GIA GIA Diamond Care, Maintenance & Consumer Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When educating customers about diamond insurance, a GIA professional should recommend insuring a diamond for which value?
- The price paid at purchase (retail receipt value)
- The replacement value based on a current independent appraisal (Correct answer)
- The wholesale market value at time of purchase
- The GIA report estimated value listed in the grading certificate
Correct answer: The replacement value based on a current independent appraisal
Insurance should be based on the current replacement value from an independent appraisal, which reflects what it would cost to replace the item today.
Question 2: How should a GIA-certified diamond be stored when not being worn to prevent damage?
- In a communal jewelry box alongside other diamond pieces
- In an individual soft-lined pouch or separate compartment to prevent diamonds from scratching each other (Correct answer)
- Submerged in a saline solution to prevent tarnish
- In direct sunlight to maintain the stone's brilliance
Correct answer: In an individual soft-lined pouch or separate compartment to prevent diamonds from scratching each other
Diamonds can scratch other diamonds and softer gemstones, so each piece should be stored separately in a soft-lined compartment.
Question 3: What is the primary reason GIA advises consumers to keep their diamond grading report in a safe location?
- The GIA report affects the diamond's color grade over time
- The report serves as documentation for insurance, resale, and verification of the diamond's identity and quality (Correct answer)
- GIA reports must be resubmitted every five years for renewal
- The paper reports emit UV light that enhances diamond fluorescence
Correct answer: The report serves as documentation for insurance, resale, and verification of the diamond's identity and quality
The GIA grading report is the primary document that verifies the diamond's quality characteristics and is essential for insurance claims and resale transactions.
Question 4: 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?
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight has permanently altered the diamond's refractive index
- 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
- 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 5: What information should a consumer record immediately after purchasing a GIA-certified diamond to assist with identification in the event of theft or loss?
- The store salesperson's name and employee ID
- The GIA report number, 4Cs details, and ideally a photograph of the stone and its report (Correct answer)
- Only the purchase price for tax records
- The diamond's fluorescence description as fluorescence cannot be faked
Correct answer: The GIA report number, 4Cs details, and ideally a photograph of the stone and its report
Recording the GIA report number and full grading details, along with photographs, creates a unique identity record that can help law enforcement and jewelers identify a recovered stone.
Question 6: Why is it important for consumers to understand the difference between a diamond's 'hardness' and its 'toughness'?
- Harder diamonds are always more valuable per carat than less hard diamonds
- Diamonds are the hardest mineral but can still chip or cleave along crystallographic planes when struck sharply (Correct answer)
- Toughness determines a diamond's color grade under GIA standards
- Understanding toughness allows consumers to self-grade their diamonds at home
Correct answer: Diamonds are the hardest mineral but can still chip or cleave along crystallographic planes when struck sharply
While diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, their perfect cleavage in four directions means a sharp blow can cause chipping or fracture.
GIA GIA Diamond Care, Maintenance & Consumer Education 2
When educating customers about diamond insurance, a GIA professional should recommend insuring a diamond for which value?