An Identification Report states what a material is, without color or clarity grades. GIA issues one for simulants and for diamonds with unstable treatments, such as coating or fracture filling.
In more detail
GIA doesn't grade simulants or unstably treated diamonds, so it identifies them instead. Expect no D-to-Z letter and no clarity grade. IGI also issues identification reports, for example for moissanite that it doesn't grade.
On a grading report
The report names the material, whether it is natural or laboratory-grown, and any detectable treatment.
Related terms
- Simulant: A simulant is a material that looks like a gem but has a different chemistry, structure and properties. Cubic zirconia, moissanite and glass are diamond simulants.
- Moissanite: Moissanite is silicon carbide, one silicon atom for every carbon atom, in a hexagonal crystal. It is a diamond simulant, and every moissanite in jewelry is laboratory-grown.
- Fracture filling: Fracture filling is a clarity treatment that injects a glass-like filler into a crack to make it less visible.
- Coating: Coating is a thin film, paint or ink on the surface of a gem that changes its color or look.
- Diamond grading report: A diamond grading report is an independent lab's record of what a stone is and how it grades. It is true for the day the lab examined the stone.