Gem Trade Laboratory versus Gemological Institute of America

[acero21]

Newbie here,

Are both of these certificates the same? For example, when looking at the GIA certificate for a diamond on jamesallen the certificate reads, "gem trade laboratory" while looking at a certificate on bluenile it reads, "gemological institute of america." Both websites state that they are GIA certificates. Is there a difference?

thanks

 

[oldminer]

The lab belonging to GIA is the Gem Trade Laboratory, GTL.

The GTL is a for-profit company and the GIA is a non-profit entity.

 

[acero21]

Does this mean there is no difference in the certificates other than the name? Is one certificate newer than the other and that''s what explains the difference in the name? Both certificates have the GIA initials at the top (although the logo on each one is slightly different) but, one says Gem Trade Laboratory and the other Gemological Institute of America just below the initials. I''m asking becuase i don''t want to buy a diamond based on a fraudulent certificate.

Thanks for everyone''s help

 

[oldminer]

Certs from GIA are dated so if one is more recent you can readily see it. There are some fraudulent documents out there, but I sort of doubt James Allen or Blue Nile are in that category of vendor where I''d be worried about it.....

 

[acero21]

I figured out the difference. The GIA switched to a new style of report in 2006. GIA reports labeled "gem trade laboratory" are from the years 2000-2005. http://www.gia.edu/GIAReports/31515/anatomy_of_gia_reports.cfm

thanks for your help oldminer