In a landmark event attended by prominent diamond industry dignitaries and industry leaders, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) proudly launched its cutting-edge Light Performance analysis — a proprietary innovation developed by IGI’s Research & Development team.
The session was conducted by John Pollard, IGI’s Sr Director Education, from Dallas USA who was specially flown in for the occasion, the session underscored IGI’s commitment to going beyond the traditional 4Cs by offering deeper, science-based insights into a diamond’s optical beauty and brilliance.
The Light Performance provides advanced cut analysis grading technique and is especially important for diamonds that appear identical on paper – same 4Cs – but differ noticeably in sparkle and visual presence. For retailers and brands, the Light Performance score enables clearer product differentiation and storytelling.
For consumers, it brings greater clarity, confidence, and control, ensuring they’re investing in diamonds that deliver exceptional beauty. This service benefits both the industry and consumers by establishing a consistent wide-range standard for evaluating and communicating a diamond’s visual performance.
Light Performance reports are available for diamonds which achieve an “Exceptional” score – whether natural or lab-grown – across IGI’s global grading facilities. IGI will also extend the Light Performance service to reports previously graded by external laboratories, boosting their market appeal.
Tehmasp Printer, MD and CEO, IGI stated: “At IGI, our commitment lies in bringing knowledge and transparency to every diamond we certify. Light Performance analysis measures what we often refer to as the ‘true beauty’ of a diamond in a quantifiable, scientific way. By extending our analysis to fancy shapes and flexible report formats, we are expanding our provision of meaningful information with scientific precision, increasing confidence for a wider audience of end consumers.”
Following IGI’s Light Performance Analysis, qualifying diamonds receive a primary score for overall performance, along with individual scores for three key components: Brightness (all reflected and refracted white light), Fire (dispersed light seen as flashes of color) and Contrast (balance and intensity of bright and dark areas).
The scoring breakdown appears visually on IGI’s Light Performance Report, alongside the 4Cs, offering a complete view of diamond quality. Each score is scientifically repeatable, and based on how the diamond’s specific measurements, angles, and facet groups interact with light.
A Structured Light Environment representation, modeled with ray-tracing software, serves as performance proof. These details reveal how the diamond reflects and refracts light – the main drivers of brilliance and sparkle in the real-world settings. A standout feature of the system involves IGI’s proprietary contrast evaluation, which uses a real-world distance of 40cm for primary assessment.
“Transparency and full diamond analysis are the cornerstones of our work.” Mr. Printer continued. “Every gem we evaluate – natural or lab-grown – is assessed with same precision expertise and commitment to quality.”
“Adding Light Performance bridges a gap between the jeweler’s grading loupe and the all-important eyes of the consumer.
In addition to the traditional 4Cs, this report additionally speaks to the real-world brightness, rainbow flashes and vivid contrast seen during scintillation – the things consumers love most about diamonds.” stated John Pollard, Senior Director of Education at IGI, USA.
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