It’s been overshadowed by the behind-the-scenes turmoil at the GIA lab, but starting this month the lab will make a major change that will affect all its users.

In January, GIA will begin issuing its first reports with a cut grade for round brilliant stones. (See “GIA’s New Cut Grade to Go ‘Live’ Next Year, JCK, September 2005, p. 42.) A diamond’s cut will be ranked on a scale of five grades ranging from “excellent” to “poor.” It will not apply to fancy shapes, fancy-colored stones, or modified rounds.

For more information—as well as a Facetware Cut Estimator that shows where most diamonds stack up—go to diamondcut.gia.edu.