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The AIGS Grading System (AIGS) is our in-house grading system,
developed specifically to provide in-depth detail and total transparency. The
AIGS employs 16 parameters to grade diamonds. Pricing is not consistent, logical
and accurate in making the online diamond buying experience the smoothest
possible for our patrons. The AIGS chart explains the grading parameters down to
the smallest detail and is listed under remarks on Rapnet and IDEX Online. |
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It has often been said that "Diamonds are Forever." The timeless appeal of a
diamond is a testament to its durability, beauty, rarity and strength. It is a
fitting symbol of love and affection. Let us offer you and your dear one’s some
guidelines to help you choose the perfect diamond for your exquisite engagement
ring. |
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Diamond Shape |
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Does your heart sing to the tune of light that reflects out from a round
brilliant cut diamond? Perhaps your contemporary sensibility attracts you to the
princess cut, which is square in shape, but brilliant like the round? Or do you
love the elegance of a marquise-shaped diamond that marks your presence
everywhere? Each diamond shape has its own attribute. Be it a pear shape, oval
shape, heart shape, cushion, emerald, asscher or radiant, we have it all. But
shape preference is primarily a subjective statement of style that reflects the
personality of the woman who wears it. |
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AIGS Following below parameters for pricing |
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Carat Weight |
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Size Range |
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Size |
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+0.30 |
+0.40 |
+0.50 |
+0.70 |
+0.90 |
+1.00 |
+1.50 |
+2.00 |
+2.50 |
+3.00 |
+4.00 |
+5.00 |
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0.30 to 0.399 |
0.40 to 0.499 |
0.50 to 0.699 |
0.70 to 0.899 |
0.90 to 0.999 |
1.00 to 1.499 |
1.50 to 1.999 |
2.00 to 2.499 |
2.50 to 2.999 |
3.00 to 3.999 |
4.00 to 4.99 |
5.00 to 10.99 |
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Size Range |
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Clarity |
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The clarity of a diamond is based on the number, location, size and type of
inclusions found in the stone. An inclusion is an imperfection or trace mineral
in the stone that is visible under the magnification of a Grader's loupe. The
fewer the inclusions, the clearer, brilliant and expensive the diamond will be.
A "flawless" diamond is the one that has no inclusions and is extremely rare and
valuable. |
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The clarity of a diamond refers to its inclusions, which are some black, grey or
white marks that internally flaw the diamond’s structure. These small
imperfections are graded under 10x magnifying glass loupe, which is standard to
grade a diamond’s clarity. A diamond, with fewer inclusions, is both rare and
more desired which also makes it more expensive. A diamond with a purity of IF
to VS2 will sparkle with great intensity whereas diamonds with a purity ranging
between SI1 and SI2 will only sparkle. Diamonds between I1 and I3 will lack any
sparkle and life and its inclusions will be noticeable to the naked eye. All
conditions being constant, lesser the inclusions, greater the life and greater
the sparkle of a diamond. Thus, the more will one pay for it. |
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We grade diamonds on the basis of PURITY by determining following categories: |
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Purity |
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FL |
IF |
VVS1 |
VVS2 |
VS1+ |
VS1 |
VS2+ |
VS2 |
SI1+ |
SI1 |
SI1- |
SI2+ |
SI2 |
SI2- |
SI3+ |
SI3 |
SI3- |
I1+ |
I1 |
I1- |
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Flawless |
Inernally Flawless |
Very Very Slightly Included-1 |
Very Very Slightly Included-2 |
Slightly Better than VS-1 |
Very Slightly Included-1 |
Slightly Better than VS-2 |
Very Slightly Included-2 |
Slightly Better than SI-1 |
Slightly Included-1 |
Slightly lower than SI-1 |
Slightly Better than SI-2 |
Slightly Included-2 |
Slightly lower than SI-2 |
Slightly better than SI-3 |
Slightly Included-3 |
Slightly lower than SI-3 |
Slightly better than I-1 |
Included-1 |
Slightly lower than I-1 |
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Description |
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Color |
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Though colors fill life into life, in diamonds, the case is just the opposite.
Pick up any color from the shade card and you will get the similar shade in
diamonds too. But it is very difficult to get your hands on the one you desire
the most. Colorless diamonds are in greater demand than the one’s available in
the shades of yellow. The thumb rule is - the whiter the diamond, the better it
is. |
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The yellow color in diamonds comes from the traces of nitrogen found in them.
One part in a million will cause a yellow tint to appear in the K color of
diamonds. As a rule, yellower the stone, lesser the value it has. There's a good
reason behind it. Yellower the stone, lesser the sharpness and so, it appears
dull. A whiter stone allows greater amounts of light to pass through it, making
it sparkle and shine. With the exception of a few natural fancy colors like
blue, pink, purple or red, the more natural color a diamond has, the lesser it
is worth compared to its counterpart colorless diamonds. |
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AIGS Color Grades |
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D+ |
D |
D- |
E+ |
E |
E- |
F+ |
F |
F- |
G+ |
G |
G- |
H+ |
H |
H- |
I+ |
I |
I- |
J+ |
J |
J- |
K+ |
K |
K- |
L+ |
L |
L- |
M+ |
M |
M- |
N to R |
S to Z |
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Colorless |
Near Colorless |
Faint |
Very Light |
Light |
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Parameters |
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Cut |
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Years ago, carat weight was considered to be the defining characteristic of a
diamond. Cut is probably the most important and most challenging of the four Cs
to understand. The brilliance of a diamond depends significantly on its cut.
Gemologists all over the world consider Cut quality to be the most important
diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has a perfect color and
clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have reduced brilliance. Cut is not a
shape of the diamond but it refers to the quality of the proportion of the angle
with which the diamonds are cut to perfection. When a diamond is cut to good
proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and is dispersed
through the top of the diamond. |
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We grade diamonds on the basis of CUT by determining following categories: |
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AIGS Cut Gardes |
EX |
VG |
G |
F |
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Description |
Excellent Cut |
Very Good Cut |
Good Cut |
Fair Cut |
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Polish |
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We grade diamonds on the basis of POLISH by determining following categories: |
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AIGS Polish Grades |
EX |
VG |
G |
F |
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Description |
Excellent Polish |
Very Good Polish |
Good Polish |
Fair Polish |
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Symmetry |
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Symmetry is an important element of diamond finish. Symmetry refers to the
exactness of the shape and arrangement of facets. This includes naturals,
misshapen and extra facets, off-center culets and tables, wavy and out-of-round
girdles, misalignment of crown and pavilion facets. To the unaided eye, finish
features usually have little effect on appearance; they are like pin point
inclusions. The importance of symmetry is of lesser consequence in diamonds that
have lower clarity grades whereas, it is more important in diamonds that have
high clarity grades. |
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We grade diamonds on the basis of SYMMETRY by determining following categories: |
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AIGS symmetry Grades |
EX |
VG |
G |
F |
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Description |
Excellent Symmetry |
Very Good Symmetry |
Good Symmetry |
Fair Symmetry |
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Heart & Arrow |
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The best proportionate round diamonds, with perfect angles, will make it the
most beautiful diamond, called the “Hearts and Arrows” (H&A). H&A are even
better than the excellent cut diamonds. H&A cut commands a premium price in the
market. We grade H&A diamonds with extra specification and do not include them
in the regular cut criteria. |
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AIGS H&A Grades |
EX |
VG |
NONE |
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Description |
Excellent H&A (100%) |
Very Good H&A (80%) |
Not a H&A |
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Luster |
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A diamond is the most desired element in the world. Luster is one of its two
most valued attributes, brilliance being the other one. It is one of the most
important parameters of grading diamonds. It describes about the fire, sparkle
and scintillation of the diamond. We at AIGS, grade diamonds depending upon the
light reflected from it on the basis of two levels of luster: |
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Level of Brilliance: |
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AIGS Luster Grades |
EX |
VG |
G |
F |
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Description |
Excellent Luster |
Very Good Luster |
Good Luster |
Fair Luster |
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Level of Milkiness: |
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Milkiness is an effect that we get looking at the diamonds due to some
inclusions like clouds present in the diamond. These avoid reflection of light
from the diamond. Such milky diamonds are further classified depending upon the
magnitude of milkiness: |
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AIGS Milky Grades |
ML-1 |
ML-2 |
ML-3 |
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Description |
Slightly Milky |
Medium Milky |
Heavy Milky |
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Fluorescence |
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Fluorescence, when exposed to ultraviolet radiations, glows if it carries the
characteristic of fluorescence. |
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We at AIGS, grade diamonds on the basis of the level of fluorescence present in
it: |
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AIGS Fluorescence |
N |
FNT |
MED |
STG |
VST |
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Description |
None Fluorescence |
Faint Fluorescence |
Medium Fluorescence |
Strong Fluorescence |
Very Strong Fluorescence |
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