GIA vs AGS Hearts and Arrows, Newbie

[travanx]

I was curious if GIA is generally considered the best or most respected lab, how come all the Hearts and Arrows Diamonds are graded through AGS? I am reading reading reading like crazy as I wait for THE ring to arrive in the mail and I haven't come across anything explaining this.

Jamesallen target date for me to receive is the 27th and very excited to finally give the ring to my fiance.

 

[Rhino]

Within the trade GIA and AGS hold equal respect to most as both have earned the reputation of being conservative labs. GIA graded diamonds will generally hold higher premiums as compared to virtually every other lab ... except for AGS. AGS's cut grading stasndards are more stringent with an 11 grade system as opposed to GIA with a 5 grade system but this does not mean that there aren't Hearts & Arrows diamonds that are GIA graded. I've seen hundreds of excellent GIA Hearts & Arrows diamonds over the years. Also, just because you go AGS doesn't guarantee the precision of a Hearts & Arrows diamond either. Every diamond (GIA or AGS) stands or falls on its own merits as there are GIA Ex's that will not make AGS Ideal and there are AGS Ideal's that will not make GIA Ex. What must be provided to make such judgements is the photographic evidence and various optical testing.

I know that's a mouthful but if you have questions feel free to ask.

Regards,

 

[TwinkleStar]

Hey Rhino,

Apologies for the thread hijack but also curious regarding GIA and AGS in color. Does an H grade in GIA tend to color more towards the G side, and does the H grade in AGS tend to color more towards the I side? Just curious, because it seems like there are a lot of AGS H stones out there as opposed to GIA H stones.

 

[stone-cold11]

Nope, definitely not for cut grading, they did not set that C. AGS broke off from GIA because GIA refuse to add in a cut grade for rounds.

Even now, their Ex cut grade is iffy. https://www.pricescope.com/journal/laboratory_cut_grades_what_report_doesn’t_show

 

[John P]

Robert Shipley founded both the GIA and AGS in the 1930s. For decades the AGS functioned as the moral & ethical society to which upstanding gemologists belonged. After much discussion/debate about cut grading AGS opened a lab and started grading diamonds using GIA standards, but also including a grade for cut, in 1996.

On the whole the AGS grades relatively few diamonds compared to GIA. This is partially because they're not global. In fact AGSL is virtually unused outside of the USA so diamond manufacturers with an international presence logically use GIA (or another lab) even for diamonds capable of earning AGSL "Ideal" - simply because they want a report that can be traded in numerous global markets.

As others have mentioned, the AGS does have a stricter cut grading system than GIA. While positive for consumers, for manufacturers there is less incentive to send diamonds there (why send to AGSL when a better grade can be received elsewhere) particularly when AGSL is not as globally recognized. However diamonds with the AGS Platinum Report - still the only cut grading system reviewed and acknowledged by a scientific body - do trade at a slightly higher % in the USA, so stones graded under this system can be found in most US markets; even B&M showrooms if one looks hard enough.

 

[Lizzy2013]

Help!! You gentlemen sound like you know a lot more about diamonds that I do. I am torn between two stones (I sounds like a Karen Carpenter song!!). The price is close. The two contenders are:

AGS Hearts & Arrows:
1.04 round
VS2
H
Cut, Polish, etc. is IDEAL 000
Table size: 55.5%
Depth: 61.9%
Girdle: Thin to medium


Blue Nile Signature (Non Hearts and Arrows):
1.04 round
SI1
G
Cut, Polish, etc. is Excellent
Table size: 56%
Depth: 61.9%
Girdle: Medium

I like the setting and Hearts and Arrows of the AGS better out of the two. However, if the Blue Nile is a better stone, that would be my preference. I have been researching diamonds like crazy for the past week but could really use some help on these two. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth

 

[stone-cold11]

Start your own thread, it is more likely to be read and replied.

Can you post the report, report number, carat weight as listed on the report, hearts image to verify that it is a H&A stone for the 1st stone?

For the BN stone can you do the same?

Best to put the stones on hold before you link the stone here.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi, Elizabeth,

There certainly is a wealth of knowledge on this forum! You will need to start a new topic to ask your question. I will tell you that you will be asked for more information than you have listed so far. They will want to see if there are idealscope and hearts images or ASET images. They would also like to know more of the specs such as crown angle, pavilion angle, and diameter of the stones. Without more information, it would be impossible to tell which of the two stones is the best. Are you saying that the H&A stone is already in a setting or the company selling the stone has a setting you like better?

(I see SC beat me, but I'll post this anyway!)

 

[Lizzy2013]

You guys are wonderful. I will load up the reports with those images. I need to figure out how to do it. I'm on a MAC and an unfamiliar with it.

Elizabeth

 

[Lorelei]

You guys are wonderful. I will load up the reports with those images. I need to figure out how to do it. I'm on a MAC and an unfamiliar with it.

Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth and welcome!

When you start your thread if you are still having trouble with the images, email admin using the report concern button at the top of your post to the right, they will be able to help you or post the images for you.