I just bought a vintage diamond ring from the 1940s, and it came with a GIA diamond grading report. Is this possible? I thought the GIA didn't started issuing grading reports until much later.

It is true that the GIA only started issuing diamond grading reports in the 1950s, and the diamond grading reports didn't become ubiquitous until probably a few decades later. However, just because the ring was made in the 1940s doesn't mean that the diamond certificate is necessarily that old. After all, the diamond grading certificate can be issued at any time in the life of a diamond. It doesn't necessarily have to be issued the simultaneous with the manufacture of the jewelry it is set in. Diamonds have to be removed from their settings in order to be evaluated, so it is quite possible that the diamond was removed from its setting, sent for testing, then reset into the same vintage setting. The diamond grading report should have a date on it that will let you know when it is from. If you are still concerned that the diamond certificate is a fake, you can consult with the GIA. Every certificate has a code number on it, and the GIA keeps an archive of all the diamond grading reports that it has issued. I think you may even be able to check it over their website, just by entering in the diamond report number. It is possible, though, that the jeweler just stuck the diamond certificate for a different diamond with your ring. You could bring both ring and certificate to a gemologist and have him verify it for you.

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