GIA Rolling Out New Report Format On Jan. 1

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will be issuing reports in a new format starting on January 1, 2014.

The new reports for rough and polished diamonds will be the same size but will weigh less, thus cutting shipping and storage costs and consuming fewer materials, the IDI website reports. The new reports will also include new and improved security elements.

GIA reports issued in the second half of this year can be reissued in the new format upon request at no charge. And only nominal fees will be charged for reissues of GIA reports issued in the first half of this year.

The new report redesign is, to some degree, the result of the possibility that some countries may ban products that include vinyl – a component of the sleeves issued with the traditional GIA reports.

The new reports were originally due to be issued in February this year, but were postponed in order to resolve a last-minute security concern.