AGSL Quality Document
A Diamond Quality Document, issued by the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL), is universally accepted and respected by the jewellery industry as a document of authenticated quality.
AGSL Diamond Quality Document
The AGSL uses a diamond grading system that ranks cut, colour, and clarity on a zero to ten scale, with zero signifying the rarest and most desirable and ten indicating the least desirable.
Diamond Characteristics Documented By The AGSL
- Shape and Style:
- Describes the diamond shape and cutting style.
- Measurements:
- Lists the diamond's dimensions in millimeters
- Cut Grade:
- A grade of cut, zero being the rarest and most desirable and ten indicating the least desirable. There are three components that determine a cut grade: Light Performance, Proportion Factors, and Finish.
- Light Performance:
- The overall appearance of a diamond when it is viewed from above. Light Performance is one of the three factors used to determine cut.
- Proportion Factors:
- Factors which determine a diamond's shape, including the proportions, weight ratio and durability. Proportion Factors are one of the three factors used to determine cut.
- Finish:
- The overall measure of a diamond's polish and symmetry. Finish is one of the three factors used to determine cut.
- Polish:
- Rating the overall smoothness of the diamond's surface.
- Symmetry:
- Measuring the shape, alignment and placement of the diamond's facets in relation to one another as well as the evenness of the outline
- Colour Grade:
- A grade of colour, zero (D) being the most rare and desirable and ten (Z) being the least desirable. Assigned half points to accommodate all the grades of colour.
- Clarity Grade:
- A grade of clarity, zero (FL/IF) being the most rare and desirable and ten (I3) signifying the least desirable. Look in the comments section for remarks about the finish.
- Carat Weight:
- Diamond weight is measured to the third decimal place.
- Comments:
- A description of additional diamond characteristics not already mentioned in the report, as well as fluorescence, which is rated on a scale and categorized using the words inert, faint, medium, strong, very strong.
- Proportion Diagram:
- A map of the diamond's actual proportions.
- Clarity Plot :
- A map of the approximate size, type, and position of inclusions as viewed under a microscope.
Reading a Proportion Diagram
Proportion diagrams will typically include the following information:
- Depth:
- The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table.
- Table:
- Located at the top of the diamond, the table is the largest facet of a diamond.
- Girdle:
- Range of girdle thickness.
- Culet:
- Appearance, or lack thereof, of the culet facet.
For More Information...
Learn about our appraisals and other grading reports that accompany diamonds and fine jewellery from Blue Nile.