Question on Certification

[tantan]

Does GIA/AGS certification help to weed out those with painted/dugged girdles? Or it doesn''t help at all?

 

[Lorelei]

GIA will downgrade the cut grade for brillianteering/ painting to Very Good, it will say so in the comments section of a report " cut grade affected by brillianteering", other than that it is difficult to say, images are needed and the opinion of a trusted vendor. It isn't always the case that painting will have a negative effect on a diamond's appearance, sometimes some skilled brillianteering can emphasize desirable visual properties in a diamond.

 

[denverappraiser]

‘Weed out’? Done well, digging and painting is not a defect. Done poorly nearly everything is a defect. No, this is not something that's included on GIA's reports but it is, to a small extent, considered as an element in their cut grade.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[DrDiamondsGG]

When GIA grades diamonds (they do not "certify"), its graders do indeed record painting/digging out in their internal files. Painting/digging out will be judged during girdle thickness evaluation. According to GIA''s grading standards, a diamond with moderate painting/digging out will receive a VG grade at best. Of course the cut grade will go down with more extensive painting/digging out. Therefore, slight painting/digging out may not impact the cut grade.

 

[tantan]

Interesting. I didn''t realise that digging can be a good thing if done well. Thanks to everyone here which actually gives people like me an education. I learnt something new again!