Fake GIA cert diamonds

PrincessBride,

I’ve seen quite a number of fake lab reports over the last few years.  GIA and other labs all employ anti-counterfeiting measures with varying degrees of success.  I would not put much emphasis on the font used for girdle etchings but the measures on the reports themselves seem to be fairly reliable. 

The biggest problem is reports that simply don’t match the stone.  That is to say that the stone examined at the lab and described on the report is not the same stone that is presented for appraisal.  Obviously this renders the report completely irrelevant.  Totally counterfeit document are less common but they do exist.  Be especially nervous if you are only given a copy or scan of the report but not the original.  Most consumers are not very familiar with the details of how the reports look and can’t readily check things like the weight of the paper used, the watermarks etc.  Your appraiser has probably seen hundreds of them, especially from the major labs and should have little difficulty with this.  GIA has information on their site about what to look for if you want to try to do this yourself. 

Counterfeit reports from smaller and less recognized labs are extremely difficult to recognize and, in my opinion, more common. Some will have websites that explain their anti-counterfeiting measures but it’s the nature of the game that they don’t want to advertise to the criminals about the details or they are defeating their own purpose. 
Lab reports are intended as a guide for dealers and consumers to help illuminate some of the important attributes of the stone.  They are not certifying the stone and they do not, in and of themselves, add any significant value to it. When used for this purpose, counterfeits are far less of a problem although still troubling.  If the information presented is accurate and complete, it’s mostly an academic question whether the document is a genuine product of XYZ labs. 

Manufacturing and distributing counterfeit lab reports is illegal on several counts.  Feel free to get the police involved if you ever spot one.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

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