gerprint,” and the crime-solving process intensifies when the Institute’s renowned laboratory experts analyze a diamond for grading. Using high-tech instruments and computer systems, GIA records the size, nature, number, (NAPSA)—TheFBI, Scotland Yard, and other U.S. and international law enforcement agencies have turned to the world’s foremost authority in gemology—the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)—for expert assistance in solving multimillion dollar diamond heists in the U.S. and abroad. GIA’s highly trained gemologists recently aided Scotland Yard in solving the case of a diamond robbery valued at $15 to $20 million. Several of the stolen diamonds were submitted to the GIA Gem Laboratory, where the vast majority of the world’s diamonds are graded. The diamonds were quickly identified when GIA Laboratory personnel used gemological identification and a high-tech computer system to match their identification with data on diamonds reported to have been stolen. In another case several years ago, a Florida man, who was already under FBI investigation for defrauding pro-golfers Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman,sold a diamond he had nabbed. He was similarly apprehended after the stone was submitted to the GIA Gem Laboratory for grading. Since the diamond waspreviously evaluated by GIA, it was tracked during the identification process, and FBI agents were able to trace it back to their suspect. He was convicted and sentenced to 40 yearsin prison. position, color, and alignment/ori- entation of clarity characteristics unique to each diamond during the grading process. If examination of the suspicious diamond showsthat it matches one in GIA’s records, the evidence can GIA Gem Laboratory personnel use gemological identification techniques and a high-tech computer system to matchthe identification of stolen diamonds. GIA uses manyrecorded factors, such as the diamond’s weight, measurements, proportions, polish, symmetry, color, clarity and fluorescence to provide much of the information required for GIA to calculate potential matches to other diamonds in the GIA Gem Laboratory’s database. GIA’s computer processors perform algorithms to compare someorall of these characteristics with those of diamonds previously identified in the databaseaslost or stolen. One very interesting aspect of this process involves using specific clarity characteristics found in the diamond. Just like humans, every diamond has an individual “fin- be—and often is—used in court to convict diamondthieves. “These internal characteristics of a diamond contribute to the unique creation ofits ‘fingerprint.’ And it’s the number, nature, and location of inclusions, and how they relate to each other, that are the key factors in identifying the stolen diamond,” said Thomas C. Yonelunas, CEO of the GIA Gem Laboratory. “We are proud to be able to offer this service to support our core mission in serving the public trust andalso in lessening the burden of government and law enforcement agencies.” GIA created the International Diamond Grading System™ that is now recognized as the standard by virtually every professional jeweler and diamantaire in the world, as well as the public. For more information about GIA, including its laboratory services and unique educational offerings, visit www.gia.edu, or call 800-421-7250.
