A diamond is never just a stone—it’s a marker of memory, meaning, and love. At Kinn, we believe that understanding where your diamond comes from, and how it’s evaluated, is just as important as the design itself. That’s why we rely on the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s leading authority in diamond grading since 1931.
On October 1, 2025, GIA introduced a new framework for lab-grown diamonds—a system designed to bring more clarity and transparency to a category that has grown rapidly in popularity.
Instead of applying the same detailed scale used for natural diamonds, lab-grown stones will now receive a Quality Assessment in one of two categories: Premium or Standard.
Why the Change?
Most lab-grown diamonds fall within a very narrow range of color and clarity. Unlike natural diamonds, which vary widely due to their geological origins, lab-grown stones are produced in controlled environments. That means the full GIA color and clarity grading scales—spanning dozens of gradations—aren’t as meaningful for differentiating one lab-grown stone from another.
To reflect this reality, GIA has simplified the system, offering a framework that’s easier to read, easier to understand, and still rooted in the Institute’s trusted standards.
The New Categories
PREMIUM - To qualify as Premium, a lab-grown diamond must meet all of the following:
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Clarity: VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included) or higher
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Color: D (colorless)
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Cut (round brilliants only): Excellent
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Polish & Symmetry: Excellent
STANDARD - To qualify as Standard, a lab-grown diamond must meet these thresholds:
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Clarity: VS (Very Slightly Included) or higher
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Color: E–J
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Cut (round brilliants only): Very Good
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Polish & Symmetry: Very Good (with some flexibility for fancy shapes)
Diamonds that do not meet even these minimums may not receive a GIA Quality Assessment.
No More Full Color or Clarity Grades
One of the most important shifts is that lab-grown diamonds will no longer be assigned individual color (D–Z) or clarity (FL to I3) grades. These scales remain the gold standard for natural diamonds, where variation is significant and those distinctions matter.
For lab-grown diamonds, however, those detailed gradations offered little practical difference. By moving to Premium or Standard, GIA makes Quality Assessments more straightforward while still ensuring that quality benchmarks are clear.
What Stays the Same
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Natural diamonds will still receive full 4 Cs grading (Color, Clarity, Cut, Carat).
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All existing GIA documents—whether for natural or lab-grown—remain valid.
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Every lab-grown diamond assessed will continue to carry a laser inscription noting it is “Laboratory-Grown” along with its unique GIA Quality Assessment number.
For a refresher on how the traditional 4 Cs grading scale works for natural diamonds, we invite you to read our guide to the 4 Cs. It’s a helpful resource for understanding how natural stones are evaluated—and how the new lab-grown framework differs.
What This Means for You
Ultimately, this change is about confidence. Whether your lab-grown diamond is labeled Premium or Standard, you can trust that GIA’s updated system reflects the true nature of these stones, and makes the evaluation process more transparent.
At Kinn, we believe diamonds are more than a purchase. They’re an investment in yourself, your story, and the heirlooms you’ll carry forward. With GIA’s new lab-grown standards, you’ll have even greater clarity in making that choice.