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RD: Everything we've discussed. They all have that end goal in mind.

MJ: What should retailers do if a customer comes to them questioning a GIA report?

RD: We have established our verification service for anyone, be it a retailer, consumer, diamond dealer, anyone with a stone and a GIA report. Just send it back if there's any concern. The verification service is in place, and we'll do it quick. But you know, we announced it 15 days ago, and to my knowledge no one has sent a stone back.

MJ: Perhaps people are afraid they overpaid?

RD: I can't speculate. If I had a stone I'd send it in. I'd rather know than not know.

MJ: The New York Diamond Dealers Club has said, "If the credibility to the grading process is not immediately restored, this could have a harmful impact on the consumer confidence that is so vital to the ongoing operations and success of our industry." They suggested GIA release the names of implicated dealers.

RD: We're constrained by our attorneys from doing so. Everyone wants to know the names of all companies we've found to be implicated, but we've turned those names over to the law enforcement authorities, and it's their job. GIA is not a law enforcement agency. We cannot indict, arrest, subpoena. These are functions of the federal authorities. We cannot disclose these names, until, if, or when they're brought forward by the U.S. attorney's office.

MJ: What about the scope? A GIA press release spoke of a "community" of dealers. An ominous word, as it seems to connote the barrel more than the apple.

RD: I don't know why that word was chosen. It could've been "cluster," it could've been "handful." It shouldn't be that ominous for you to be worrying about barrels and apples.