17 February 2023
Robert M. Shipley introduced the 4C of lab grown diamonds in the year 1953. This was done to create a uniform standard of grading technique for gemologists and jewellers across the world. Although grading systems exist today in the world, the GIA method is the most popular.
GIA started grading lab grown diamond jewelry in 2007. However, in the beginning, the grading reports were quite different from those made for natural gemstones. Since 2020, GIA has started grading these types of gemstones similarly and offered full grading reports for both.
Right now, there are so many major labs that have the authority to grade these diamonds made in laboratories. It includes the GIA, the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the American Gem Society (AGS), the Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL), and HRD Antwerp.
Let us understand the grading report of the gemstones made in laboratories.
When it comes to transparent diamonds, the grading of the colour of these gemstones – natural or man-made – is graded in a range of D to Z. The higher the grade of the stone; the more colourless the diamond is.
The colour grading scale is divided into Colorless, Near Colorless, Faint, Very Light, and Light.
When it comes to fancy colored diamonds – natural or man made – they are graded based on hue, tone, and saturation.
Lab grown diamonds in India are cut just like natural diamonds. They use the same process and tools to give a uniform shape to the stone. However, diamonds grown in labs are more uniform in shape and contain less imperfection.
Grading round cuts
The standard round cut is a widely popular cut for a transparent lab made diamond. This cut perfectly shows the brilliance and fire of the stone. The GIA standard to grade round cuts are similar for natural, and man made diamonds. They are graded under the categories of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor.
Grading other fancy cuts
Any non-round cuts come under fancy cut diamonds such as cushion, princess, or emerald. Fancy cut evaluations rely more on subjective judgment than precise measurement of a stone's appearance and performance.
Since we all know lab diamonds in India are made under a controlled environment, they are much more likely to receive higher clarity grades than naturally mined diamonds. However, they might still have certain inclusions which can affect their grade.
Both natural and man made diamonds have the same clarity grade.
1. Diamonds that do not have any inclusions, even under 10x magnification, receive the highest clarity grade, i.e., Flawless (F).
2. The next grade, Internally Flawless (IF), does not possess any visible inclusions but might have certain surface blemishes.
3. The Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) possess some inclusions that can hardly be seen under 10 x magnifications.
4. After VVS comes the Very Slightly Included (VS), whose inclusions are somewhat visible under 10 x magnifications due to their relief, size, or placement.
5. Next comes the Slightly Included (SI), whose inclusions are somewhat visible even without a microscope.
6. The final clarity grade is Included (I), whose inclusions are too obvious under magnification and visible to the naked eye.
7. Grades such as VVS, VS, and SI are further categorized into VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, and SI2. The I category has the following subdivisions: I1, I2, and I3.
Lab grown diamonds can be made in large carat weights compared to their natural counterparts. Man made diamonds between the carat weights of 1 and 3 are quite popular among jewellery lovers because they are much more affordable and cost-effective.
CVD Diamonds can become as large as 6 to 9 carats, whereas HPHT diamonds can reach up to 10 carats, with the largest ever growing up to 15 carats.
The bottom line is you will find practically no difference between natural and lab grown stones. They appear similar; they are made of the same components, and they are graded in a similar way. However, lab grown diamonds will put less strain on your wallet!
