About The AGS - American Gem Society
Friday, June 3, 2011 by admin
The American Gem Society was established in 1934. The founders were a group of independent jewelers and Robert M. Shipley who had founded the School of Gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Its purpose was to establish an association that would set and adhere to the highest possible standards with unquestioned integrity. The membership has always been very restrictive. This includes requiring a high level of gemological knowledge as well as completion of a course of study from the GIA, or the Gemological Association of Great Brain by firm owners or employees.
The AGS holds to a very strict Code of Ethics. Some of the prohibited business practices include misleading advertising, setting artificially high regular prices to offer fictitious sale prices, and bait and switch techniques. Any violation of the Code leads to quick expulsion from the Society.
Although not technically a grading institute, the American Gem Society does do diamond appraisals through the Independent Certified Gemologist Appraiser Firm of the American Gem Society (ICGA). Certified Gemologist Appraisers of the ICGA have the education and experience to provide valuation reports of all jewelry items including diamonds. The ICGA maintains a massive gemological library and a laboratory to assist the appraisers in making accurate identification and valuation reports on the stones. The process of valuation appraisal differs from normal Certificate diamond grading in that it is more geared to the individual needs of the diamond owner rather than concentrating on the carat weight, color, clarity and cut information.
The AGS holds to a very strict Code of Ethics. Some of the prohibited business practices include misleading advertising, setting artificially high regular prices to offer fictitious sale prices, and bait and switch techniques. Any violation of the Code leads to quick expulsion from the Society.
Although not technically a grading institute, the American Gem Society does do diamond appraisals through the Independent Certified Gemologist Appraiser Firm of the American Gem Society (ICGA). Certified Gemologist Appraisers of the ICGA have the education and experience to provide valuation reports of all jewelry items including diamonds. The ICGA maintains a massive gemological library and a laboratory to assist the appraisers in making accurate identification and valuation reports on the stones. The process of valuation appraisal differs from normal Certificate diamond grading in that it is more geared to the individual needs of the diamond owner rather than concentrating on the carat weight, color, clarity and cut information.
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