GIA Graduate Diamonds (GD) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is a 'three-stone' ring traditionally said to symbolize?

The past, present, and future of a relationship (Correct answer)
Faith, hope, and prosperity in financial investment
The four C's of diamond quality abbreviated into three values
The three GIA grading criteria: cut, color, and clarity

Correct answer: The past, present, and future of a relationship

Three-stone rings, also called trilogy or trinity rings, traditionally represent the past, present, and future of a couple's relationship.

Question 2: According to GIA documentation, a diamond graded 'I' on the color scale would be described as which of the following?

Very light yellow
Colorless
Near colorless (Correct answer)
Faint yellow

Correct answer: Near colorless

GIA's I color grade falls in the 'Near Colorless' range (G–J), where color is noticeable to a trained grader but may not be apparent to a layperson.

Question 3: Which crown angle range is generally associated with optimal light performance in round brilliant diamonds according to GIA research?

15–20°
34–35° (Correct answer)
40–45°
25–30°

Correct answer: 34–35°

GIA research shows that crown angles between approximately 34° and 35° tend to produce optimal light performance when combined with appropriate pavilion angles.

Question 4: How is 'total depth percentage' calculated in diamond grading?

Total depth (table to culet) divided by the average girdle diameter, multiplied by 100 (Correct answer)
Total depth divided by the table diameter, multiplied by 100
Pavilion depth divided by crown height, multiplied by 100
Crown height divided by the average girdle diameter, multiplied by 100

Correct answer: Total depth (table to culet) divided by the average girdle diameter, multiplied by 100

Total depth percentage is the total depth (from table to culet) divided by the average girdle diameter, multiplied by 100.

Question 5: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Code of Practices requires members to conduct due diligence on their suppliers. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this supplier due diligence?

To identify and mitigate risks of human rights abuses and environmental harm in the supply chain (Correct answer)
To confirm suppliers offer the lowest market price
To ensure suppliers are located in low-tax jurisdictions
To verify that suppliers hold GIA grading reports for all stones

Correct answer: To identify and mitigate risks of human rights abuses and environmental harm in the supply chain

RJC supplier due diligence is designed to identify human rights, labor, environmental, and anti-corruption risks throughout the jewelry supply chain.

Question 6: Which best describes the role of 'independent third-party auditing' in the RJC certification process?

Accredited external auditors assess members against the RJC Code of Practices and report findings to the RJC (Correct answer)
Government customs agencies serve as the authorized RJC auditors
RJC staff conduct all audits internally to maintain consistency
Members self-certify compliance annually and submit results to the RJC for approval

Correct answer: Accredited external auditors assess members against the RJC Code of Practices and report findings to the RJC

RJC certification requires accredited third-party auditors—independent from the member company—to assess compliance with the Code of Practices before certification is granted.

Question 7: What is the appropriate retention period for professional records?

Only as long as the client remains active
One year after the last service
Until storage space runs out
As specified by state/federal law and professional licensing requirements (Correct answer)

Correct answer: As specified by state/federal law and professional licensing requirements

Record retention must follow state/federal laws and professional licensing requirements, which typically specify minimum retention periods for different record types.

Question 8: What is the 'fisheye' effect in a diamond?

An inclusion pattern that resembles a fish eye when viewed under magnification
A special faceting arrangement used in some fancy-shape diamonds
A reflection of the girdle visible through the table caused by a too-shallow pavilion (Correct answer)
The appearance of the culet when viewed face-up through the table

Correct answer: A reflection of the girdle visible through the table caused by a too-shallow pavilion

The 'fisheye' effect occurs when the pavilion angle is too shallow, causing a ring-shaped reflection of the girdle to appear through the table.

Question 9: The term 'diamond simulant' differs from 'synthetic diamond' in that a simulant:

Is grown in a laboratory environment
Has the same chemical composition as diamond
Can only be identified by professional gemologists
Imitates diamond's appearance but has different chemistry (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Imitates diamond's appearance but has different chemistry

A simulant (e.g., moissanite, CZ) looks similar to diamond but has different chemical composition, while a synthetic diamond is chemically identical to natural diamond.

Question 10: What role does the De Beers Group play in the diamond industry?

Dominated global supply and marketing (Correct answer)
Regulates global prices
Operates all retail outlets
Sells only synthetic stones

Correct answer: Dominated global supply and marketing

For much of the 20th century, the De Beers Group held a near-monopoly on the global diamond supply, controlling a vast majority of rough diamond production and distribution. Through strategic marketing campaigns, such as 'A Diamond Is Forever,' they also significantly influenced consumer demand and perceptions of diamonds. While their market share has decreased, their historical dominance shaped the modern diamond industry.

Question 11: A diamond with a depth percentage of 62% and a table percentage of 57% would most likely receive which GIA cut grade?

Good
Poor
Excellent (Correct answer)
Fair

Correct answer: Excellent

These proportions fall within GIA's ideal ranges for an Excellent cut round brilliant, balancing brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

Question 12: A diamond with a depth percentage of 58% and a table percentage of 57% would most likely receive which GIA cut grade?

Poor
Very Good
Good
Excellent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Excellent

A depth near 61% and table near 57% fall within GIA's Excellent cut grade proportions for round brilliants.

Question 13: What is 'brilliance' in the context of diamond light performance?

The flashes of light seen when the diamond or light source moves
The white light reflected from the interior and exterior of a diamond (Correct answer)
The colored spectral light dispersed from within a diamond
The glow produced by a diamond's fluorescence under UV light

Correct answer: The white light reflected from the interior and exterior of a diamond

Brilliance refers to the white light — both internal and external reflections — that returns to the observer's eye from a diamond.

Question 14: When measuring specific gravity of a diamond using hydrostatic weighing, which formula is applied?

SG = Weight in liquid / Weight in air
SG = Weight in air / (Weight in air – Weight in liquid) × SG of liquid (Correct answer)
SG = Volume × Density of water
SG = (Weight in air – Weight in liquid) / Weight in liquid

Correct answer: SG = Weight in air / (Weight in air – Weight in liquid) × SG of liquid

Hydrostatic SG is calculated by dividing the weight in air by the difference between weight in air and weight in liquid, multiplied by the SG of the liquid used.

Question 15: Which diamond inclusion type is described as a tiny crystal of another mineral trapped inside the diamond?

Crystal (Correct answer)
Knot
Cloud
Feather

Correct answer: Crystal

A crystal inclusion is a mineral crystal (which may be another diamond or a different mineral) enclosed within the host diamond.

Question 16: What is pleochroism, and which gem is a classic example showing three different colors in three crystal directions?

Play-of-color; opal
Color zoning; watermelon tourmaline
Fluorescence; ruby
Different colors in different viewing directions; tanzanite (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Different colors in different viewing directions; tanzanite

Pleochroism is the display of different colors when viewed along different crystallographic axes; tanzanite (trichroic) shows blue, violet, and burgundy.

Question 17: On a GIA Diamond Grading Report, 'clarity characteristics' are plotted on which diagram?

A fluorescence color chart
A proportion diagram only
A face-up diagram and a pavilion-view diagram (Correct answer)
A girdle outline sketch

Correct answer: A face-up diagram and a pavilion-view diagram

GIA uses both a face-up (crown) and pavilion-view diagram to map the position of inclusions and blemishes.

Question 18: Which GIA report type does NOT include a physical plotting diagram of clarity characteristics?

GIA Diamond Grading Report
GIA Diamond Origin Report
GIA Diamond Dossier (Correct answer)
GIA Colored Diamond Grading Report

Correct answer: GIA Diamond Dossier

The GIA Diamond Dossier omits the plotting diagram to keep costs lower for smaller diamonds, though it still assigns a clarity grade.

Question 19: On a GIA Colored Diamond Grading Report, how is color grade expressed differently from colorless diamonds?

As a descriptive hue, tone, and saturation combination (Correct answer)
As a letter grade from D to Z
As a percentage of color concentration
As a numeric scale from 1 to 10

Correct answer: As a descriptive hue, tone, and saturation combination

Colored diamond grades describe hue (e.g., yellow), tone (light/dark), and saturation (faint to vivid), not a letter grade.

Question 20: Which characteristic is NOT one of the seven components GIA evaluates when determining the cut grade of a round brilliant diamond?

Fluorescence (Correct answer)
Fire
Scintillation
Brightness

Correct answer: Fluorescence

GIA evaluates brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ratio, durability, polish, and symmetry for cut grading; fluorescence is assessed and graded separately.

Question 21: Why should diamond jewelry be removed before engaging in activities such as gardening, weight lifting, or rock climbing?

Impact and abrasion can chip the diamond and physical force can bend prongs, loosening the stone (Correct answer)
Sweat chemically reacts with diamonds to alter their clarity grade
These activities cause thermal expansion that can crack the diamond
Physical activity causes diamonds to lose their polish permanently

Correct answer: Impact and abrasion can chip the diamond and physical force can bend prongs, loosening the stone

Though diamonds are extremely hard, they can chip along cleavage planes upon sharp impact, and physical stress can deform prongs.

Question 22: A customer notices their diamond looks dull and lacks sparkle. Before recommending professional cleaning, what is the most common cause of this issue a GIA professional would identify?

A buildup of oils, lotions, and skin residue on the diamond's surface is blocking light entry (Correct answer)
The diamond's cut grade has changed due to minor surface abrasion
Prolonged exposure to sunlight has permanently altered the diamond's refractive index
The diamond has developed new inclusions from thermal stress

Correct answer: A buildup of oils, lotions, and skin residue on the diamond's surface is blocking light entry

Daily lotions, soaps, and skin oils form a film on the diamond's surface that significantly reduces light return and apparent brilliance.

Question 23: How does an excessively deep (steep) pavilion angle affect the light performance of a round brilliant diamond?

It makes the diamond appear larger than its actual carat weight
It enhances scintillation by multiplying light flash points
It causes light to leak through the pavilion sides rather than reflecting back through the crown (Correct answer)
It causes light to reflect too quickly, creating excessive fire

Correct answer: It causes light to leak through the pavilion sides rather than reflecting back through the crown

An excessively steep pavilion angle redirects light out through the pavilion sides rather than totally internally reflecting it back through the crown, reducing brilliance.

Question 24: Which of the following best describes a 'sight' in the De Beers distribution system?

A public auction of polished diamonds to retail jewelers
A quality inspection conducted by GIA on rough diamonds
An annual gemological conference where new finds are announced
A fixed sale of rough diamond parcels to approved buyers called sightholders (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A fixed sale of rough diamond parcels to approved buyers called sightholders

A 'sight' is a periodic event where De Beers offers pre-sorted rough diamond boxes to its contracted sightholders at non-negotiable prices.

Question 25: A consumer asks a jewelry store associate whether their diamonds are 'ethically sourced.' Beyond citing the Kimberley Process, which additional information would best support an ethical sourcing claim?

The diamonds carry a GIA 4Cs grading report
The diamonds have been independently appraised for insurance purposes
The retailer participates in RJC certification and can trace stones to a specific mine or region (Correct answer)
The diamonds are priced above average market value

Correct answer: The retailer participates in RJC certification and can trace stones to a specific mine or region

RJC certification combined with traceable mine-of-origin documentation provides a stronger ethical sourcing claim than KP compliance alone, which only addresses conflict diamonds.

Question 26: When a GIA report is lost, what service allows a client to obtain a replacement document?

Report replacement service (Correct answer)
GIA alumni archive access
Re-grading submission
Digital verification only

Correct answer: Report replacement service

GIA offers a report replacement service that issues a new physical copy of the original report without re-grading the stone.

Question 27: A GIA report states 'Laser Drill Hole' under clarity characteristics. What does this indicate about the diamond?

The inclusion was removed entirely
A laser was used to reach and bleach an internal dark inclusion (Correct answer)
The diamond was enhanced by fracture filling only
The diamond has a natural tube inclusion

Correct answer: A laser was used to reach and bleach an internal dark inclusion

Laser drilling is a treatment where a laser bores a tiny channel to a dark inclusion, which is then dissolved or bleached to improve apparent clarity.

Question 28: Which fluorescence grade on a GIA report indicates the strongest reaction under UV light?

Very Strong (Correct answer)
Strong
Extreme
Intense

Correct answer: Very Strong

GIA's fluorescence scale uses None, Faint, Medium, Strong, and Very Strong—with Very Strong being the highest grade.

Question 29: What is the primary purpose of annealing a diamond after irradiation?

To remove all color induced by irradiation
To improve clarity grade
To convert green surface color to a stable body color (Correct answer)
To eliminate radioactivity

Correct answer: To convert green surface color to a stable body color

Annealing after irradiation converts the unstable green skin color into deeper, more stable colors such as yellow, orange, or brown throughout the stone.

Question 30: What is the most important principle in professional Certified Diamonds Gemological Institute of America practice?

Maximizing revenue from each client
Maintaining competence through continuous learning and adherence to standards (Correct answer)
Following only personal judgment
Working as quickly as possible

Correct answer: Maintaining competence through continuous learning and adherence to standards

Maintaining competence through continuous learning and adherence to professional standards ensures quality service delivery and public protection in Certified Diamonds Gemological Institute of America practice.

Question 31: According to GIA documentation standards, which symbol on a plotting diagram represents an included crystal?

A red dot or outlined shape (Correct answer)
A red circle
A red square
A green triangle

Correct answer: A red dot or outlined shape

GIA uses red symbols to denote internal characteristics; an included crystal is typically shown as a small outlined shape or dot in red.

GIA Graduate Diamonds (GD) Exam

The GIA Graduate Diamonds exam tests mastery of diamond grading using the GIA International Diamond Grading System, covering the 4Cs, proportions and cut analysis, grading documentation, and industry ethics and consumer education.

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

75%

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