DCA Certification Standards & Documentation 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which grading laboratory is known for using a 0ā10 numerical scale to grade diamond cut quality, where 0 is ideal?
- GIA
- HRD
- AGS Laboratories (Correct answer)
- EGL
Correct answer: AGS Laboratories
AGS Laboratories uses a proprietary 0ā10 scale for grading cut, color, and clarity, where 0 represents the highest quality (Ideal cut).
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of chain-of-custody documentation in the diamond trade?
- To record the stone's cutting history
- To verify a diamond is conflict-free and legally sourced (Correct answer)
- To document all previous owners of the diamond
- To track retail price history
Correct answer: To verify a diamond is conflict-free and legally sourced
Chain-of-custody documentation traces a diamond's path from mine to market, ensuring it is conflict-free and compliant with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Question 3: A diamond grading report describes a stone's color as 'G.' According to GIA's scale, how would this color best be described?
- Colorless
- Near colorless (Correct answer)
- Faint yellow
- Very light yellow
Correct answer: Near colorless
G-color falls in the 'Near Colorless' range (GāJ) on the GIA color grading scale, just below the Colorless range of DāF.
Question 4: Which document accompanies Kimberley Process Certified rough diamonds as they cross international borders?
- A GIA Diamond Grading Report
- A Kimberley Process Certificate (Correct answer)
- An export license from the DCA
- A customs declaration only
Correct answer: A Kimberley Process Certificate
The Kimberley Process Certificate is the government-issued document that must accompany rough diamond shipments to certify they are not conflict diamonds.
Question 5: What does 'treatment disclosure' on a diamond grading report indicate?
- The diamond has been ethically sourced
- The diamond has undergone a process to alter its appearance (Correct answer)
- The diamond qualifies for insurance
- The diamond's measurements have been verified
Correct answer: The diamond has undergone a process to alter its appearance
Treatment disclosure notifies the buyer that the diamond has been subjected to processes such as laser drilling, fracture filling, or HPHT treatment to enhance its appearance.
Question 6: When comparing grading reports, which characteristic can vary significantly between laboratories, potentially causing consumer confusion?
- The carat weight measurement
- The clarity and color grade assigned to the same stone (Correct answer)
- The diamond's physical dimensions
- The laser inscription number
Correct answer: The clarity and color grade assigned to the same stone
Different grading laboratories may assign different color and clarity grades to the same diamond because grading involves human judgment and lab-specific standards.
Question 7: Under FTC guidelines, how must a retailer disclose that a diamond has been fracture-filled?
- Disclosure is optional if the treatment is minor
- The treatment must be disclosed clearly before the sale (Correct answer)
- Disclosure is only required if the customer asks
- It must only appear on the store's website
Correct answer: The treatment must be disclosed clearly before the sale
FTC guidelines require that any treatment that affects the appearance or durability of a diamond must be clearly disclosed to the consumer prior to the sale.
DCA Certification Standards & Documentation 3
Which grading laboratory is known for using a 0ā10 numerical scale to grade diamond cut quality, where 0 is ideal?