Grading in 80''s versus now...

[KSparkles]

Hi everyone - I know I''ve seen a post about this before, but I couldn''t find it. I''m curious to know if there''s a difference between the way diamonds are graded now, versus the 80''s. My aunt has a diamond that was given a G color and VS1 grade in ca. 1986, and she just recently had it appraised by a GIA-certified jeweler (at a random jewelry store) and it came out as an I/J color w/ SI1 clarity. Both jewelers that graded the diamond (in 1986 and this year) were not the jeweler the diamond was bought from. My aunt said the jeweler that just graded it was GIA certified, and that the one in the 80''s was "certified" as well (now, it could''ve been IGI or EGL for all I know, if they were around back then - that might explain the difference in grading). What do you experts think - any differences in grading between then and now? Thanks!

 

[WinkHPD]

Although many people think that jewelers are certified by GIA that is not the case as GIA does not certify jewelers. They may be graduate gemologists, but GIA takes NO responsibility for the quality of their work.

I think diamonds came to be graded much stricter in the late 70''s and early 80''s than they were earlier, but it sounds like this was done well after things got tighter. (That is just my opinion, GIA would probably insist that there were no changes.)

If she has serious concerns she should have the diamond removed and sent to GIA or AGS for a full diamond grading report.

Wink