Over the years, many methods, systems, and apparatus have sprouted in the market, all of them with one goal: to create a universal way of grading diamond cuts. There are generally three laboratories which experts respect in terms of grading diamonds: the America Gem Society (AGSL), European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) and the Gemological Institute of America (or GIA). These respected institution spent several years and a considerable amount of money to create credible systems to note the value of diamonds. The GIA, EGL and the AGSL use different strategies and criteria to classify the quality of these gems, but they nonetheless efficiently screen a gem’s worth.

 

 

The GIA uses three criteria, and each one has particular categories. The cut grading criteria of GIA includes its craftsmanship (determined by symmetry and polish), design (determined by durability and weight ratio), and appearance (determined by fire, scintillation, and brightness). In 2006, GIA started giving the diamonds that they graded particular rations, with excellent being the highest and poor being the lowest (very good, food, and fair are in between). The AGSL use the same rating, although they use different criteria (light performance, finish, and proportion factors).

Of course, with such methods of grading diamonds, many have expressed their reservations and criticisms. Many concerned and skeptical individuals ask if these criteria and if these ratings are accurate? The GIA, however, has already answered these questions.

For starters, the Gemological Institute of America have already clarified that their testing and the consequent results are scientific, resting on the basis of research and analysis. And instead of relying on human perception, the organization uses computer ray-tracing, among others, to determine the quality of the diamond. Needless to say, a testing based on scientific methods is also comprehensive, since it leaves nothing unturned and untested.

Nonetheless, GIA also considered personal preference without being impractical. With this type of criteria and testing, diamonds with good quality are still upraised properly, while diamonds with bad quality are instantly detected. However, more than scientific quality, the GIA recognizes that people look for particular quality in diamonds-something that could not be defined by computers. This is why face-up appearance is one of the criteria used by the Gemological Institute of America.