confused

[gtoy2]

I found a GIA certified diamond online line and was going to purchase it. However in the seller''s comments it AGS0. I asked many diamond stores what this means and they don''t know. Please help.

Stock Number 2024618
Certificate GIA 13038233
Cut ROUND BRILLIANT
Carat 0.80
Color E
Clarity VS1

Measurements 5.9 x 5.95 x 3.68 mm
Depth Percentage 62.1 %
Table Percentage 57 %
Crown Angle
Pavilion Percentage %
Pavilion Angle
Girdle VTN-SLTKF
Culet N
Polish VERY GOOD
Symmetry GOOD
Fluorescence NONE
Certificate Notes
Other Notes AGS0
Clarity-Enhanced NO

 

[phoenixgirl]

You asked many diamond stores what "AGS0" means and they don't know???

AGS is another grading lab like the GIA. However, unlike the GIA, they provide cut information. Instead of calling D color "D," they call it "0." In other words, 0 is the best grade they give in any category. An AGS0 means that it meets their highest standards of cut (i.e. the angles and percentages of the crown and pavilion, etc.). It is a good thing. The seller put it on as a note because the GIA doesn't grade cut quality at all.

However, a stone with "good" symmetry would not be graded as a 0 by the AGS. Therefore, the term doesn't mean anything in this case. Ask for a "sarin analysis" of the stone so that you can find out the crown and pavilion angles.

 

[Magnum]

It probably means the stone has been analyzed on a sarin machine, and the proportions fell within the AGS0 category. Ask the vendor for the numbers from the sarin report (most importantly crown and pavillion angles), so you can get a better idea of the possible light return of the diamond.

 

[strmrdr]

ags0 is a standard of cut and finish extablished by ags.
AGS is a diamond grading and certification org. much like gia.

The diamond your looking at is not an ags0 diamond.
It does not meet the required ratings for polish and Symmetry therefore no matter how its cut can not be an ags0

With a Symmetry rating of only good it isnt that well cut anyway.

Id pass on the diamond and the vendor.

If they are not truthful about that what else are they lying about?

 

[diamondsman]

Ags o , means that the stone is withing the ideal cut proprtions.
It only relates to cut,Nothing to do with color and calrity.

 

[Magnum]

I just noticed that the girdle is listed as VTN-SLTKF. This means that the girdle thickness ranges from very thin to slightly thick. I think there might be an increased risk of chipping the edge of a diamond if the girdle is very thin, and according to the pricescope tutorial,

"Diamonds with very thin girdles are not recommended for claw set ring settings but are OK in pendants and earrings. There is always the risk of a girdle chipping during setting if it is too thin."

So, maybe if it was set in a full bezel in might be ok, but I'm definitely not an expert with settings, or really anything for that matter, so maybe someone else can comment.

 

[strmrdr]

good point Magnum what you said is true.

 

[Rank Amateur]

An AGS 0 cut must have Ideal Polish and Symmetry in addition to Ideal Proportions.

 

[valeria101]

If this is not sold as an "ideal cut" (with the price premium, that is), the "AGS0" comment is worth very little. It would be great if the seller actually went to the length to get a Sarin report and used the AGS standard for proportions (since the implied polish and symmetry are not there) to make up the comment, but my guess is that this did not happened. If I am wrong, it is worth asking for teh Sarin data (crown and pavilion angles and/or % to get a better sense of the stones' optics). There are not that many non-ideals sold with Sarin available, and this would be good info to have.
The concern about girdle thickness is surely right. It does depend on what setting you have in mind wether the stone would be at risk from wear though.

 

[phoenixgirl]

If you drop clarity a bit (but remain eye-clean), you can stay in the same price range (I think I found the vendor offering your stone, although several vendors have it listed, meaning that your vendor called it an "AGS0" likely without ever seeing it -- the others did not put this note on it) and get an ideal cut stone:

0.80 E SI1 H&A for $3650

0.78 H&A E VS2 for $3900

0.90 G VS2 non-ideal but good cut for $3700