A better grading system for shells would be nice - however, as someone
pointed here it wouldn't take much time before dealers start grading a shell
9.9 when the correct would be 7 (after all, which would be the 0.1 wrong?)

I collect old cameras and they also have some grading, and problems to use
it as well. On this case this guy uses a very similar grading system as we
use for shells:
http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/misc/grading.htm

But this other one comes to a better idea, using two scales one for cosmetic
condition and another for functional condition
http://licm.org.uk/livingImage/WorkShop.html

I tried for years to come up with a better idea not only using my dealer's
experience but my passion for shells. Then, I realized it is not an easy
task specially If I try to describe all the defects and qualities of every
single shell, it would take me weeks to grade a single  list having in mind
I send to my customers lists with more than 100 species every single week
since 2002 by e-mail.

This was the best I came up (not simple, I know...)

E - Exceptional - Always perfect, adult, special color or size. One "A"
defect acceptable
S - Standard - Adult, no "C" defects, up to two "A" or "B" defects
I - Inferior - One or more "C" defects or more than two "A" or "B"

Extras
Color
Size

Defects
1       Scars
2       Worm/Bivalve/Octopus drills
3       Freak
4       Eroded
5       Chipped
6       Dead Taken
7       Juvenile
8       Incrustations
9       Stained (rust, black stain, etc)
10      First Whorls broken

Level
A       Minimum
B       Medium
C       Strong

Example
EC(1A) = Exceptional, Colored, very small scar
SS(2A, 8B) = Standard, Large, small drill, some incrustation
S(6A)= Standard shell, dead collected but in good shape
I(4C,6C)= Inferior, dead taken and very eroded
IC(7C,6A) = Very juvenile shell, dead taken but colored

It is complex, but sometimes when we are grading a very nice shell,
beautiful large and colored which worth a lot having in anyone's collection
and it has a small defect how F+++ describe it?  This system does not give a
subjective grade - a shell might be exceptional having a small defect,
right?

But, after I came up with all this I started taking digital pictures so I
decided to keep using F+, F++ and Gem.....

Marcus

Marcus Coltro
WWW.FEMORALE.COM

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