Newport Beach, Calif.—Collectors Universe Inc. has announced that its diamond authentication and grading division, the Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL), has been approved by Christie's auction house to provide diamond-certification services for stones consigned to Christie's for sale.

Christie's catalogs will include references to the GCAL certificate in the description of the item.

"Some diamond dealers worldwide use a new Gem Certification and Assurance Lab certificate when trading gems," Christie's Europe International Director and Chairman Francois Curiel said in a statement. "The GCAL certificate is highly informative with regard to the Four C's of diamonds—clarity, color, cut and carat weight—but GCAL also grades the optical symmetry plus brilliance of a stone and illustrates the diamond Gemprint with its reflective pattern. As the market leader, we believe it is important for Christie's to introduce these reports to the auction world."

For diamonds weighing less than 2 carats that are submitted to Christie's for auction with a GCAL grading certificate (other than those that are D-color and flawless clarity), Christie's will list the GCAL certificate in its auction catalog. For D-color diamonds with flawless clarity, a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading report will also be required. For diamonds 2 carats or larger that are submitted to Christie's for auction with grading reports from both labs, Christie's will list GCAL's certificate as well as GIA's report in its auction catalog. Only GCAL certificates and GIA reports are currently approved for inclusion in the catalogs.

"We are delighted to provide our diamond authentication and grading services to Christie's jewelry experts, auctioneers and marketers worldwide," Collector's Universe Chief Executive Officer Michael R. Haynes said. "As a renowned auction house leader, Christie's acceptance of our GCAL certification underscores the value of our brand for their consignors and, ultimately, Christie's auction bidders and buyers. This is an important step in building our brand through world class channels, and it's a strategy that we will continue to execute as we expand our presence in this marketplace."

GCAL to certify Christie's diamonds - Source: National Jeweler Network