The American Gem Society™ said that it has broken its record of 74-years, by acquiring three patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These patents are accorded to the AGS Performance-Based Cut Grading System, developed by the American Gem Society Laboratories® Cut Grade Research team. “We are thrilled with this acknowledgment of the American Gem Society’s longtime research and leadership in the arena of diamond cut grade technology,” said Ruth Batson, executive director and CEO of the Society. %% The first patent – No.336,347, was granted on February 26, 2008 for the AGS Performance Grading Software® and Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool (ASET®). The software applies a computer ray tracing technology to determine a gemstone’s light performance. The second of the three – No. 7,355,683, granted on April 8, 2008 is for systems and methods which according to the abstract, “can be used to determine the dispersion of a diamond relative to an observation point. This in turn can map the gem’s fire potential. The third patent No. 7,372,552, granted on May 13, 2008, is for those systems and methods that illuminate a diamond with multi-angle, colour-coded light rays, to determine the location from where the gem gathers light. %% “Peter Yantzer -AGS Laboratories’ executive director and his team of researchers have worked for several years to ensure the AGS helps provide the trade with better-performing diamonds – and consumers with the confidence they’re purchasing the most beautiful diamonds possible within their price point, ” said Batson. The Cut Grade System is the outcome of years of research. American Gem Society members and AGS Laboratories use this system to assess cut grades on round brilliant, princess, emerald, and oval cuts; Batson said additional fancy shapes will be available from AGS Laboratories in the future. %% The AGS began researching on diamond cut grade methodology in 2000 and added this feature in its Laboratory reports in 2005, with the introduction of its Performance-Based Cut Grading System.