AGS 0

[asscherisme]

Quest jewelers has a lot of AGS stones and really good prices as well. They are located in the DC area (northern VA) and they are well respected with a real brick and moter place you can visit as well. I don''t think I saw them mentioned yet as a place to buy.

White Flash is good as well and many others.

I had a bad experience with blue nile and don''t think their prices are very good.

I know that for us, online offered MUCH better selection and prices than online.

And if you go online, you will have tons of AGS O to choose from so limiting yourself to an AGS O stone won''t limit your choices too much.

 

[WinkHPD]

Hot off the presses!

At last week''s JA show in New York.

A diamond buyer was seen at a vendor''s booth going through a LARGE pile of GIA Excellent diamonds. Each one went onto an ASET tool and was accepted or rejected based on the ASET image. A comment was heard by my source that the diamonds accepted were to be sent to AGS where they would receive either AGS 1 or 0 grades.

A sad note, the stack of rejected gems is said to have been larger than the stack of accepted gems...

Dateline Winkville Idaho

P.S. I find this information both interesting and in keeping with my, and other''s comments above.

 

[RockDoc]

I agree Wink.

The ASET does separate the quality of cut very well, but I''ve found the PGS software to be even better and more fussy about rating them, and defining WHY a stone would either get the 0 cut grade or one that is lower.

As I''m sure you are aware, one system totally supposrts the other.

Rockdoc

 

[Regular Guy]

Rock,

Are there any links to anywhere that describe this PGS AGS software?

Are there any inputs (machinery) required to use it, apart from the software?

Do you happen to know if other appraisers (or others in the trade) use it, too?

Regards,

 

[WinkHPD]

PGS software? Please tell us more.

Wink

 

[RockDoc]

Date: 8/9/2006 5:20:07 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Rock,

Are there any links to anywhere that describe this PGS AGS software?

Are there any inputs (machinery) required to use it, apart from the software?

Do you happen to know if other appraisers (or others in the trade) use it, too?

Regards,

Hi Ira

There is info on it on the www.AGSAID.com site. If you don''t see the information, email me at [email protected] and I will email you the pdf files that explain it.

Inputs.... yes.... it needs a non contact file ( Sarin or Helium,etc.)

It also requires personal inspection by someone who understands polish and symmetry using AGS grading standards.

As I understand it - there are two versions of the software. One is for the general trade ( mostly cutters ) and the other is for AGS members. The general trade one does not report the cut grade result.

It is a very expensive program, and also requires license fees each year. So those that aren''t members won''t be able to get it, and you need a Sarin or Helium as well.... As far as how many will have it? The overwhelming majority of appraisers will not have it, either because they aren''t members, don''t have the non-contact units, or not want to spend what it costs.

I''ve made that commitment as I believe consumers who only have DQR''s or GIA reports may want to know what the AGS Cut grade would be.

While it isn''t a requirement, I think that you also need the desktop ASET and the Presentation ASET to reconcile what the computer generated ASET it generates shows.

The resultant report it issues, takes lot of the stone''s characteristics into consideration, and reports each detail with quite an exact reading.

Now that AGS has approved doing emerald cut and square emerald cut shapes, once the software is updated, we will be able to do Asschers with it as well.

Rockdoc

 

[RockDoc]

Date: 8/10/2006 12:06:48 AM
Author: Wink
PGS software? Please tell us more.

Wink

I would think that you saw a demonstration of how it works at one of the shows, or in the seminar that they gave in Las Vegas, Wink.


But if you haven''t seen it there is lots on the www.agsaid.com site.


Rockdoc

 

[WinkHPD]

Silly me, I thought you were for some reason talking about PGS as in the PGS lab. My old brain just doesn''t keep up with all the acronyms...

Wink

 

[Regular Guy]

I'm not sure exactly what I knew and didn't know at the time I bought my wife's replacement engagement ring a couple of years ago. I was quickly a fan of the potential of the HCA, bought into the idea of an appraiser checking out the results of a purchase, and thought maybe one internet vendor was like another, if supported by this board.

Maybe not too much has changed in my understanding from then to now, but -- as they say -- maybe some of the "variances" have tightened up. Certainly, the world of diamond grading has changed by some measure over this time, and now that AGS has come forward with a system of grading that is well regarded even by experts on this board for its expertise, I might have decided (if now were then) to constrain my purchase decision to only AGS options, which would make things simpler. It's hard to tell exactly what I would do again, if then were now.

But, if I would decide to not invest in a diamond already certed by AGS yielding AGS0, I have to think that, given the opportunity made available at least by Rock:

Date: 8/10/2006 1:18:11 AM
Author: RockDoc

I've made that commitment as I believe consumers who only have DQR's or GIA reports may want to know what the AGS Cut grade would be.

...I would have to at least consider, as a function of due diligence, taking advantage of my bias to a) use some appraiser following my diamond purchase, b) use one who could actually confirm the proportions asserted by my cert, especially if GIA, and c) consider using AGS0 criteria to assist in making a purchase determination.

Though it didn't receive good favor 18 months ago, I wrote a post, encouraging buyers to collude with appraisers to get them to earn their keep, asking them to agree with the buyer on a set of criteria that would allow them together to know whether a diamond was a keeper or not. In this post, I suggested the following criteria might be applied to the purchase decision:

"For any given a) price, and b) distributor type (B&M, internet vendor, pawn shop)….the appraiser would him or herself….c) make an affirmative purchase decision…

1) As an engagement ring for one’s spouse
2) As a nice gift for one’s spouse
3) Would not make that purchase decision, of that item."

Really, what you're trying to do is just get their expert opinion on whether or not the darn thing looks really good...but not only that...looks relatively really good, based on a real world set of alternatives.

My current first bias might be the one expressed here, for appraising, but Jonathan might not be available.

Otherwise, as Kenny recently, wisely expressed here:

"I just like the idea of a top lab setting standards so that a novice like me can use to be assured of some level of quality cut.
I have followed many asscher threads and I just can't learn.
I'm too dumb, or it's more complicated than I care to digest.

I think asscher sales will increase greatly when the cut standards are released.
I'm not the only insecure customer who needs the warm fuzzy feeling that tools and cut grades from top labs provide.

I realize the experts don't need these cut grades and feel comfortable buying even EGL stones.
That's fine if you care to spend the time learning a lot, and achieving that level of self confidence.

Give me tools, like HCA, and AGS 0 grades."

It may not be the best marker for a thumbs up or down, but it is perhaps an effective foil for the purpose, and could be a useful tool for bringing real "contrast" into the conversation about whether or not to make an affirmative diamond purchase.

Just some current thoughts.