The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has reaffirmed its commitment to using the traditional 4Cs — color, clarity, cut, and carat — when grading lab-grown diamonds, despite recent shifts in industry practices.
The announcement, made on July 14, comes shortly after the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), IGI’s primary competitor, revealed it would be simplifying its grading system for lab-grown diamonds, classifying them only as “standard” or “premium.”
IGI began grading lab-grown diamonds back in 2005 and says it remains steadfast in using the 4Cs to avoid confusion among consumers and within the trade. The institute emphasized this stance in a press release titled “IGI Reaffirms Commitment to 4Cs Grading for All Diamonds.” The move signals a clear philosophical divide from GIA, which largely focuses on natural stones.
According to IGI’s latest financial report, over 50% of the diamonds it grades are now lab-grown — a figure that currently sits at 54%. By contrast, GIA’s grading services remain overwhelmingly focused on natural diamonds.
In its statement, IGI highlighted the importance of consistent grading: “This reaffirmation ensures the continued use of the globally recognized 4Cs for all diamonds, whether natural or lab-created, at a time when others are opting for less precise grading scales.”
GIA, which began grading lab-grown diamonds in 2006, has argued that the color and clarity ranges for these stones have become so narrow that individual grading is no longer meaningful. However, IGI believes that detailed grading still serves an important role in transparency and consumer confidence.
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