Gemstone grade & description chart

Gemstone Grades and descriptions.
Our Gemstone Grade Chart is easy to use. Here's how.
1. Locate "Gemstone" name.
2. View "Grade" Column for common quick reference grades used in the Jewelry trade.
3. View, "Description (industry standards)", terms used in the Gem Trade in Grading a gemstone.

4. Click any "AGTA Code" in chart to view it's description or click AGTA Codes (Gemstone Enhancements) in table on right.

Gemstone Grade Description (industry standards)

AGTA
Codes

Click code to view it.

Alexandrite

A

Light green to greenish blue, included, weak to low color change.

O

Alexandrite

AA

Green to greenish blue, slightly included, moderate to medium color change.

O

Alexandrite

AAA

Deeper green to bluish green, clean, bright to high color change.

O

Amethyst

B

Light purple, eye clean to slight imperfections, little or no color zoning, good cut & polish.

E

Amethyst

A

Med/light purple, eye clean to slight imperfections, little or no color zoning, good cut & polish.

E

Amethyst

A+

Med purple, eye clean to slight imperfections, little or no color zoning, good cut.

E

Amethyst

AA

Med dark to dark purple, eye clean to slight imperfections, little or no color zoning, good cut.

E

Amethyst

AAA

Deep purple, eye clean to slight imperfections, little or no color zoning, good cut.

E

Aquamarine

B

Included, light color, good cut.

H
Aquamarine A Slightly included, medium to light color, good cut. H
Aquamarine AA Eye clean, medium color, good cut. H
Aquamarine AAA Eye clean, medium to dark color, good cut. H

Bloodstone

Very Good

Dark green with red to brownish spots, medium dome cabochon.

N

Cameo

Very Good

Shell carving, white face on orange to brown background, facing left or right.

N

Carnelian

Very Good

Orange red to brownish orange, medium dome cabochon.

D

Chalcedony

Very Good

Medium powder blue, translucent to opaque, medium dome cabochon.

N

Chrysoprase

Very Good

Medium bright green, translucent to opaque, medium dome cabochon.

N

Coral

Very Good

Light to medium salmon, “Pink Coral”, good polish, good cut, medium cab.

N

Citrine

A

Clean, yellow, medium to light, good cut, little or no color zoning.

H

Citrine

AA

Eye Clean, gold/goldish orange, med to dark, good cut, little or no color zoning.

H

Citrine (Palmeira)

AAA

Eye Clean, med. golden to yellowish orange, good cut, little or no color zoning.

H
CZ, Signity Star Excellent Internally clean, perfectly machine cut and polished to ideal conditions. D color of diamonds. High grade cz with more colorful flashes of fire than most diamonds. SYN

Diamond

See 4'cs

Note: for diamond grade information visit "Four C's diamond grading chart" in table to your right.

N
Diamond Accents SI/G-H Slightly included. G to H color. Good cut. See Four C's for more information. N

Emerald

B

Light color, included (cloudy), good cut, good polish.

E

Emerald

A

Medium color, slightly included, good cut, good polish.

E

Emerald

AA

Medium dark, slightly included, good cut, good polish.

E
Emerald AAA Very slightly included, med. dark to dark color, brilliance, good cut and polish. E

Garnet, Mozambique

AA

Eye clean, medium to dark, red to orange brown, good cut.

N

Garnet, Rhodolite

AA

Eye clean, medium to dark, raspberry to plum, good cut.

N

Garnet, Tsavorite

AA

Eye clean, light forest green, top brilliance, excellent cut and polish. N
Garnet, Tsavorite AAA Eye clean, medium forest green, top brilliance, excellent cut and polish. N
Garnet, Tsavorite Gem Eye clean, dark forest green, top brilliance, excellent cut and polish. N

Iolite

AA

Med/dark grayish purple, grape color, good cut.

N

Jade

Very Good

Nephrite Jade, apple to green, medium/dark, good polish, good cut, low cab.

N

Lapis

Very Good

Med/dark, some gold flakes (Pyrite), even color, good polish, medium dome.

D

Moonstone

Very Good

Milky, transparent to opaque, medium dome cabochon.

N

Opal

A

White background, med fire, color range – blue & greens, greens or blue reds.

N

Opal, Mexican Fire

Very Good

Medium to dark orange, faceted, good cut.

E

Pearl, Cultured, Mabe

Very Good

White, good luster, good shape.

ASBL

Pearl, White Cultured

A

Very light cream to pinkish white to white, minor blemishes, very good luster.

E

Pearl, Cultured, South Sea

AA

Clean, good shape, good luster, (color range: white, pinkish or cream).

N

Pearl, Black Cultured

AA

Medium gray to black, minor blemishes, very good luster.

D

Pearl, Black Cultured, South Sea

AA

Medium gray to black, minor blemishes, very good luster, near round to round.

N

Pearl, Freshwater

Very Good

Very light cream to pinkish white to white, minor blemishes, very good luster.

E

Pearl, Black Freshwater

Very Good

Varying hues of black, minor blemishes, very good luster.

D

Pearl Strand, Cultured

AA

Very light cream to grayish white, minimal blemishes, high luster.

E

Pearl Strand, Cultured

AA

Very light cream to pinkish white, few blemishes, very good luster.

E

Pearl Strand, Cultured

AA

Very light cream to yellowish white, minimal blemishes, medium luster.

E

Pearl Strand, Freshwater

Very Good

Very light cream to grayish white, minimal blemishes, high luster, spherical shape.

E

Pearl Strand, Freshwater

Very Good

Very light cream to yellowish white, minimal blemishes, high luster, spherical shape.

E

Onyx, Black

Very Good

Black, good polish, good cut.

D
Padparadscha, Lab Created Gem Eye clean, very clear, very bright orange, good cut/polish. SYN

Peridot

AA

Eye clean, medium to dark, slightly yellowish green, good cut.

N

Smoky Quartz

AA

Eye clean, color ranges from medium light (tan) to med dark (brown), good cut.

E

Ruby

B

Included, light pinkish red, good cut, good polish.

H
Ruby A Slightly included medium pinkish red, good cut, good polish. H

Ruby

A+

Eye clean, medium dark pinkish red, good cut, good polish.

H

Ruby

AA

Eye clean, medium dark pinkish red, brilliance, good cut, good polish.

H

Ruby

AAA

Eye clean, medium dark pinkish red to red, brilliance, excellent cut and polish.

H

Sapphire, Blue, Lab Created

Gem

Eye clean, dark navy blue, good cut/polish and brilliance.

SYN

Sapphire, Blue

A

Slightly included, med./dark navy, good cut/polish, brilliance.

H

Sapphire, Blue

A+

Very slightly included, med. navy, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H

Sapphire, Blue

AA

Eye clean, med. navy to royal blue, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H

Sapphire, Blue

AAA

Eye clean, med. navy to royal blue, brilliance, excellent cut/polish.

H
Sapphire, Pink AA Eye clean, med pink, brilliance, good cut, polish. H
Sapphire, Pink AAA Eye clean, med to dark pink, brilliance, excellent cut/polish. H
Sapphire, Pink, Lab Created Gem Eye clean, bright clear pink, high brilliant flashy stone, excellent cut/polish. SYN

Star Sapphire, Blue

AA

Dark blue, patches of white, good star with light, good polish/cut, med dome.

H

Star Sapphire, Black

AA

Charcoal gray/dark brown, good star with light, good polish/cut, med dome.

N

Sapphire, Yellow

AA

Eye clean, medium yellow, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H
Sapphire, Yellow AA Eye clean, medium to dark yellow, brilliance, excellent cut/polish. H

Sapphire, White

AA

Eye clean, near colorless, brilliance, good cut, good polish.

H

Tanzanite

B

Eye clean, light, bluish purple, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H
Tanzanite A Eye clean, med light, bluish purple, brilliance, good cut/polish. H

Tanzanite

A+

Eye clean, med light, bluish purple, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H

Tanzanite

AA

Eye clean, medium bluish purple, good cut, polish & brilliance.

H

Tanzanite

AAA

Clean, med dark, bluish purple, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H

Tanzanite

Gem

Clean, vibrant, med dark, bluish purple, brilliance, good cut/polish.

H

Tanzanite, Lab

Very Good

Clean, vibrant, dark, blue with violet overtones, brilliance, good cut/polish.

SYN

Tiger Eye, Brown

Very Good

Golden brown. good cut/polish, med dome.

E
Tiger Eye, Honey Very Good Golden Honey color, good cut/polish, med dome, good eye. E
Green Topaz Very Good Medium bluish green, clean, good cut, polish & brilliance. U
Glacier Blue Topaz Very Good Royal Blue, clean, good cut, polish & brilliance. U
London Blue Topaz AA Med/dark, clean, good cut, polish & brilliance. R
Pink Topaz Very Good Pink to rose, clean, good cut, polish & brilliance. U

Sky Blue Topaz

AA

Eye clean, bright light blue, good cut.

R

Swiss Blue Topaz

AA

Eye clean, med/dark bright blue, brilliance, good cut/polish.

R

Teal Topaz

Very Good

Eye clean, bluish green, brilliance, good cut/polish.

U
Topaz, Precious A Eye clean, light golden color, good cut. N
Topaz, Precious AA Eye clean, medium golden to slight peach, good cut. N

Topaz, Precious

AAA

Eye clean, medium/strong golden to peach tones, good cut.

N
Topaz, Precious Imperial Eye clean, peach to pink color, good cut. N

Topaz, White

Fine

Signity: Minimal eye visible inclusions, colorless, machine cut.

H

Tourmaline, Green

A

Eye clean, to slightly included, medium to dark yellowish green, good cut.

E

Tourmaline, Green

AA

Eye clean, to slightly included, medium yellowish green, good cut.

E

Tourmaline, Pink

AA

Eye clean, medium color, bright pink, good cut.

E

Turquoise

Very Good

Bright light blue, no matrix, good cut.

N

Blue Zircon

AA

Eye clean, medium/dark, slightly greenish blue, good cut.

H

Alexandrite, lab simulated

Very Good

Eye clean, Violet red with a very slight change to grayish purple, good cut/polish

SYN

Chatham Created Alexandrite

Gem

Eye clean to very minimal eye visible inclusions, medium/dark greenish blue to medium violet red, good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Emerald

Fine

Minimal eye visible inclusions, medium/dark green, good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Emerald

Gem

No eye visible inclusions, medium/dark green, good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Padparadscha

Fine

Minimal eye visible inclusions, medium/light reddish orange (pink), good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Ruby

Fine

Minimal eye visible inclusions, medium/dark blood red, good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Ruby

Gem

No eye visible inclusions, medium/dark blood red, good cut.

SYN

Chatham Created Sapphire

Gem

Very minimal eye inclusion, dark to medium blue, good cut.

SYN

Moissanite, White

Very Good

Slightly tinted greenish yellow, good cut, very high dispersion.

SYN
Moissanite, Green Light

Light mint green crystal material, good cut, very high dispersion.

SYN
Moissanite, Green Medium Dark mint green crystal material, good cut, very high dispersion. SYN
Moissanite, Green Dark Vibrant dark green crystal material, good cut, very high dispersion. SYN
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