The Major Players
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is a leader in diamond grading and gemological education.
- Most respected for their color and clarity grades
- Offers courses to become a graduate gemologist
- Also will evaluate colored gemstones.
AGS (American Gem Society) is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining high standards in the jewelry trade in America.
- Most respected for their cut grades.
- AGS 000 grade (best cutting grade) most highly respected ideal cut grade.
HRD (Hoge Raad Diamant or Diamond High Council) is a Belgian governmental organization dedicated to promoting diamonds in Antwerp.
- Most respected for their color and clarity grades.
- They are not widely known in America.
EGL (European Gemological Lab) is a for-profit grading organization.
- Has several independantly run labs in various regions of the world.
- A reputation for overgrading in the past (sometimes referred to as "Easy Grading Lab").
- Has been trying to redeem themselves recently.
- Newer grades are better than older ones.
IGI (International Gemological Institute) is a for-profit independant grading organization.
- Notorious for their generous grading.
- Offers appraisals with their certificates.
- Their appraisals are often much higher than market value and are often used to offer big discounts off of those values.
AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) is an association of natural colored gemstone professionals dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards among its members and within the
industry.
- Provide certificates for heat treatment and country of origin of colored gemstones.
- Known for having very high standards in their gemstone evaluations.
GRS (Gem Research Swisslab) is a gemological research company focused on the identification of gemstones from all over the world.
- Provide certificates for heat treatment and country of origin.
- Commonly used to certify rubies and sapphires.
Note: There are several smaller organizations, some of which only have 1 customer. Big corporations often use these organizations in order to get the grades they would prefer.
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