GIA New Color Reports

By Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA -- JCK Online, 11/1/2007 2:00:00 AM

The Gemological Institute of America's Gem Laboratory is offering additional services with its colored gemstone identification reports. These include expanded origin reports and an analytical report, i.e., a complete scientific examination of the gemstone.

Tom Moses, senior vice president of GIA Laboratory and Research, notes that the analytical reports will combine the results of a traditional identification report with additional information from which the conclusions were reached. This includes gemological data such as refractive index, specific gravity, ultraviolet fluorescence, a description of the inclusions, and color distribution. Information on UV/visible, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy and chemistry will be included as appropriate.

Standard identification reports for colored stones will document the results of a full examination of a material and give typical identifying characteristics such as color, transparency, shape, cut, measurements, and weight. A color photo also will be included. When possible, and only when requested, GIA will offer country-of-origin opinions on ruby, sapphire, emerald, and tourmaline. “We are willing to state any country where we can be comfortable with a determination,” says Moses. “We are not putting any specific limitations on origins. If we have what we consider to be the necessary database for a given locality, we could potentially put that on a report.”

Moses says there might be more color and clarity information on GIA's standard identification reports in the future. “The way we describe color on our reports has not changed at this time. It is something we are discussing, but a change is not in place yet.”

As for clarity, “these are not grading reports,” Moses reminds us. “So no, there will not be any clarity information at this time.”