GIA USA vs. GIA Thailand certificate

[gemandjewelrylover]

Hello,

I was just wondering if a GIA certificate from Thailand would be trusted as much as one from the USA.
For the same stone, would there be any difference at all in its value or accuracy of the certificate if the certificate was from Thailand?
Or is GIA GIA?

Thank you!

 

[Edward Bristol]

GIA should be GIA.

 

[pinkjewel]

GIA should be GIA.

Yes-"should" is the issue,I believe. There have been some issues about not all GIA offices grading the same way.

 

[chrono]

Theoretically, all GIA offices have the same standards to adhere to, the same equipment and level of experience. That said, they are humans, and people will vary to some degree. In the grand scheme of things, personally, I am not overly concerned about GIA USA vs. GIA Thailand.

PinkJewel,
Can you by any chance reference any cases or articles of concern?

 

[gemandjewelrylover]

Ok, thank you for your input! I am going to Thailand next month and am thinking about getting some certificates there since I won't be in the USA for a while.
I know AGL is the best for non-diamond colored stones, but is GIA good too? Or would it be better to wait for AGL on those? Particularly for origin- reports. Don't want to waste my money, I'm not in a real hurry.

Thanks again!

 

[Edward Bristol]

Consider GRS in BKK. They also make full certs with origins and treatment-tests.

 

[chrono]

AGL is my personal preference followed by GIA. I know that GRS is also fine but I have trouble respecting any lab that still describes colour using archaic terms such as pigeon's blood and Kashmir blue. That is my only hangup with GRS, otherwise I hold them in high regard for testing and verification.

 

[gemandjewelrylover]

Thank you, Ed and Chrono (and pink jewel). I looked at the two websites. I can't find the turnaround times for lab reports on GRS. I'll only be in BKK for 10 days, maybe not long enough. But I saw on the GIA website that they have a 50-pass book for $3000 - for any size stone.
For origin report it takes two passes, so basically I could get 25 reports with origin for that - pretty appealing, cuz I have a couple of stones that would cost me $500-$700 apiece due to their size. Unfortunately, the turnaround time for everything in BKK seems to be 20-plus days. It looks like they ship some stuff off to the states? Or somewhere, but i would guess the states. So it might be a USA report after all? I need to research more, to see if mounted stones are included in that 50-pass book (no expiration, valid at any location), but it sounds like a great solution. Chrono, I understand what you are saying about GRS's color descriptions, but it's good to hear otherwise you think they're good. If this GIA gem-pass booklet does mounted as well as un mounted stones, I think I'll definitely go that route. Maybe even if it doesn't.....gotta check it out!
Thank you all!

 

[bcavitt]

AGL is my personal preference followed by GIA. I know that GRS is also fine but I have trouble respecting any lab that still describes colour using archaic terms such as pigeon's blood and Kashmir blue. That is my only hangup with GRS, otherwise I hold them in high regard for testing and verification.

They may be archaic, but people still use them. Our store sold a pigeon blood red ruby and a Kasmir blue sapphire to the same customer a few years ago. Nice sales both.