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58 www.thejewelrybook.com In 1966, the American Gem Society (AGS) launched the AGS Diamond Grading Standards Manual to its membership. The Standards revolutionized the meth- odology used to grade diamonds as it was the fi rst pub- lished manual that included a grading system for all 4Cs, including Cut. The AGS Diamond Grading Standards Manual was the result of ten years of planning and research by a com- mittee of retailers, diamond cutters and world-renowned gemologists. Published to support the AGS mission of consumer protection, the AGS Diamond Grading Standards Manual protected the fi ne jewelry consumer by clarifying certain aspects of diamond quality and value. The Standards served as a tool for the jeweler to use at the sales counter, which in turn, gave AGS jewel- ers a means to clearly communicate the qualities of a diamond, and build a more trusting relationship with their customer. "The Manual also made it easier for consumers to understand a diamond's grade because it included the AGS 0 to 10 grading scale." said Jason Quick, Labora- tory Director of AGS Laboratories. "Today, the Stan- dards remain a proud part of AGS's history. They have evolved over the years, and were advanced with the ground-breaking AGS Light Performance Cut Grade. Fifty years later, jewelers can better explain diamond beauty in ways that the jewelry buyer can easily under- stand." The anniversary of the Diamond Grading Standards coincides with another important milestone: the 20th anniversary of the AGS Laboratories. In 1996, AGS lead- ership recognized a need in the jewelry industry for a diamond-grading laboratory that shared its mission of consumer protection and provided the AGS Cut Grade. Twenty years later, AGS Laboratories is the only non- profi t diamond grading laboratory with that mission. In the past two decades, AGS Laboratories' has developed a reputation for providing diamond grading reports that offer consistency and accuracy based on science, and gives both the jeweler and the consumer peace of mind about a diamond purchase. For more information about AGS Laboratories and its products and services, please visit: https://www.agslabs.com. About the American Gem Society The American Gem Society, founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, is a nonprofi t trade association dedicated to proven ethics, knowledge, and consumer protection within the jewelry industry. The American Gem Society is a professional organization awarding credentials for its members who are held to the highest ethical and profes- sional standards in the industry, and must pass annual recertifi cation examinations to maintain their titles. Less than one in twenty jewelers in the country have met the exacting requirements necessary for membership. About the American Gem Society Laboratories AGS Laboratories is the only nonprofi t diamond grading lab created with a mission of consumer protection. The American Gem Society saw a need in the jewelry industry for a diamond grading lab that shared their mission and values, and created AGS Laboratories in 1996 to fi ll that need. AGS Laboratories is the world's leading diamond grading laboratory for the Cut grade, and revolutionized the diamond industry when it released its ground breaking light performance grading system for diamond cut. The AGS Ideal™ means a diamond is superior to other diamonds. For more information on any of the AGS Laboratories' products and services, please visit www.agslab.com or email support@agslab.com. Website: americangemsociety.org Facebook: AmericanGemSociety1934 Instagram: @AmericanGemSociety Twitter: @AmerGemSociety CONTACT: Donna Jolly Director of Marketing AGS and AGS Laboratories American Gem Society 702.255.6500 ext 1018 A G S 2 0 T H A N N I V E R S A RY American Gem Society Robert Shipley Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Diamond Grading of AGSaS- tandards and 20th Anniversary of AGS Laboratories

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