Whiteflash ags G downgraded by Gia?

[msop04]

I have a small half carat OEC graded AGS G on my new wedding ring, and it definitely has a buttery tint to it. I would even say that it shows most of the time rather than at times. I felt a bit confused that I could see the tint so easily, as the (very PS reputable) vendor said that I could safely go as low as I without seeing any tint. Well turns out, I was lucky to stay at G, since any more colour would definitely bother me big time. With the tint of the G I can learn to live with, but it's a noticeable hint of buttery yellow - definitely

Ummm... are you sure it's an AGS graded stone?? A G should NEVER look "buttery" -- at all. Also, OEC's tend to face up whiter than MRB's of the same color, so I'm a little confused. An AGS/GIA H should not be "buttery" either, for that matter.

Okay, qwedsy, so I looked at your AVR and couldn't tell a lot from the photos, but I was just curious... when did you decide it went from "crisp whiteness" to buttery yellow??

by qwedsy » 20 May 2014 15:09

The pics are quite bad and really don't show the crisp whiteness nor any of the facet patterning. I only took these pics (in the middle of the night, at kitchen) before taking the diamond to my jeweler and I am quite bummed that I didn't remember to take any juicy outdoor pictures.. I've asked our wedding photographer to take some nice ring **** shots, so I hope that will make up for it
Now I'll just have to wait until the end of June to get to see and wear it..

 

[CharmyPoo]

My opinion is that AGS grades color lower than GIA more frequently than the reverse. I don't think the expert appraisers agree with this thinking and they have seen a larger sample than me. However, I stand my belief based on my own small sampling and also the stories we see here on PS. There are numerous accounts of AGS grading a stone higher than GIA but I have not heard the reverse. It is also aligned with my thinking that EGL-USA grades about 1 grade softer than GIA.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My opinion is that AGS grades color lower than GIA more frequently than the reverse. I don't think the expert appraisers agree with this thinking and they have seen a larger sample than me. However, I stand my belief based on my own small sampling and also the stories we see here on PS. There are numerous accounts of AGS grading a stone higher than GIA but I have not heard the reverse. It is also aligned with my thinking that EGL-USA grades about 1 grade softer than GIA.

Charmy, do you mean that your opinion is that AGS grades color higher than GIA more frequently than the reverse (your first sentence)? Because all the double graded stones I know of here had a grade higher with AGS than GIA.

 

[CharmyPoo]

My opinion is that AGS grades color lower than GIA more frequently than the reverse. I don't think the expert appraisers agree with this thinking and they have seen a larger sample than me. However, I stand my belief based on my own small sampling and also the stories we see here on PS. There are numerous accounts of AGS grading a stone higher than GIA but I have not heard the reverse. It is also aligned with my thinking that EGL-USA grades about 1 grade softer than GIA.

Charmy, do you mean that your opinion is that AGS grades color higher than GIA more frequently than the reverse (your first sentence)? Because all the double graded stones I know of here had a grade higher with AGS than GIA.

Oops.. typo. I mean AGS gradess higher than GIA. I am on the same page as you.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks, Charmy, just wanted to be sure!

 

[Frenchtoast]

hi everyone! thanks for your extremely helpful and encouraging input i love this forum!
you guys are right, theres nothing i can do except see the stone in person... i‘ll order it from WF and if it‘s too tinted for me i shall return it...
given the look of the two clarity reports, do u guys think the SI1 grading looks good? twinning wisps are the grade setter i think.. but i was assured i wouldn't be able to see them without a loupe...

 

[Frenchtoast]

http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104070154003-PLDQRH.PDF
for WF G 1.86 si1

and for the GIA G vs2 1.81


which one is better?
they both have perfect aset images..

 

[Dancing Fire]

Just going by the #s I'd prefer the GIA stone.

 

[MarionC]

Just going by the #s I'd prefer the GIA stone.

+1

 

[Lorelei]

hi everyone! thanks for your extremely helpful and encouraging input i love this forum!
you guys are right, theres nothing i can do except see the stone in person... i‘ll order it from WF and if it‘s too tinted for me i shall return it...
given the look of the two clarity reports, do u guys think the SI1 grading looks good? twinning wisps are the grade setter i think.. but i was assured i wouldn't be able to see them without a loupe...

I don't go by clarity plots to judge whether a stone is eye clean or not, but if WF say the twinning wisps aren't visible without a loupe, I would be confident in their assessment. Both diamonds look great for proportions.

Good luck with your choice, let us know what happens!

 

[Frenchtoast]

hi Lorelei!
How bad do u think EGL grades? say EGL USA, Israel and HK? how many grades more lenient r they generally?
do u think a D, vs2 would be an F si1?

thanks

 

[Lorelei]

hi Lorelei!
How bad do u think EGL grades? say EGL USA, Israel and HK? how many grades more lenient r they generally?
do u think a D, vs2 would be an F si1?

thanks

Hi 'Toastie!

I can't really generalize here with your above scenario but to the best of my knowledge, EGL USA are said to be the strongest of the EGL labs but that's open to debate. Other EGL labs I have heard can be extremely generous in their grading, to the extent that even several colour or clarity grades are involved.

This page should give you more info.

http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/is-egl-certification-as-good-as-ags-or-gia-1330.htm

My worry with you is as you are concerned with the accuracy of the colour grade between GIA and AGS diamonds, considering these two labs are the gold standard of diamond grading, that you would be forever worried with an EGL stone that the colour wasn't as stated. My opinion is that you seem to feel most comfortable with a GIA graded diamond, so that's where you should continue to look. It's possible the extra size you might get with an EGL graded diamond wouldn't be worth it to you in the long run with doubt hanging over the stone...

 

[Frenchtoast]

I could be happy with an F or High G disguised as a D lorelei!
lets see.... I've never looked or considered diamonds with EGLs before...
but i saw one online retailer that seems quite reputable having quite a few EGLs in his inventory..He does hearts and arrows diamonds and the cuts look really good..
i would say more but someone posted about poachers
if u can guess the retailer u can say tho! and tell me what u think of them...

 

[Frenchtoast]

quick question...
is an AGS si2... Bad? don't go there?
coz i heard that they are stricter on clarity... so maybe its not so bad?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Every SI2 is different. Some are eyeclean and some are not. You have to see them. I personally would not even consider SI2 in a stone this size because it is hard to find one that is really eyeclean from all sides.

In addition, please just disregard EGL altogether. Diamonds that are graded by AGS and GIA are more accurately graded and you are not getting a bargain with EGL. If anything, people can easily overpay.

You have two excellent stones from which to choose. I would focus on those and not get off track because you have chosen well thus far.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have sent 4 diamonds to GIA and EGL-Canada ... in all cases, EGL was 1 grade higher than GIA.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I have sent 4 diamonds to GIA and EGL-Canada ... in all cases, EGL was 1 grade higher than GIA.

In clarity or color or both?

 

[qwedsy]

I have a small half carat OEC graded AGS G on my new wedding ring, and it definitely has a buttery tint to it. I would even say that it shows most of the time rather than at times. I felt a bit confused that I could see the tint so easily, as the (very PS reputable) vendor said that I could safely go as low as I without seeing any tint. Well turns out, I was lucky to stay at G, since any more colour would definitely bother me big time. With the tint of the G I can learn to live with, but it's a noticeable hint of buttery yellow - definitely

Ummm... are you sure it's an AGS graded stone?? A G should NEVER look "buttery" -- at all. Also, OEC's tend to face up whiter than MRB's of the same color, so I'm a little confused. An AGS/GIA H should not be "buttery" either, for that matter.

Okay, qwedsy, so I looked at your AVR and couldn't tell a lot from the photos, but I was just curious... when did you decide it went from "crisp whiteness" to buttery yellow??

by qwedsy » 20 May 2014 15:09

The pics are quite bad and really don't show the crisp whiteness nor any of the facet patterning. I only took these pics (in the middle of the night, at kitchen) before taking the diamond to my jeweler and I am quite bummed that I didn't remember to take any juicy outdoor pictures.. I've asked our wedding photographer to take some nice ring **** shots, so I hope that will make up for it
Now I'll just have to wait until the end of June to get to see and wear it..

Yes, it is a G/VS2 AVR and I am OK and happy with it, even with the slight tint. I have absolute trust in GOG and have received both great service and product from them.
The MRBs (smaller, the largest being 0.22ct) I've had before this have all been F-I and compared to them I was a bit puzzled by the hint of color this one is showing.
As you can read (at least) between the lines from my posts, I am not a native speaker of English (nor "acquired it in a natural setting") and am sincerely sorry if that causes some problems, since I might use the terms in a way that differs from the way a native would use them - ie. use a stronger term than would be appropriate for the situation, both in positive and negative sense.
By the "crisp whiteness" I think I meant to describe how the stone looked too DARK in my pictures? (I later learned that it's a common thing for them to look this dark at times.) I am actually not quite sure. Could also be, that I was happy about it really being white enough having been afraid that the G would be distinctively yellow. I can't tell you for sure, and I am sorry for that. I've had a load of stress lately and I think it has wiped my brain off..
What I can tell you for sure, is that after having it set and having now worn it for a month, the AVR does look more tinted compared to the 0.02ct side stones it's set with (said to be F-G) and many of the other stones I have. It might just be that it is a bit bigger than the rest of the diamonds I have and so the body color (the teeny tiny bit of it?) is showing more than with the smaller ones.

Edit: Before anyone suggests.. YES, I've cleaned it several times.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have sent 4 diamonds to GIA and EGL-Canada ... in all cases, EGL was 1 grade higher than GIA.

In clarity or color or both?

Color = 1 grade higher
Clarity = exact