Hi Everyone,
In our business, a GIA report plays a huge role in determining the price of the major diamonds we offer.

In spite of this, it's the diamond itself that is the final arbiter.
That is to say: A great looking GIA report may accompany a not great looking diamond.
"Great Looking" is not what GIA measures.

In the case of round diamonds, we're looking at the most "standardized" of cuts.
So much so that GIA started to issue a "Cut Grade" - which still won't tell you if a round diamond (per se) is "great looking"to you..... but we can safely say that if one is looking for a round brilliant- and they look at a diamond that earned an Excellent, or Very Good from GIA's cut grade- it's going to look pretty much like they'd expect it to look.

When looking at fancy shaped diamonds, the GIA report plays a different role. A lesser one.
Of course it's still important- All things being equal, a 3.00 D/VS2 is worth a set amount more than a 3.00D/SI1.
How often are things "equal"? ?.....not very, in the world of diamonds. The SI1 may very well be far more desirable than a VS1.

Emerald Cuts, Cushions, Pear Shapes, Radiant Cuts, Ovals, Asschers...they all have personality beyond measurements.
GIA's plot is not meant to show the actual shape of the diamond.

Things like an Emerald or Radiant's corner size, or a pear shapes arc- are not shown anywhere on a GIA report.
The plot is also not all that useful in determining the severity of imperfection.
Sometimes a diamond plots out with a whole bunch of marks in red and black- but in person, it's totally eye clean.
Sometimes a tiny mark, exactly in the right place, takes the diamond out of the "eye clean" category.
GIA does not grade for "Eye Clean".
At the extremes, generalizations work.
A VVS1or 2, or VS1....they are going to be eye clean.
I've seen VS2's that were not eye clean- and they were ( IMO) accurately graded by GIA.
I've also seen many eye clean I1's.
I2 and below, no question, you'll see something.


So, we use the GIA report to verify what our eyes are looking at.....

Thanks Ace!
Yes- if we compare this to an attempt to evaluate real estate: Knowing the square footage does not give us enough information to really know how much we're going to love the space
Even adding the floor-plan ( similar to the plot) doesn't tell you how you're going to feel walking thru the space.
Or how the light coming through the windows will play on the walls and floor.

In real estate- as in diamonds- visual inspection is what's needed.....

Very interesting indeed.  I look forward to hearing WM's answers to her question.  And I agree, it seems from reading articles, hearing people talk about "clarity" they often assume it means clear and sparkly....

I see many diamonds rated Good in Polish/Symmetry by the GIA that are absolute Knockouts in the sparkle and glitter department.