GIA India

Looking to pick an exceptional Round Brilliant Cut diamond? Save these tips on diamond anatomy!

- Table: This is the largest facet at the “top” of a diamond, typically mounted to face the viewer. It allows light to shine into the diamond and reflect back out. A large table facet can make a diamond appear larger, but too large of a table facet can reduce the crown facets’ ability to disperse light. The ideal table size is between 52-62% of a diamond’s diameter.
- Crown: The crown facets at the top of the diamond consist of 8 bezels, 8 stars and 16 upper halves. They gather and disperse light to create brightness, fire and a scintillating pattern of light and dark. The crown angle – the angle between the bezel facet plane and the table plane – should be between 31.5 to 36.5 degrees.
- Girdle: The girdle surrounds the middle portion of a diamond like a “belt,” Separating the crown from the pavilion. It should not be too thick, which can hide weight, or too thin, which may make the diamond vulnerable to chipping.
- Pavilion: The pavilion or bottom facets consist of 16 lower halves and 8 mains. They reflect light back through the crown into the viewer’s eye. The pavilion angle, the average angle made by the diamond’s pavilion facets and girdle plane, is a key dimension influencing the stone’s brightness, and ideally falls between 40.6 – 41.8 degrees.
- Culet: The culet is an optional facet at the very bottom of the diamond. It can reduce the chance of the bottom tip chipping. However, an overly large culet can look like a distracting dark circle through the table facet.
Importantly, GIA considers how a diamond’s proportions relate to each other, rather than considering individual proportions in isolation.

Learn more about picking the best round brilliant diamond at the link in our bio.

Mona Shah, Founder and Managing Director of Gewels by Mona, gave an insightful talk on the art and responsibility of revamping heirloom jewelry.

Drawing from over 25 years of experience in the industry, she spoke about how revamping is not just a design intervention, but an emotional process that balances sentiment, sustainability, and contemporary relevance. Through real-life examples, she highlighted why understanding client psychology, legacy, and personal identity is just as important as technical skill.

She touched upon rising gold prices, the growing need for sustainable practices, and how old, unused jewelry can be thoughtfully reimagined into multiple wearable pieces without losing its original value or story. From bold modern brides to deeply traditional family heirlooms, her work showcased how small design decisions can preserve emotion while embracing change.

Emerald, the birthstone for May, has captivated civilizations for thousands of years. Its name originates from the Greek ‘smaragdos’, meaning “green gem,” later evolving into forms like ‘esmeraude’, while Pliny the Elder famously noted that “nothing greens greener."

Many of history’s most celebrated emerald treasures trace their origins to Colombia, long considered the premier source of the gem. Brazil and Zambia are other major emerald-producing regions. Across centuries and continents, these remarkable stones have appeared in royal collections, religious objects and museum masterpieces.

Emerald’s enduring appeal lies not only in their attractive color, but in the stories they carry of geology, history and human fascination. Today, emerald continues to symbolize renewal and vitality, connecting the natural world with centuries of cultural significance.

Learn more about May’s birthstone on our website: https://bit.ly/48mO2d0

A room full of shared journeys, lived experiences, and new conversations 🌟

The GIA Alumni Collective, Chennai Chapter, Meet & Greet event was all about bringing people closer, creating space for alumni to reconnect, exchange insights, and engage with perspectives from across the industry.

From thoughtful discussions to vibrant interactions among alumni, the evening highlighted the power of coming together beyond roles and titles. Conversations flowed freely, ideas were exchanged, and connections were built—some rekindled, many new.

More than just a gathering, the event served as a reminder of the strength of the GIA alumni community, rooted in collaboration, learning, and mutual growth. Walking away with fresh perspectives and meaningful connections made the experience truly impactful.

Orange gemstones radiate warmth, energy and optimism. Here are the orange gemstones to know:

- Orange diamond: Incredibly rare, even rarer than dominant pink and blue natural diamonds, orange diamonds are the hardest, most brilliant and most valuable orange gem. Famous examples include the 14.82-carat The Orange and the 5.54-carat Pumpkin Diamond, both graded Fancy Vivid Orange by GIA.
- Orange sapphire: Colored by trace elements with colors ranging from soft pinkish orange “padparadscha” to saturated orange and are prized for their rich hues and hardness.
- Citrine: The golden-orange variety of quartz admired for its sunny color, affordability and wide availability.
- Fire Opal: Often from Mexico, fire opals may display exceptional transparency and vivid yellow to orangy red body color.
- Imperial topaz: Known for its rich reddish-orange hue, this prized variety of topaz is traditionally associated with luxury and royalty.
- Spessartine garnet: Also known as “mandarin garnet” and celebrated for its bright, fiery orange color, spessartine garnet is valued for its high brilliance and lively appearance.
- Melo pearl: A rare natural non-nacreous pearl from Southeast Asia, melo pearls are known for their rich orange color and flame-like structure.
- Sunstone: Named for its warm glow, sunstone often displays sparkling copper or hematite inclusions that create a distinctive shimmer.

Which is your favorite orange gemstone? See the full list of must-know gems on our website: https://bit.ly/4m3AJ6T

Students have been working hard to earn their GIA credentials, and these recent graduation ceremonies mark an important milestone for aspiring gem and jewelry professionals.

Pictured here are graduates from three recent programs conducted in Mumbai, celebrating achievements across gemology and jewelry education.

(Images 1 and 2 - Graduate Diamonds Diploma Program (Blended); 3 and 4 - Jewelry Design Certificate Program, 5 and 6 - Graduate Diamonds Diploma Program)