In June 2025, GIA dropped a bombshell that's reshaping the lab diamond industry. They're ditching the traditional 4Cs grading system for lab-grown diamonds and moving to a simplified Premium/Standard approach. If you're shopping for lab diamonds or already own GIA-certified stones, here's what you need to know.
What Actually Changed
The Old Way:
- Detailed Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat analysis
- Specific grades like "D colour" or "VVS1 clarity"
- Same system used for natural diamonds since the 1940s
The New Way (Starting Late 2025):
- Premium, Standard, or No Grade categories
- No more detailed 4Cs breakdowns
- Simplified system based on overall quality
According to Tom Moses, GIA's Chief Laboratory Officer: "More than 95% of laboratory-grown diamonds fall into a very narrow range of colour and clarity. It's no longer relevant to use the nomenclature created for natural diamonds."
Why GIA Made This Change
Technical Reality Lab diamonds are manufactured in controlled environments, creating consistent results. Unlike natural diamonds that form over billions of years with massive variation, lab diamonds cluster heavily in the highest quality ranges:
- 95%+ fall within D-H colour (colourless to near-colourless)
- Majority achieve VS1 or better clarity
- Consistent crystal structure due to controlled growth
Economic Reality As lab diamond prices plummeted, detailed GIA grading often costs more than smaller stones are worth. The certification became economically impractical for many lab diamonds.
Market Positioning This creates clear separation between natural and synthetic diamonds, reinforcing the distinction between the two markets.
The New Grading Categories
Premium Category
- Highest quality classification
- Superior colour, clarity, and finish
- Equivalent to traditional high grades (likely D-F colour, VVS-VS clarity)
Standard Category
- Basic quality classification
- Meets minimum standards
- Covers broader range of acceptable characteristics
No Grade
- Stones failing minimum standards
- Poor cut, visible inclusions, or colour issues
GIA will release specific criteria and pricing in Q3 2025.
Industry Reactions
Natural Diamond Industry: Celebrating The Natural Diamond Council welcomed the change as bringing "greater market clarity" and separation between natural and lab diamonds.
Lab Diamond Industry: Mixed Lab diamond companies worry this diminishes their product's perceived value. Amish Shah from ALTR criticized it as "repositioning after failing to dominate market share."
The Numbers GIA currently grades fewer than 5% of lab-grown diamonds on the market. Most consumers choose IGI for more affordable grading services.
What This Means for You
If You're Shopping for Lab Diamonds:
- Current purchases can still get traditional 4Cs grading until late 2025
- Consider IGI and other labs that continue detailed grading
- Focus on cut quality regardless of grading system
- Ensure proper certification for authenticity
If You Own GIA Lab Diamonds:
- All existing reports remain valid
- Traditional 4Cs reports may become more valuable over time
- Better documentation for insurance purposes
Alternative Grading Options
IGI (International Gemological Institute)
- Dominant player in lab diamond grading
- Continues full 4Cs grading
- Significantly less expensive than GIA
- Widely accepted in retail
GCAL & HRD Antwerp
- Continue traditional 4Cs methodology
- Detailed analysis and documentation
- Strong market recognition
Timeline and Implementation
Now through Late 2025: Traditional 4Cs grading still available Q3 2025: GIA releases detailed criteria and pricing Late 2025/Early 2026: Full implementation of Premium/Standard system
The Bottom Line
This change reflects the maturing lab diamond market and technological realities. While it simplifies decision-making and reduces costs, it also removes detailed quality information many buyers value.
For most shoppers, the new system will work fine - lab diamonds already cluster in high-quality ranges anyway. But if you want detailed grading information, consider alternative certification before the change takes effect.
The key remains the same: buy from reputable sources, understand what you're getting, and choose quality regardless of the grading system used. The diamond's beauty and performance matter more than the paperwork.
Looking for lab-grown diamond engagement rings? Browse our engagement ring collection to see how quality lab diamonds perform in stunning settings, regardless of grading system changes.
Thanks for reading!
Jared & Brie
