diamond grading, gems

Sales of diamonds account for a large percentage of a typical jeweler's gemstone business. One of the important reasons for the dominance of diamond in the gem market is the existence of a comprehensive and internationally accepted system of quality analysis. Thls allows laypeople to buy with confidence as, with a diamond grading report, they have an independent, expert" opinion of the stone’s quality. But is this "expert" opinion, itself, always infallible, and do the different quality "steps" really indicate genuine differences in quality? Despite what some may think.the answers to these questions will have a definite impact on the colored stone business, as the trade is now moving towards the adoption of a similar system for the grading of colored stones. It is with this in mind that we examine some of the problems that the trade now encounters with the present diamond grading system."