The Gemological Institute of America is introducing several new diamond grading services and restructuring its diamond grading fee structure. These changes will become effective June 4.
First, GIA is expanding the range of the carat weight size of its Diamond Grading Report services that will now be offered on diamonds weighing 0.15 ct and larger while the GIA Diamond Dossier Services (announced last week) will be offered on diamonds weighing 0.15 ct to 1.99 ct. The new fees will be:
Diamond Grading Report:
• Service fees for stones sized 0.15 to 0.22 ct will be $53.
• Service fees for stones sized 0.23 to 0.46 ct will be $59.
Diamond Dossier:
• Service fees for stones sized 0.15 to 0.22 ct will be $40.
• Service fees for stones sized 0.23 to 0.46 ct will be $42.
• Service fees for stones sized 1.00 to 1.49 ct will be $90.
• Service fees for stones sized 1.50 to 1.99 ct will be $100.
GIA is also introducing a new, Diamond Type Analysis Service. Loose, natural diamonds may be submitted to the GIA Laboratory for analysis to determine diamond type: Ia, Ib, IIa, or IIb. This service is supplemental to a GIA Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Grading Report, or Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report either issued previously or at the time of analysis. The fee varies depending on whether the results are disclosed verbally or if a letter describing the results is issued as follows:
• Verbal results only: $125.
• Letter describing results: $200.
• Letter describing results with photo: $275.
In addition, GIA is offering the ability to print actual inscribed graphics or inscribed logos directly on all GIA Diamond Reports and Dossiers. Instead of describing the logo using alpha-numeric text, customers can now request to have their inscription graphic or logo displayed on the report. With this new GIA Inscription Service, the “Inscription” or “Additional Inscription” line item on the grading report will be used to report both GIA and client-performed inscriptions. No distinction will be made between the two inscriptions.
Requests for inscriptions made more than 60 days after completion of a diamond grading report will remain subject to Update fees. Requests made within 60 days will enjoy a new, nominal flat fee of $30 for Diamond Grading Reports and $15 for Diamond Dossiers.
Finally, GIA is changing its Recheck and Final Observation fees.
“These secondary services demand the time of our most senior and experienced technical staff, yet only a small percentage of items submitted actually result in a grade change,” said Tom Moses, senior vice president of GIA Laboratory and Research. “After much consideration, we decided it was neither cost-effective nor an efficient use of resources to continue with the previous fee structure.
“The new fees, listed below, more accurately reflect the time, resources and expertise involved in providing these services,” he added. “However, in keeping with our policy, if the Recheck and Final Observation service results in a change to the diamond’s grade, there will be no charge.”
Recheck Service, which applies to the GIA Diamond Dossier, Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Grading Report, and Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report will cost a set percentage of a basic GIA Diamond Grading Report fee or Diamond Dossier fee.
• Color, Clarity and Cut rechecks will cost 50 percent of the Diamond Grading Fee or Diamond Dossier fee.
• Symmetry, Measurements and Fluorescence rechecks costs 25 percent of the Diamond Grading Fee or Diamond Dossier fee.
Final Observation Service, which is available on the GIA Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report, but not for Dossiers, is also based on a percentage of a GIA Diamond Grading Report.
• Final observation for Color, Clarity and Cut costs 50 percent of the GIA Diamond Grading Report fee.
• Final observation fees for Polish, Symmetry, Measurements and Fluorescence cost 25 percent.
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
