AGS 000

[SassyB]

My BF recently saw a diamond at a local jeweler. It was a .73 K ideal cut but the jeweler told him that it was rated by AGS as 000. How can a K diamond be considered a 000? I didn''t think this was possible according to what 000 means....

 

[dockman3]

The AGS 000 is 0 for light return, 0 for polish and 0 for symmetry. It has nothing to do with color or clarity.

 

[Lorelei]

AGS now grade according to performance, so any colour diamond can be awarded AGS0 if the cut quality qualifies. This info from Sir John explains it well I think.

"Originally an AGS triple zero was a diamond with a 0 grade in cut (Ideal), 0 in clarity (IF or Flawless) and 0 in Color (D). AGS 000. However, sellers started calling any diamond with ideal cut 'triple zero' because proportions, polish & symmetry all had to be 0 to get the cut grade AGS 0 (pre-2005). Now, in the same way, light performance, proportions factors and finish all have to be 0... That's why any diamond with the AGS Ideal cut grade now gets called triple 0 (cue old timers on porch smoking pipes saying "Bah - I remember the good old days when ya had to be a D-Flarless to get them zeros!" )"

 

[asudesigner]

I think there is some confusion about 000. On the AGS website it sounds like a 000 means ideal cut, d color, and flawless clarity. On the other hand I have seen it mean ideal cut, ideal symmetry, and ideal polish. The jeweler is probably referring to the latter.

Anyone back me up on this?

 

[asudesigner]

This is what is written on the agslabs website:

http://www.agslab.com/grading_system.html

The AGS 0-10 Grading System

The AGS 0-10 grading scale is easy to understand. The highest possible grade is 0; 10 is the lowest. For example, a diamond with a color grade of 3 has less color than a diamond with a color grade of 5. When writing the grades of a diamond, cut is first, then color, then clarity, and then carat weight. For example, a diamond that is the finest cut, colorless, free of inclusions and blemishes, and one carat in weight would be written as: 0/0/0 — 1.000 carat. In the AGS Diamond Grading Standards, this would be known as a Triple Zero™.

 

[SassyB]

AGS website states that it means cut, color and clarity.

IF the jeweler is referring to sym and polish being AGS0 what are you opions on a K diamond with a great cut?

K scares me but I haven''t seen it yet..

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/14/2008 11:33:45 AM
Author: SassyB
AGS website states that it means cut, color and clarity.

IF the jeweler is referring to sym and polish being AGS0 what are you opions on a K diamond with a great cut?

K scares me but I haven't seen it yet..

Sassy, a well cut K can be gorgeous, but it is best to see it in person and to check it out in different lights to make sure it appeals to you, and that you wouldn't prefer a more icy white diamond! I would be all over such a K, but I love the more "antique whites" in a diamond.

 

[dockman3]

If you're worried about it, you'd better see it in person. A K color can look very white and be absolutely lovely, but they aren't for everyone.

 

[John P]

Date: 8/14/2008 11:32:43 AM
Author: asudesigner


This is what is written on the agslabs website:

http://www.agslab.com/grading_system.html

The AGS 0-10 Grading System

The AGS 0-10 grading scale is easy to understand. The highest possible grade is 0; 10 is the lowest. For example, a diamond with a color grade of 3 has less color than a diamond with a color grade of 5. When writing the grades of a diamond, cut is first, then color, then clarity, and then carat weight. For example, a diamond that is the finest cut, colorless, free of inclusions and blemishes, and one carat in weight would be written as: 0/0/0 — 1.000 carat. In the AGS Diamond Grading Standards, this would be known as a Triple Zero™.

Good find ASU.

We've come full-circle then. The old AGS FAQ indicated that the above was the historical definition, but that calling diamonds 000 based on cut only had entered the modern lexicon... I received this email in 2005 from the lab:

>

That was then, this is now...

I suspect their reverting to the historical definition now (cut 0 color 0 clarity 0) is "made possible" by the present format where only a single 0 appears in the area of cut; finish etc is reported on a separate flap. That eliminates the appearance of "triple zero" or "triple ideal" in the cut area it appeared in prior formats.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 8/14/2008 2:50:20 PM
Author: John Pollard

<< Technically an AGS triple zero was a diamond with a 0 grade in cut (Ideal), 0 in clarity (IF or Flawless) and 0 in Color (D). AGS 000. However, sellers (internet sellers at first) started calling diamonds with the 0 in cut triple zeros because proportions, polish & symmetry all had to be 0 to get the cut grade AGS 0. AGS tried to address this, but it has entered the modern lexicon. It became an “if you can’t beat them, join them” thing. >>

JP
agree, these stones are the REAL 000 in my book.