GIA vs. AGS

[ame]

Unless something has changed, GIA does not assign a grade of "Ideal". Excellent is the highest cut rating they give. Did something change?

This is exactly what I was going to say.

 

[VivianYY]

no, most diamonds are either not certified or are certified by an 'off brand' company that isn't reliable anyhow.
Lots are certified by EGL as well.

Right, I should say most good quality diamonds are certified by GIA as EGL or others have lower standards.

 

[Vegas Long Legs]

Unless something has changed, GIA does not assign a grade of "Ideal". Excellent is the highest cut rating they give. Did something change? I swear VLL, I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm just very confused. I just looked it up and it says GIA didn't include cut grade until 2006 on their reports, and prior to that they had 4 grades just named 1, 2, 3 and 4. Sometimes 1 was referred to as ideal, but the inclusive measurements are kinda loose, and it was supposedly never mentioned on the certs.
GIA "Excellent" isn't necessarily all that ideal some of the time. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I learned that looking at GIA diamond certs on Bluenile when looking for a diamond pendant. Sure GIA's "Excellent" is a very very good cut, and a good way to eliminate poor performing diamonds, but I'd still be careful. For instance GIA seems to think a table of 59% and a depth of 63% (a diamond on bluenile) is an excellent cut? UM..I guess it depends on how picky you are...lol.
Certs are good for plotting inclusions, identifying the measurements, weight, angles, percentages, color, ect ect, but as far as cut, with GIA..do your research using the actual measurements, percentages, angles ect.

Hey no problem. Not going to get defensive, one of the perks of being my age. Trust me there aren't many. lol No offense taken.

We got my diamond from a broker in 2000. He flew my diamonds (to pick from) in from other areas around the country. He recommended I get an ideal cut, this was way back when everyone was still buying the 4 c's & cut meant shape. There was no talk of ideal cut stones from anyone I met with except him. He also stated it was a H&A, not the marketing name but the general term. (This is not on the GIA cert.)

My insurance company has never questioned my cert saying that GIA didn't do this till 2006. I called my agent & she was said there's be no problem if I have a claim since they've had the cert since 2000 & they dont think there's anything wrong with it.

I have a pearl necklace which has a 'special order' GIA cert. Which I never knew they did these till last year.

Maybe he special ordered this one to go into more detail cause that's what we were paying for? This stone was cut in 1995, is that something that is normally showed?

Am going to see him in the next 2-3 months. (He doesnt' live here.) So am going to ask him. He's offered me double what I paid for the stone so I'm not worried about GIA standards being off. The beauty of buying something long before it becomes popular.

 

[whoops]

I think both are good and have thier own strengths and weaknesses. Ags is known for cut and clarity while Gia is better with color supposedly. Doesnt make a stone less or more desirable. My Gia stone tested as ideal by ags standards so they do happen and there is a grey area in terms of overlapping between cut grades. Just like egl stones could technically be ideal as well. I wonder if anyone has had the stones graded by both ags and gia and have them return different results...

But maybe it's just me, but I haven't really seen too many ags stones in person? Most of the jewelers I have been to prefer gia only because customers seem to recognize the name over ags so they stock them to meet demand. I don't know many stores that have ags stones for sale that I've seen? But they seem to be the preference online?

 

[Vegas Long Legs]

Anyone know what a IIa diamond is without googling it?

Crazy what these GIA certs can show.

 

[ame]

I might not be remembering from class correctly but it's something like a natural colored (yellow or green or something) stone that is related to higher heat than normal? Or is it a golconda...?

I got my book out: Golconda, Super-D.

 

[Vegas Long Legs]

^^^ you are correct!
Don't want you thinking my stone is a IIa. lol Might read like that.

There are a couple of stones in the upcoming Sothebys sale that are.
5 ct valued at ONLY $600,000 to $800,000!

 

[ame]

Yea Golcondas are RARE and PRICEY. They're fantastically amazing in person. I should've gone with my first gut when Golconda popped in. I know there's something related to Nitrogen changing the color to a chameleon and another completely nitrogen free option..but I couldn't place which end that went with.

Oh to own one of those....*swooooon*

If you owned one I might have to track you down and snatch it away!