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- Sep 2, 2002
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Yesterday, when watching Brian''s webinar-presentation, a question was asked about HRD''s grading of H&A. Brian in his answer regularly refered to me, as he apparently thinks that I am in a better position to answer this.
Now, as you know, AGS is our lab of choice, and as such, we personally have little recent experience with HRD. However, I do know how the system worked some years ago, and I suppose that little has changed.
Up to a year ago, HRD had a co-operation with the Japanese lab CGL, and one could get a combined grading-report. At the basis, one would have HRD-grading of colour and clarity. Then, CGL (based within HRD''s building) would grade cut in two aspects, finish and H&A. The highest grade of Finish is Excellent, and H&A would be indicated with a stamp, indicating either ''Hearts and Arrows'', ''Hearts only'' or no H&A-grade at all.
If CGL graded colour and clarity the same as HRD, both logo''s of both labs would be on the report. If there was a difference in colour or clarity, only the CGL-grade would be mentioned, and only the CGL-logo would appear.
Since a year however, HRD and CGL stopped their co-operation, and upon request, one can get a HRD-grading-report with H&A-grading. In the system, the grade of ''Hearts only'' has been abolished, so one gets a grade of either H&A or not. If yes, the grade is mentioned in the comments--section as ''Hearts and arrows'', and a H&A-logo is printed centrally on the report. (I checked this right now with HRD)
As for the strictness of the grade, this is similar to how CGL used to grade it. Some six years ago, I had quite some experience with CGL-grading of H&A, and I would subdivide their H&A-stones into three different quality-levels, of which the true aficionados would only call the highest level a true H&A. If this is still the case, I personally do not like this kind of grading.
Live long,
Now, as you know, AGS is our lab of choice, and as such, we personally have little recent experience with HRD. However, I do know how the system worked some years ago, and I suppose that little has changed.
Up to a year ago, HRD had a co-operation with the Japanese lab CGL, and one could get a combined grading-report. At the basis, one would have HRD-grading of colour and clarity. Then, CGL (based within HRD''s building) would grade cut in two aspects, finish and H&A. The highest grade of Finish is Excellent, and H&A would be indicated with a stamp, indicating either ''Hearts and Arrows'', ''Hearts only'' or no H&A-grade at all.
If CGL graded colour and clarity the same as HRD, both logo''s of both labs would be on the report. If there was a difference in colour or clarity, only the CGL-grade would be mentioned, and only the CGL-logo would appear.
Since a year however, HRD and CGL stopped their co-operation, and upon request, one can get a HRD-grading-report with H&A-grading. In the system, the grade of ''Hearts only'' has been abolished, so one gets a grade of either H&A or not. If yes, the grade is mentioned in the comments--section as ''Hearts and arrows'', and a H&A-logo is printed centrally on the report. (I checked this right now with HRD)
As for the strictness of the grade, this is similar to how CGL used to grade it. Some six years ago, I had quite some experience with CGL-grading of H&A, and I would subdivide their H&A-stones into three different quality-levels, of which the true aficionados would only call the highest level a true H&A. If this is still the case, I personally do not like this kind of grading.
Live long,