AGS vs

bmathews · Jun 21, 2006

GIA for princess cut diamonds....

sorry about the short title, typing on a laptop in the dark and I hit enter.

Anyhow, my question is about the AGS reports vs GIA reports for princess cut diamonds. I know AGS goes into more detail with thier 000 ideal princess cut diamonds where GIA only has thier excellent grading and it seems to me that AGS is more strict than GIA when it comes to princess cut diamonds.

I know that GIA makes up the majority of the online diamond market and AGS are more rare but I have been looking for an AGS diamond in my search and having trouble finding a site that provides exactly what I want. So my question is, how big of a deal is it between the AGS and GIA reports when it comes to princess cut diamonds.

I want to add that from my talks at keppie diamonds there have been some changes in the grading of princess cut diamonds in the AGS that GIA has not adopted yet. Can anyone explain or confirm this?

Might as well lock this... search answered my questions

JohnQuixote · Jun 21, 2006

Well, I began replying and got to the bottom before I saw your qs had been answered via search. I'll hit submit anyway. Best wishes.

Date: 6/21/2006 2:32:58 AM
Author:bmathews

Anyhow, my question is about the AGS reports vs GIA reports for princess cut diamonds. I know AGS goes into more detail with thier 000 ideal princess cut diamonds where GIA only has thier excellent grading and it seems to me that AGS is more strict than GIA when it comes to princess cut diamonds.

GIA does not grade the cut of fancy shapes. AGS does, and their range for the top grade (0 or Ideal) is strict relative to the number of princess cuts on the market.

I know that GIA makes up the majority of the online diamond market and AGS are more rare but I have been looking for an AGS diamond in my search and having trouble finding a site that provides exactly what I want. So my question is, how big of a deal is it between the AGS and GIA reports when it comes to princess cut diamonds.

Diamonds can be sent to any lab for grading and there is always a logical reason behind why it was sent to a particular lab: Diamonds receiving the AGS Ideal grade were sent there because the manufacturer was confident it would receive the pedigree. That is one reason they are rare; most diamonds in the mainstream would not qualify for an ideal cut grade, so why send them to AGS labs when another lab will give the stone better (or no) marks for cut?

Many diamonds of top beauty are sent to GIA because that lab has the largest global reputation for high quality. However, a princess of nice color and clarity might also be sent to GIA because the maker knows it would not receive top marks in cut from AGS, whereas GIA does not report cut.

I want to add that from my talks at keppie diamonds there have been some changes in the grading of princess cut diamonds in the AGS that GIA has not adopted yet. Can anyone explain or confirm this?

They're right. AGS grades cut for princess. GIA doesn't yet.

There is an ongoing thread that may be of interest to you here: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ags-000-and-imagem-results.46481/

Whether or not it's a 'big deal' depends on how much you value the AGS 0 cut pedigree. The bottom line with fancy shapes is to perform your research and work with someone you trust to source your stone.