Gemological Institute of America
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the world’s most respected authorities on gem grading, research, and education. Its certifications and standards shape consumer trust and influence pricing across the UK jewellery trade, making it essential for retailers, designers, and wholesalers to stay informed on GIA developments.
Jewellery Focus provides expert coverage on GIA’s work, including updates to grading systems, research findings, training programmes, and their impact on the UK market. Our reporting helps professionals understand how GIA initiatives affect supply chains, certification practices, and business strategies.
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Sep- 2019 -6 SeptemberTrade Organisations
GIA senior vice president Kathryn Kimmel retires
Kathryn Kimmel, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has retired from the Gemological Institute of America GIA. According to the group, during her 29 years of service to the Institute and its mission to protect consumers, she built a “remarkable and enduring” legacy. It added that Kimmel played a…
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Jun- 2019 -11 JuneInternational
Former president of the GIA Glenn Nord dies
Glenn Nord, member of the GIA Board of Governors and past president of the Institute, died on Sunday, 9 June. Throughout his more than 50-year association with GIA, Nord was a student, instructor, president and member of the Institute’s board of governors. Nord, who turned 90 in 2018, earned his…
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May- 2019 -31 MayInternational
GIA adds country of origin reports for coloured diamonds
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has added natural coloured diamonds to its GIA Diamond Origin Report Service. The group said the “innovative” service, announced on March 28, scientifically matches faceted D-to-Z and now natural coloured diamonds to their original rough to confirm the gem’s country of origin. The GIA…
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Apr- 2019 -15 AprilRetailers
Graff unveils ‘world’s largest’ square emerald cut diamond
Multinational jeweller Graff has unveiled the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond, named the Graff Lesedi La Rona. The 302.37 carat gem is the largest highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA, and according to the group required over 18 months of “meticulous craftsmanship” and marks an…
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9 AprilInternational
WFDB welcomes GIA’s changes to reports for lab-grown diamonds
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has “welcomed” the changes by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to its reports for lab-grown diamonds. The GIA said its reports will be changed to come into line with revisions to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Jewelry Guides announced last year.…
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Feb- 2019 -8 FebruaryFeatures
The gems of the jewellery auction
Between $30-50m (£23.1m-£38.5m) is the expected price the Pink Legacy diamond is expected to fetch at the Magnificent Jewels auction on 13 November at Christie’s in Geneva. “The saturation, the intensity of this stone is as good as it gets in a coloured diamond,” says Rahul Kadakia, international head of…
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Nov- 2018 -29 NovemberFeatures
Company Q&A: International Gemmological Laboratory
What is the back history of the IGL? We opened the office in Jan 2014, but the company actually started back in 1981 in Canada. About eight years ago it also opened in Israel as a diamond exchange, and then we opened here this year. At the beginning of the…
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Oct- 2018 -26 OctoberManufacturers
Alrosa pilots GIA’s M2M programme
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has announced that Alrosa, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds, is piloting the Institute’s M2M program. M2M is a digital platform that brings together GIA’s ability to scientifically match rough diamonds to the resulting polished gems with information from each step in the value…
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Sep- 2018 -25 SeptemberAuctions
Christie’s Geneva auction to feature largest fancy vivid pink diamond worth $50m
Christie’s Geneva auction will present the largest and finest fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction by the company with a price estimated between $30m to $50m (£22.8m to £38m). Weighing just under 19 carats (18.96 carats), the rectangular-cut gem named the The Pink Legacy will lead Christie’s Magnificent…
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13 SeptemberFeatures
Whose fault was it anyway?
A young couple come into your shop looking for an engagement ring and after about 20 minutes the young man gets up and goes over to the watch counter Another couple were in and bought an engagement ring, but they never returned to buy their wedding rings A young lady…
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