September 2006:
Sarin to incorporate new AGS cut grading standards
(Tel Aviv, Israel, September 13, 2006) Sarin Technologies, the leading developer of diamond and gemstone manufacturing and grading equipment, and the American Gem Society (AGS), a leading US jewelry trade association, announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement that will enable their mutual customers to apply the latest AGS cut grading standards with their Sarin products.
In the agreement, AGS granted Sarin a three-year exclusivity period to embed the new AGS standards for round brilliant and princess cut diamonds in its products for planning rough diamonds and re-cutting polished diamonds, for the benefit of the worldwide manufacturing community.
“Ever since AGS introduced its new cut grading system based on its five-year research on diamonds’ light performance, AGS Laboratories’ customers have been asking us about using their Sarin equipment to plan, and re-cut their diamonds according to the new standards,” explains Ruth Batson, AGS executive director and chief executive officer. “We are therefore proud to finally be able to provide AGS Laboratories’ customers with this top-notch solution for their planning and re-cutting needs.”
Akiva Caspi, Sarin’s VP manufacturing markets, adds, “Many of our manufacturing customers from all over the world, send their stones to AGS for grading so it was only natural for them to expect us to come up with a solution after AGS revealed their new cut grading system. It took a while to work out the details, but we’re all thrilled to be able to expand our product offering to support this new grading system from such a respectable diamond lab.”
The cooperation between the two entities does not end here — AGS and Sarin expect to soon announce an agreement granting Sarin distribution rights to the AGS Performance Grading Software (PGS) used to grade polished stones according to the new AGS cut grading system.
About Sarin Technologies:
Established in 1988, Sarin Technologies is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced planning, evaluation and measurement systems for diamond and gemstone production. Sarin products include diamond cut and color grading tools, rough diamond optimization systems and laser-marking and inscription machines. Sarin systems have become an essential gemology tool in every properly equipped gem lab, diamond appraisal business and manufacturing plant, and are today considered essential items by both diamond dealers and retailers. For further information contact Udi Lederer at udi@sarin.com or +972-3-7515490 Ext. 110 or visit the Sarin website at www.sarin.com.
About AGS and AGS Laboratories
Since 1934, the mission of the American Gem Society (AGS) has been to protect the consumer. The AGS created its diamond grading standards in 1975 and helped establish the AGS Laboratories in 1996. Since then, the AGS Laboratories has become one of the leading diamond grading labs in the jewelry industry, and is the preeminent diamond grading lab committed to protecting the trade and the consumer by providing unbiased, consistent and accurate grading reports based on the highest standards of evaluating the quality factors of a diamond. The AGS Laboratories utilizes the AGS Performance-based Cut Grading System, the first-ever cut grading system for fancy shape diamonds, and the first-ever performance-based grading system for round brilliant diamonds. For more information on AGS Laboratories, please call +1-702.233.6120 or visit www.agslabs.com.
