Whatever the occasion - birthday, anniversary, declaration of love, or proposal of marriage, diamonds commemorate the moment and develop memories for a lifetime. If you’re like most people, you know very little about diamonds, their qualities, or their value. That’s why choosing the right jeweler is the single most important part of the decision-making process. A trusted jeweler is one who has made a commitment to professional education, to ethical business practices, and to consumer protection. American Gem Society jewelers have made such commitments. American Gem Society jewelers can help you find the diamond that you want, whether your criteria is diamond cut, diamond beauty, or even diamond size. They will work within your budget to find the diamond of your dreams.

Trust comes from a sense you get when you first walk into a jewelry store. Let's face it, jewelry stores are intimidating places. Most people think jewelry stores have lots of expensive merchandise about which they know very little. Oh sure, you can go on the Internet and learn about diamonds and gemstones, but when it comes right down to it, how do you know at the point of a decision what you are buying? The answer is you don’t. Ultimately, you place your trust in the person behind the counter who leads you through the maze of terms and explains and demonstrates and proves what he or she is saying.

Part of the proof is the independent third party endorsement of a diamond's quality characteristics. That’s where the AGS Laboratories comes into the process. AGS Laboratories was formed in 1994 by members of the American Gem Society who were not satisfied with diamond grading reports at the time. Initially, grading reports were developed for the diamond manufacturing community to confirm the diamond cut, diamond color, diamond clarity, and carat weight of diamonds. Over time, retail jewelers began using them as a part of the sales process with their retail clients.

At the time AGS Laboratories was formed, members of the American Gem Society were concerned that diamonds were being loosely graded by the industry's grading laboratories. They wanted a grading laboratory they could trust. And, the development of diamond price lists added more confusion to the situation. A diamond given a better grade than it should have been given resulted in a dramatically different (higher) price than it should have received. We asked the question, "how can consumers find a grading laboratory that will give them peace of mind about their purchase?"

As retailers committed to consumer protection, ethical business practices, and professional education, American Gem Society jewelers decided to help consumers find that perfect grading laboratory. The AGS Laboratories was born.

Since it’s founding in 1994, the AGS Laboratories has achieved and maintained an excellent reputation with consumers and the trade for accurate, consistent grading of diamonds. Some in the trade actually think we are the "toughest" grading laboratory. Diamond standards have been set over years of experience and all we do is call the grades as we see them. We take our business and responsibility of diamond grading accurately and consistently very seriously because ultimately, that is your assurance of getting what you want and as important what you have paid for. You want diamonds from a grading laboratory you can trust.

Like so many things, the better quality automobiles, appliances, furniture, fine china, crystal, and silver all cost more than the ordinary. So, too, it is with diamonds. An AGS Laboratory report gives you the very same assurance.

AGS Laboratories is the one grading laboratory that has everything you need in a diamond laboratory: a complete diamond grading report, the diamond cut grade, and the confidence that comes from knowing your report is from a grading laboratory you can count on.