6 min read
How to Read a GIA Diamond Report
A plain-language walkthrough of the sections of an independent grading report and what actually matters.
What the report is
A GIA report is an independent scientific assessment of a diamond's characteristics. It is not a valuation and it is not an endorsement of any seller. It describes the stone, nothing more — which is precisely why it is useful.
The sections
Identification states whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown. Measurements give the physical dimensions. Carat weight is the mass. Colour grade runs D to Z. Clarity grade runs Flawless through Included.
Cut grade, available for round brilliants, summarises proportions, symmetry and polish. It is the single grade with the greatest influence on how a diamond actually looks.
The plotting diagram maps inclusions. Comments capture anything not covered elsewhere, including fluorescence.
What to check first
Verify the report number matches the girdle inscription on the stone. Then read cut, then clarity in relation to the plot rather than the letter grade alone: two VS2 stones can look very different depending on where the inclusions sit.
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