Provenance & trust
Follow the evidence.
Understand its limits.
A grading result, a country-of-origin record and a responsible-sourcing claim answer different questions.
| Evidence | What to ask | What it does not establish alone |
|---|---|---|
| Grading report | Who issued it, for which stone, using which report type? | A complete custody history or a transaction value. |
| Origin record | How was origin recorded and linked from rough to polished? | Every environmental or labour claim about a supply chain. |
| Custody record | Which stages and handlers are covered? Where are the gaps? | Accuracy of every input without supporting checks. |
| Kimberley Process certificate | Does the relevant rough-diamond shipment have the required documentation? | A certificate for an individual polished retail diamond. |
Grading and origin are separate services.
GIA’s Diamond Origin Report requires rough analysis before polishing. A previously graded polished diamond without that prior analysis is not eligible for this origin service.
Source: GIA — Diamond Origin Report submission guidelines; reviewed 12 November 2026
Read the scope of a traceability system.
Ask where tracking begins, how the physical stone is linked to its records, and whether each transformation is covered. Platform records should be assessed against the particular stone and evidence supplied.
Source: Sarine — Diamond Journey product overview; reviewed 12 November 2026
Understand the Kimberley Process.
The scheme covers international trade in rough diamonds. Polished diamonds do not require a Kimberley Process certificate; broader sourcing questions still need their own evidence.
Source: Kimberley Process — FAQ; reviewed 12 November 2026
Your supplier evidence checklist
- Report number and a direct link to the issuing laboratory.
- Natural or laboratory-grown disclosure and treatment information.
- Origin claim, methodology and available supporting records.
- Chain-of-custody coverage and any disclosed gaps.
- Written terms, invoice, returns and insured delivery arrangements.