AGS ASET grading

[denverappraiser]

At the JCK show in Las Vegas this weekend, AGS finally released their new ASET scope. It?s a small handheld device for looking at some of the cut characteristics of a diamond. Here?s a first image from one. What do you folks think of this new system?

[denverappraiser]

Here's a dark field view of the same stone along with an Ideal-Scope image and a picture of the arrows view.

0.570cts.
5.34x5.37x3.28mm
61.3% depth
56.9% table
33.9 crown
41.0 pavilion
v small culet
med - sl. thick girdle
AGS-0

[Aharon]

Denverapprasial,

When you say a small handheld device for looking at some of the cut characteristics of a diamond, are you saying there is some kind of scanner device or is it pocket pc/Palm Pilot PDA type with camera eye to check the diamond or are you saying there is Star Trek type tricoder to check diamonds?

Smiling,

Aharon the nicest diamond mensch

[Gregory Diamond]

Hi Neil,

Very cool, I love new toys!


Do you have a picture of the ASET scope? How much does it run?

Greg

[oldminer]

The tool looks ver neat. I think one can build a camera unit without a lot of fuss, just a little experimentation. Garry Holloway tells me that the ASET scope does some things that the Ideal-Scope can't accomplish, so that is a plus. Again, it is a subjective interpretation of what the eye sees, so it is still a screening device, not a quantitative exact measuring tool. It seems to be useful and easy enough to use in a basic manner. I think it is easy to make meaningful mistakes with it as getting a perfect image and making a perfect judgment of the image may not be so easy to do properly. It is definitely progress in a positive direction.

[denverappraiser]

AGS is selling them here (http://www.agsaid.com/Default.aspx).

I haven't really devoted much effort to taking good pictures or to how to interepret the results but a body of knowledge is likely to develop fairly quicikly. It's similar in concept to Garry's Idealscope and the Firescope. The tabletop version looks a whole lot like a multicolor firescope to me.

Neil

[denverappraiser]

Denverapprasial,

When you say a small handheld device for looking at some of the cut characteristics of a diamond, are you saying there is some kind of scanner device or is it pocket pc/Palm Pilot PDA type with camera eye to check the diamond or are you saying there is Star Trek type tricoder to check diamonds?

Smiling,

Aharon the nicest diamond mensch

A PDA version of a Sarin machine coupled with the AGS grading software would be very handy. It would be a good accompaniment to my Captain Marvel decoder ring. There may be a few technical details that make it difficult but I'm sure they're working on it.

[Bill Bray]

Hi Neil,

Very cool, I love new toys!


Do you have a picture of the ASET scope? How much does it run?

Greg

Greg,

The handheld scope cost $99 for non-AGS members and $49 for members.
The full blown scope I don't know the price on. Also, the handheld loupe works better with another light box device similar to a slide viewer.

I had three BrayScore stones viewed by Jim Caudill at the show and BrayScores matched up very nicely. It looked like Jim had to use all his expertise and energy to evaluate a stone...I'm not sure it's what is called "user friendly" and certainly isn't "plug and play".

It will be interesting to see the acceptance by the industry, particulary in light of the fact that GIA has pronounced that the "pasted" upper halves necessary to produce the red field type image are a detriment to the overall look of a diamond and in particular, contrary to the 85 years of market share that the "tolkowsky ideal" holds.

Bill

[Jeff A.]

The full blown desk version, I believe, will sell for around $1000.00 to the trade. When will it become available? Anyone know?

Jeff A.
www.metrojewelryappraisers.com