHT-processed. That inscription had obviously been removed. We were told that both diamonds were purchased in a pawn shop in Asia."
The counterfeit incident comes at a time when the lab is dealing with its own legal quagmire over accusations that it upgraded diamond grading reports. GIA lab previously encountered some instances in which original GIA reports were deliberately mismatched with different diamonds having similar measurements and slightly different grades, Moses said.
"The intent apparently was to deceive buyers, who presumably would not examine the diamond closely enough based on a quick inspection, and the 'wrong' diamond would be accepted as the diamond described on the original report," he said, adding that GIA goes to great lengths to incorporate strong security measures in its grading reports, including a hologram, security screen, microprint lines, chemically sensitive paper and other proprietary security components.
"We want to make the industry aware of this and to remind everyone in the diamond trade that authentic GIA reports include a number of important security features," said Moses. "We ask that anyone who comes across a suspected counterfeit report inform us as soon as possible."
Information on GIA reports can be verified by phone. If is does not match the "GIA file" the client will be informed immediately. GIA also offers a verification process enabling the holder of an original GIA report the option of submitting the report with the diamond to confirm that the information on the report matches the accompanying diamond. The original grading report can also be updated, meaning that the diamond is submitted to the laboratory and is fully graded again, including all of the screening steps for treatments. To view an example of a GIA Diamond Grading Report or GIA Diamond Dossier, visit GIA.edu and click on GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, then Reports & Services.
Anyone with questions about the authenticity of a GIA report, or the validity of the information contained therein, may contact the lab by calling (760) 603-4500 or via fax at (760) 603-1814.