HOW DOES AIG GRADE DIAMONDS ?
People from all over the world send their diamonds to the AIG Laboratory for grading and analysis. Our clients put their business in our hands and their trust in our expertise – and we are extremely careful with both.
Diamond Grading Process
From the moment a diamond is entrusted into our hands, until the moment it is returned back to the client, it is handled and assessed with the utmost care, security and expertise by our team of highly-trained gemmologists and support staff. Using state of the art instruments and grading procedures according to international standards, the AIG laboratory identifies, assesses and grades each diamond.
EIGHT-STEP GRADING PROCESS
1.REGISTRATION
As soon as a diamond is submitted to our laboratory, it is weighed and then assigned with an identification number. This identification number replaces all client information in order to ensure unbiased, objective grading. The client is provided with a receipt stating the identification number and weight of each diamond submitted.
2. IDENTIFICATION
Each diamond is screened in our laboratory and when necessary further tested by our analytical instruments and specialised equipment to confirm that the diamond is in fact an authentic, natural, untreated diamond.
3. WEIGHING AND MEASURING
Each diamond is weighed once again in our laboratory on our calibrated balances in a controlled environment to guarantee utmost precision.
4. CUT GRADING
Measurements are taken by the computerised laser mapping system, along with a visual assessment by our experts. These measurements are used to calculate the diamond’s cut grade. There are five cut grades ranging from excellent/ideal to poor. The diamond is then visually examined to assess the quality of the polish and the optical symmetry. Excellent ideal cut diamonds may display a hearts and arrows pattern, which, upon request, can be shown on the report.
5. CLARITY GRADING
The diamond is analysed at 10X magnification by several expert gemmologists to determine the visibility of impurities within the stone. There are 10 clarity grades, ranging from IF (internally flawless) to I3 (Included3), based upon the position, size, contrast and number of images of the stone’s clarity characteristics. Each gemmologist examines the stone independently in order to obtain the most objective grading.
6. COLOR GRADING
The diamond’s colour is graded by gemmologists in a controlled environment, using a set of calibrated master stones. The colour grade is based on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). As diamond comes in many colours, some stones can obtain a Fancy Colour report.
7. REPORT ISSUANCE
After the grading process is completed, your diamond reaches our production station, where we print a Diamond Grading report, stating all grading results. At this point, the grading results can be accessed electronically by the client through our online diamond verification system.
8. LASER INSCRIPTION
For a small additional fee, diamonds receiving an AIG Diamond Grading report may also have their ID number laser inscribed on its girdle. Additionally, all diamonds may receive an inscription of a specific brand or company name or a personal message for the customer. (This service is considered as extra service and is not included in the AIG basic grading service pack.) Lab grown diamonds automatically receive an inscription, identifying them as such.
