GIA Case Study

A Cut Above The Rest: GIA Uses X-Rite Tools to Ensure the Color of Gemstones Are
Certified Accurately
Because two diamonds of equal weight may differ in

time of day, the season, weather and city where they are

value by thousands of dollars based on color, jewelers and

being viewed. For instance, blue sapphires may show a

wholesalers of precious gems need to have confidence that

beautifully saturated color under noon daylight, but appear

the products they carry have been graded accurately under

darker in the early morning or late evening hours.

precise lighting by qualified people.

Given the variable nature of daylight and fact that it is

With the difference between pricey and priceless

not always available, GIA has adopted the calibrated

hanging in the balance, they turn to GIA (Gemological

illumination of the Macbeth Judge II light booth

Institute of America) laboratories to provide accurate

manufactured by X-Rite for use in its laboratories. The

identification and grading of diamonds, colored gemstones

Judge II is capable of accurately replicating noon daylight

and pearls.

and the horizon light at sunrise and sunset, as well as the

And when it comes to color, GIA turns to X-Rite Inc. to

average fluorescent and incandescent light sources a

lend expertise on assessing the color vision of grading

technicians and providing the optimum lighting conditions
for accurate gemstone evaluation.
The color of gemstones can look vastly different depending
on how they are illuminated, says John King, GIAs chief
quality officer, which has gem identification and grading
laboratories in New York City, Carlsbad, Calif., Bangkok,
Hong Kong, Mumbai, Johannesburg and Gaborone,
Botswana.
Colored gemstones will look different under natural
daylight depending on a number of factors such as the

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person may find in a retail store or at home. It also provides

an adjustable source of invisible ultraviolet light, which is
present in natural daylight and can cause certain gems to
shine brighter.
In the early 1990s, when we were considering
refinements to our system for color-grading diamonds, we
looked at a number of viewing environments, King says.
We wanted something readily available because we want
the tools we use in the lab to be accessible to the trade.
The Judge II is available worldwide, it provides a good
fluorescent light source, and its well-known within our
industry.

While the majority of GIAs colored gem

evaluations take place in its laboratories
in Carlsbad, New York City and
Bangkok, King says the institute has
begun to look at its other lab locations
as well, which makes the Judge IIs
portability another plus. Weve taken
parts of the equipment on the road
with us to simulate the evaluations
done in our labs, he says, and the
Judge II has proven quite useful in
these demonstrations.
Precisely controlled lighting is only one
variable in accurate gem grading, King

Each gem generally is evaluated by several GIA graders

says. The technicians themselves need to have normal

working independently, with no knowledge of the stones

or exceptional color vision if they are to grade precious

origin, ownership or ranking by others, until consensus on

stones, and a surprising segment of the populace has some

its quality is achieved.

form of color vision deficiency. Studies indicate that about

one in 12 males and one in 255 females have some form
of color blindness.

The actual process of evaluating a gemstone in the

laboratory may take only a few minutes, but a single
gemstone is evaluated several times by different

Some differences in gemstone color are extremely subtle,

individuals. A bar-coded but otherwise anonymous gem is

but our work requires accuracy and consistency, King

placed in the light booth and compared with GIAs existing

says. Our graders go through rigorous testing to assure

samples.

they have the visual acuity necessary for the job.

Considering the potential value of any given gemstone,

One of the key evaluations used by GIA for would-be gem

GIAs multiple evaluations and anonymous labeling

graders is the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test, a sort

for the laboratory help ensure each stone receives a

of color IQ test made by X-Rite that helps companies

comprehensive review and a fair, objective assessment of

distinguish between employees with low, average or

its worth.

exceptional color vision. Individuals being assessed for

color vision often can complete the FM 100 Hue test in less
than 20 minutes, and a person can be trained on how to
administer the test in about 5 to 10 minutes. Because the
test is quick and effective, companies will often test their
employees annually to assess whether their sense of color
discrimination has changed over time.
Simplicity is a hallmark of the FM 100 Hue test. The

GIA is a standards organization, so the continuity of

what we do and how we do it is vitally important, King
says. The independence of our graders, the checking and
double-checking, are all designed to maintain the quality
and integrity of our work.
X-Rites tools help us to maintain that integrity of accurate
color evaluation, he adds.

person administering the test gives the participant

four trays holding a total of 85 color chips in random
order. The chips have different hues, but identical value
(lightness) and chroma values. The object of the test is
for the participant to arrange the chips in proper order by
hue. The misplaced chips are counted, with lower scores
signifying better ability to discern color differences.

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