A major shift in the diamond industry just dropped and it's one worth talking about.
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GIA - the authority that literally invented the 4Cs (Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat) in the 1950s -has just announced it will no longer apply this system to lab-grown diamonds. Instead, lab-created stones will now be labeled simply as “premium” or “standard.”
It’s a major shift - one that separates a centuries-old natural legacy from a modern industrial process.
To understand how significant this is, we need to rewind. The 4Cs, developed in partnership with industry leaders like De Beers, were meant to bring structure and trust to a global natural diamond market. De Beers, once the most dominant force in the diamond world, not only controlled supply but also shaped perception - famously coining “A Diamond is Forever” in 1947.
Together, GIA and De Beers helped make the natural diamond one of the most enduring symbols of love and commitment. But lab-grown diamonds - produced in months using HPHT or CVD technology don’t follow that same arc. They lack geological rarity, historical depth, and emotional permanence.
Over 95% of lab-grown diamonds fall within a tight quality band, making detailed 4Cs grading redundant. GIA’s move is a recognition of that and of the need to treat lab-grown and natural diamonds as fundamentally different categories.
At Archana Aggarwal Timeless Jewellery, we work exclusively with natural diamonds -formed deep within the Earth over billions of years. Each one is a product of time, pressure, and mystery. These are not just adornments. They are heirlooms.
This change by GIA doesn’t just simplify certification - it marks a return to clarity and honesty in how we speak about diamonds.
Would love to hear your thoughts - from jewellers, collectors, and conscious buyers: Is this the distinction we’ve all been waiting for?
View our collection: https://archanaaggarwal.com
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