Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Is AGS softer than GIA in Color Grading?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
megeve

megeve

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
1,328
Would anyone care to comment on this? I have been reading in another thread in RT and there was some comments about AGS being softer in color grading than GIA. I wonder how much truth is in it. Would love to hear your opinion, thanks!
 
As far as I know, it is untrue, and the statement comes from a contributor, who recently joined, and who has a habit of making incorrect and inaccurate claims.

From my experience, both color- and clarity-grading were largely stricter (especially in 2007 and 2008) with AGS compared to GIA. Recently, AGS has become a bit less strict, compared to the previous years, and they are probably about in-line with GIA.

Live long,
 
I think they are likely pretty close, within the average margin of error from either lab.
GIA sometimes disagrees with GIA on the correct grade, unfortunately grading is not an exact science right now.
There have been some very bad calls on both labs part at one time or another.

They are close enough In my opinion on color and clarity that except in rare cases where the lab made a mistake I am willing to accept the grades from either.
 
Date: 5/12/2009 12:02:43 PM
Author: Paul-Antwerp
As far as I know, it is untrue, and the statement comes from a contributor, who recently joined, and who has a habit of making incorrect and inaccurate claims.


From my experience, both color- and clarity-grading were largely stricter (especially in 2007 and 2008) with AGS compared to GIA. Recently, AGS has become a bit less strict, compared to the previous years, and they are probably about in-line with GIA.


Live long,
Click to expand...
At one time I think it was true that they on average were a little softer on color and a little more strict on clarity.
The biggest problem is that by the very nature of the grading system it is a moving target.
I don't think either lab has been extremely consistent over a long period of time, there is always some movement of the targets for each grade.
 
The target is moving. GIA is held out as if it was always consistent, which it isn''t. AGS is judged on the moving target GIA gives us. There is no way one can say which lab is softer. By the way the system currently exists, the GIA is always right and everyone else who legitimately desires to be right, tight and correct attempts to meet the moving target grading.

A lab can adopt tougher or looser standards for business reasons, or to more accurately mimic the GIA as it slowly moves the target. This could be why AGS was seen as stricter some time ago and a bit looser now. You can rely on AGS and GIA reports as just about the best possible grading you can obtain for diamonds. More than that, is turning subjective systems into absolute facts. That can''t be done.
 
AGS is an offshoot of GIA, and it subscribes to the same high standards of accurate grading as GIA does. This is why many retailers will only sell diamonds with GIA or AGS reports. However, if you have a diamond for which a grading report is crucial, it might as well be sent to "the world''s foremost authority in gemology" (GIA).
 
base on looking at wife's stones...

stone #1-GIA report from July of 03...this stone was graded an H but looks closer to a G.
stone #2-AGS report from May of 04...this stone was graded an I but looks closer to a J.

i would only buy stones with GIA or AGS report.
 
I had a GIA I color that turned into an AGS H color after I had it recut. It really did look so much whiter though after the recut. I don''t know if the lab was just more lenient (even so I don''t care because I find the cut grading of AGS SO MUCH more trustworthy), or if somehow there was more color in the part of the diamond that got cut out. I don''t even know if that''s possible, but either way, I just call it H/I.
 
Thank you for all your responses!! Keep them coming, I would love to hear more!!

@DF: How interesting to read about your experience with both labs! Despite AGS stone looking darker than the graded color, would you still honestly consider AGS again?
 
10 stones total appraised. (9 mine, 1 a friends)

3 are GIA and the appraiser agreed with the color.
7 are AGS and the appraiser only agreed with them once.
The other 6 he thought were 1 grade off (lower.)

The last stone i bought is also an AGS stone but i went up 1 color grade just to be sure I wasn't getting anything lower than an I. Still didn't have that one checked out.

I always read here that AGS is on par, or even stricter than GIA. However, based on my own personal experience, that hasn't been the case. True, it's not like I've had thousands of diamonds appraised, but based on the 10 that were, I trust GIA more.

Cut is another matter.
 
@ elle_chris,

I hear you!! I am considering an AGS stone but my appraiser appraised it 2 grades off!! I am quite confused right now, thats why I would love to hear more. Its still within the return period!
 
two grades is a big deal.

If this is an H&A stone from one of the vendors here have you spoken to them about it??
 
Date: 5/12/2009 3:45:49 PM
Author: elle_chris
two grades is a big deal.

If this is an H&A stone from one of the vendors here have you spoken to them about it??
Click to expand...
I just do not want to get into this! All I want right now is to hear more opinion and then decide how to move ahead!
 
You don''t need to tell us
1.gif


I just mean that if you love the stone, maybe you can work something out with the vendor.
 
Meg - I am just curious, what credentials does your appraiser hold? Is he a jeweller who also offers an appraisal service, or is he independant and all he does is appraise gemstones?
 
Date: 5/12/2009 3:49:36 PM
Author: megeve
Date: 5/12/2009 3:45:49 PM

Author: elle_chris

two grades is a big deal.


If this is an H&A stone from one of the vendors here have you spoken to them about it??
Click to expand...

I just do not want to get into this! All I want right now is to hear more opinion and then decide how to move ahead!
Click to expand...

This is what I would do,,
Work out an agreement with the vendor to extend the return period to cover this + a few days.
Send the diamond to Dave Neil or Richard.
If the grade comes back the same as AGS you pay the appraisal/shipping
If it comes back different then the vendor reimburses you.

If that is not agreeable to the vendor I would just return the diamond.
 
My GIA J diamond after EightStar recut became a GCAL K.
 
Date: 5/12/2009 3:38:40 PM
Author: megeve
@ elle_chris,

I hear you!! I am considering an AGS stone but my appraiser appraised it 2 grades off!! I am quite confused right now, thats why I would love to hear more. Its still within the return period!
Click to expand...
hmm...that don''t sound right, AGS 2 grades off ?? does your appraiser use a GIA master set (real diamonds) or a set of CZ ?
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top