The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced it will soon issue digital grading reports instead of paper certification and launch an AI-based diamond inscription matching service.
Beginning with the GIA’s popular Diamond Dossier reports in January 2023, the transition is expected to be completed by 2025 across other services, marking the end of the traditional practice of issuing paper certificates.
Pritesh Patel, chief operating officer and senior vice president, GIA told JCK, “It’s a big change [and] we have been in constant communication with retailers around the world.”
“There are some who have been asking us to go digital for a while. I’m sure there are some who will still want paper reports, but the majority is ready for this,” he said.
The diamond grading process will use QR codes instead of printed certificates, accessible via the institute’s Report Check portal by scanning the code or by inputting the assigned inscription number.
Jewellers or other high-volume users can access the same features through an application programming interface (API).
As the QR code is scanned, the digital report opens in the New GIA App which can then be stored in the user’s Apple Wallet. The New GIA App will be launched on 10 June for use by jewellers and consumers, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.
For the launch, the app will also feature teaching guides and tools such as the 4Cs of Diamond Quality – colour, clarity, cut and carat – as well as other GIA-related content.
The GIA is also considering a service that will allow the conversion of paper reports into the new format.
Additionally, a new AI-based inscription matching and authentication service called Match iD will be launched together with the app.
The proprietary technology will be used to authenticate inscribed diamonds based on their respective digitised GIA grading reports to ensure provenance and avoid fraudulent diamond sales.
“Our AI technology will be able to identify counterfeit inscriptions,” Patel said, noting that it is very effective in detecting alterations.
“So even if someone cuts the diamond to the same specifications [as the original graded diamond], when the machine takes the image, our AI is smart enough to know that it is not the same diamond.”
The GIA will release a device for $US695 ($AU977) which will be needed to use the Match iD service and it will be offered with a limited-time free service subscription.
However, the data for the Match iD service will only be collected for new diamonds covered by the digital grading reports, beginning with the Diamond Dossier diamonds, followed by the rest.
Patel added that the GIA’s move towards digital technology could help reduce transport-related carbon emissions and save an estimated 20 tons of paper and 18 tons of plastic each year.
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