WEBVTT

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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If you're shopping
for a diamond,

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you probably have
a lot of questions,

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like how can I be sure
that what I'm purchasing

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is a real, natural diamond.

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How do I know if the
diamond has been treated?

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The key to understanding
a diamond and its value

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is to understand
the four attributes

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that all diamonds share, color,
clarity, cut, and carat weight,

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also known as the four Cs.

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The Gemological Institute
of America, or GIA,

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developed the four Cs in order
to create a universal language

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when it came to the difficult
task of determining diamond

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quality.

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Established in
1931, nonprofit GIA

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is the largest
and most respected

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institute of gemological
research and learning

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in the world.

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GIA created not only
the four Cs, but also

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the international
diamond grading system,

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the grading standard
used worldwide.

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Let's follow a diamond through
the steps in the GIA grading

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process and see
how it's evaluated.

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Scientific precision is critical
as expert gemologists examine

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each diamond under tightly
controlled lighting and viewing

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conditions.

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Each diamond travels through
the lab in a nondescript case

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to be sure but that it is grated
consistently and objectively.

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First, it is tested to
determine whether the diamond is

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natural or lab grown.

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If the diamond
were synthetic, it

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would be pulled out of
the queue and subjected

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to a separate procedure.

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Next, it's on to the four Cs.

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The first C is color.

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When it comes to
diamonds, the less

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color, the higher the grade.

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The GIA color scale classifies
diamonds from D, colorless,

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to Z, light yellow or brown.

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At the GIA lab, a color
grade is determined

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by comparing each diamond to
a master set of diamonds that

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represent the color
grades on the GIA scale.

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The second C is clarity.

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The GIA clarity scale
includes 11 clarity grades

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ranging from flawless to I3.

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Flawless indicates that there
are no inclusions or blemishes

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visible at 10 times
magnification.

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A grade of I3 is for
diamonds with inclusions

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that are obvious
to the naked eye.

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A 10 times magnification
loop and a microscope

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are used to see and
plot the inclusions.

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Since no two diamonds
are exactly alike,

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this unique plot helps
identify a particular stone.

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Graders also look to see
if there is any evidence

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that our diamond was treated
to improve its clarity.

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The third C is cut.

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The GIA cut scale is used for
round, brilliant cut diamonds

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and consists of five grades
ranging from excellent to poor.

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You may think of cut as
the shape of a diamond,

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like square cut or round.

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However, there is much more
to cut than the basic shape.

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How a diamond is cut
and polished directly

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affects the amount of
sparkle and brilliance

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that comes off the stone.

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Each diamond is placed in a
highly precise measuring device

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that rotates the stone
360 degrees to optically

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capture hundreds of
measurements and facet angles.

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GIA scientists developed
a comprehensive system

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that factors the diamond's
proportions as well

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as its culet size, girdle
thickness, polish, and symmetry

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descriptions, and
generates a GIA cut grade.

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The fourth C is carat weight.

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One carat equals 200
milligrams or one fifth

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of a gram in weight.

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At the GIA lab, each diamond
is placed in a sealed chamber

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and weighed on an extremely
precise electronic scale

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to the fifth decimal place.

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The diamonds four Cs,
along with a wealth

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of additional information,
appears on its GIA grading

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report.

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A GIA report is the most
technologically advanced

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diamond evaluation possible.

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It provides a unique blueprint
of a diamond's attributes

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and a permanent
record of its quality.

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As an added security feature,
diamonds graded at GIA

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can be microscopically
inscribed along the girdle

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with their unique
GIA report number.

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The act of choosing
your diamond should

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be exciting and enjoyable.

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Just keep all the four Cs in
mind, color, clarity, cut,

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and carat weight.

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And be sure to always
ask your jeweler

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for a GIA report, your ultimate
assurance of your diamond's

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quality.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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