Is the AGS0 a BRAND or a GRADE?

[oldminer]

I have come to the belief that the AGS0 cut of rounds and especially for princess cuts is a BRAND that users of AGS certs pay for on those stones which fit the AGS0 brand''s parameters. I think there are other high performance diamonds outside the parameters of the AGS0 cut which have been left out to keep consistency of proportions and appearance within the brand rather than to grade the actual performance of all possible high performance diamonds.

My feeling is that if AGS0 was actually a GRADE, there would be a wider set of choices for how high performance rounds and princess cuts diamonds could be cut.

This is not a criticism of the of AGSL or the AGS0 cut, because I think those stones which get AGS0 are super looking diamonds. I just believe there are many variations that would perform equally as well, possibly even better, which currently could not get an AGS0 blessing.

I believe a GRADE should be Performance based and open to any parametric design configuration. I believe a grade based on a parametrically limited set is a BRAND and possibly ought to be advertised in this way rather than as a GRADE. This is a thread dealing with the proper use of WORDS, their meaning and how they are understood.

What do others think?

 

[strmrdr]

It is both a brand and a grade as it is used today.

The AGS0 range is actually a lot wider than most people think it is.
It covers everything from bic tic fic 60/60 even my oec design can potentially hit ags0 light performance(they would take a hit on proportions and get a final grade of 1 because they have to be a bit deep) and many more styles of rounds.