When consumers are shopping for diamonds they will often be met with terms such as AGS diamond grading report or GIA diamond grading report in the midst of their gemstone browsing. These reports are ones which are issued by two of the more popular diamond grading laboratories, American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).



These types of reports are requested by the jewelers in order to provide information regarding the type of diamond they are selling to the public. It is important to consider the characteristics of both diamond grading laboratories to determine if one is better than the other.

What Does the AGS Diamond Grading Report Contain?

The staff members at AGS laboratories review each and every diamond which comes their way and then institute a detailed report stating various characteristics of the stone. The chart which one receives from AGS will show items such as measurements, shape, style, cut, clarity, color, carat and dimensions. There is also a section on the grading report where additional comments relating to the diamond can be listed. The document lays out the basic details in a concise and forthright manner.

Differences Between AGS and GIA Reports

Some may wonder how the AGS reports differ from the GIA reports which are issued on these beautiful and brilliant stones. By reviewing the two types of reports, one can see that each contains some of the same characteristics as the other such as the 4 C's and dimensions.

As for the differences, the GIA reports seems to be a bit more detailed in nature and provides the diamond owner with the exact scale pertaining to color and clarity. Both of these diamond grading reports allow the grader to include any additional comments which they may find pertinent to the overall review of the gemstone.

Are AGS or GIA Reports Better?

In the end, many may wish to know if an AGS diamond grading report or a GIA diamond grading report is the better one to choose. This is a tough question to answer as both laboratories meticulously scrutinize the diamonds and check for items which would be important to both the jeweler who submitted the diamond for review and the consumer who will ultimately purchase the piece of jewelry.

It may matter to some how long each laboratory has been involved with this type of business. For example, the GIA has been involved with these luxurious gemstones since their inception in 1931 whereas the AGS is a recent newcomer to the diamond review business having only been around since 1996. Although years of experience should only be one factor to consider in the grand scheme of things, it is something which should be looked at when choosing a diamond grading report which works best for an individual.

Ultimately, the choice of having a diamond reviewed by the AGS or GIA is one which must be left up to the diamond owner. A good tip for determining the best grading report system to use is to review samples of the grading document by both the AGS and GIA and see which is easiest to understand, most encompassing and highly detailed. Another thing which may help make the decision easier is to review the techniques of the laboratory and see which one produces the most thorough review.