Charles & Colvard has announced a strategic alliance with the International Gemological Institute (IGI) to provide exclusive grading reports for their Forever One moissanite gemstones.
This initiative aims to enhance consumer confidence by delivering standardized measures of quality and authenticity for these gemstones.
“Not all moissanite is created equal,” states Don O’Connell, president and CEO of Charles & Colvard. “The new collaboration with IGI emphasizes our commitment to maintaining brand integrity in a market increasingly saturated with false information and counterfeit products.”
Details of the Grading Reports
The grading reports will assess the quality characteristics of the moissanite using the 4Cs—cut, clarity, carat, and color—alongside additional moissanite-specific grading criteria and will identify each individual stone with a unique laser-inscribed mark.
“Moissanite has long been celebrated for its brilliance and durability, but until now, consumers have not had access to moissanite gemstones with grading reports backed by an industry leader in the space. We believe our collaboration with IGI will be a significant turning point in the lab-grown industry. This strategic alliance will bring unparalleled transparency and accountability regarding the quality of moissanite gemstones. We believe our new certifications will allow consumers, retailers, and distributors to further validate the quality and value of our gems while helping to safeguard customers against misinformation and false claims made by other moissanite providers,” continued O’Connell.
“This development underscores IGI’s commitment to supporting our industry with detailed, accurate assessments,” continued Avi Levy, president of IGI North America. “It demonstrates our dedication to reinforcing consumer trust in all of the gemstone products they purchase.”
Initial Launch and Future Availability
Initially, the Forever One moissanite reports will be available to the trade on a limited basis starting next week. The IGI will gradually scale up its operations to meet increasing demand. Later in the year, consumers will also be able to purchase finished jewelry featuring IGI-certified moissanite gemstones from Charles & Colvard.
Exhibition at the JCK Show
Both Charles & Colvard and IGI will showcase their products and services at the JCK Show in Las Vegas from May 31 to June 3, 2024. IGI will be located at booth #11065, and Charles & Colvard can be found at booth #12058 in the Bridal Pavilion.
This partnership signifies a step towards standardizing moissanite grading, a critical step towards more trust and acceptance in lab-grown gemstones.
Aligning moissanite more closely with the established standards used for diamonds is an additional sales tool for jewelers and should deliver an enhanced ability to assure customers of the quality and authenticity of their moissanite products.
