Task Force Aims to Establish Diamond Grading Standards

A group of gemological experts recently held a meeting in Las Vegas, forming a Task Force to establish international technical standards for diamond grading, including inter-lab comparisons.

The move was initiative by the Accredited Gemologists Association, in reaction to “consumer dissatisfaction with inconsistent grades and a specific concern that current procedures used to color grade fluorescent diamonds result in grades that are inaccurate, unscientific and misleading,” the parties said in a release.

Its principal objective was to determine standard light sources for grading fluorescent diamonds; however, it was revealed that while the experts agreed that lighting standards must be re-examined, the urgent need for clearly defined technical procedures went far beyond this.

Gemologist Antoinette Matlins commented that the Task Force determined a need to establish illumination standards and procedural guidelines for the lighting used in grading diamonds and gemstones and to develop systems to ensure compliance among labs claiming to adhere to established standards.

The team will gather additional data on the broad area of lighting and its impact on diamond and gemstone grading, explore possible alternatives and carry out inter- lab comparisons.

AnchorCert Diamond Certification, a division of The Birmingham Assay Office in the UK, has agreed to draft the protocol for “round robin” testing, and start the process with GCAL in New York. Michael Allchin, CEO for The Birmingham Assay Office said, “The diamond industry needs proper international standards in order to provide comparable, meaningful and credible diamond certification.

“Modern diamond grading relies upon expertise coupled with sophisticated technical equipment. It is as much about scientific measurement as personal judgment, and it makes sense for the technical aspects of grading to be more tightly defined,” he said.

GCAL achieves ISO accreditation

New York—The Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL) has received an accreditation signifying it conforms to international standards for accurate and reliable diamond grading, the New York-based lab announced on Thursday.

GCAL is the first diamond-grading lab in North America to receive this accreditation, known as ISO 17052:2005, and only one of three diamond-grading labs in the world to achieve this certification.

The accreditation means that GCAL's lab is rated among the most technically competent in the world, offering clients accurate first-time grading, less retesting, enhanced consumer confidence and greater ease in selling goods overseas.

Because the ISO accreditation is internationally recognized, exporters don't have to retest for other markets. More than 40 laboratory accreditation bodies have signed a multi-lateral recognition statement called the ILAC Arrangement, which enhances acceptance of data across the borders of member countries.

GCAL President Donald Palmieri said in a media release that the accreditation marks a tremendous milestone in the company's growth and expansion.

"We are very proud to be the first lab in this country to conform to ISO laboratory standards, and we see it as a testament to offering the most reliable and accurate grading in the industry," he said. "Our customers expect more from GCAL and we want to live up to that expectation regardless of the time, effort or cost it takes to be the best."