In October 2022, the GIA announced it would absorb the AGS diamond grading operations. AGS Laboratories was formed in 1996 as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
The AGS is a trade association of jewellers, suppliers, and other industry members founded in 1934 by Robert Shipley.
The GIA initially adopted the AGS Ideal Reports as a digital-only addition to its own reports. These certificates measure light performance, including brightness, fire, and contrast.
The GIA said in a statement that these reports will now be available as part of a printed report on natural and lab-created diamonds.
In April of last year, the GIA returned to offering printed certificates after attempting to move to an all-digital approach after encountering industry backlash.
It’s been a productive year for the GIA, which introduced a new same-day verification program to combat fraud in January and assisted in the recovery of stolen diamonds valued at more than $AUD400,000.
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