The most comprehensive analysis of internationally renowned jewelry and diamond certificates
Gemstone identification certificates are not only crucial for gemstones themselves but are also highly valued by both gem merchants and consumers. This is especially true for colored gemstones, where numerous stones have similar colors and shapes, and synthetic gemstones can easily mix in and cause confusion. Gem enthusiasts often find it difficult to distinguish between them when purchasing. However, at such times, a single professional and legitimate certificates can effortlessly resolve this issue.
Today, I will discuss with you some of the most common jewelry certificates internationally:
I. The Three Major Institutions Used by World-Class Jewelry Auction Houses: Gubelin, SSEF, GRS
- Gubelin: The Swiss Gubelin Gem Lab, specializing in the identification of high-end watches and jewelry. The key figure, Dr. Edward J. Gubelin, is hailed as the father of modern gemology. He was the first to systematically classify gemstone inclusions and elucidate the relationship between natural gemstone inclusions and their origins. Gubelin itself is a high-end watch and jewelry brand operated by six generations, with over 150 years of jewelry sales history. The certificates issued by the Gubelin Lab are of the highest authority. It is the most authoritative institution for identifying Kashmir sapphires, although the identification fees are extremely high.
▲Gubelin certificate
- SSEF: The abbreviation for 'Schweizerische Stiftung für Edelstein Forschung' in German, translated to 'Swiss Foundation for Gemstone Research' in English, and 'Swiss jewellery Institute' in Chinese. SSEF is the designated institution for pearl auctions, capable of identifying freshwater and saltwater pearls, as well as their cultivation conditions. In 2015, SSEF teamed up with Gubelin to unify the identification standards for pigeon blood red rubies and royal blue sapphires. These terms were originally commercial jargon, and incorporating them into standardized identification helps consumers make informed selections.
▲SSEF certificate
3.GRS: Gem Research SwissLab AG. Founded by Swedish Dr. A. Peretti, GRS has laboratories in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Hong Kong, specializing in emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. GRS is a commercial institution that originated in Thailand and issues the most widely used international certificates for colored gemstones. The terminology used in their certificates is market-friendly, and their fees are economical, making them highly favored by merchants.
▲GRS certificate
II. Must-Know Institutions for Diamond and Colored Gem Enthusiasts: GIA, HRD, AGL, IGI, European EGL, Sri Lankan EGL, AIGS, AGS, GIC, CD, GIT, GGT, CDETC, GUILD, CGL, GIS, FGA, TGL (Japan), TGL (Sri Lanka), RGL.
- GIA: The Gemological Institute of America, a non-profit organization, and the creator of the diamond 4C standards (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat). GIA is a pioneer in standardizing the jewelry industry and is globally recognized as the most authoritative diamond grading institution. Its consumer base is broad and diverse, and diamonds with GIA certificates tend to be priced slightly higher than those with other certificates of the same grade.
▲GIA certificate
- HRD Antwerp: The Hoge Raad voor Diamant, or the High Council for Diamonds, is one of the most authoritative diamond grading institutions. In addition to the 4Cs, HRD provides a diamond cut proportion report and offers reports for small diamonds under 1 carat. These reports can only be issued in Belgium, and their primary audience is in Europe.
▲HRD certificate
3.AGL: The American Gemological Laboratories is renowned for its rigor and is highly respected by industry professionals. It is also recognized by Sotheby's for colored gemstone identification. AGL is particularly suitable for submitting untreated natural gemstones for certification, as its stringent standards often result in heated or treated gemstones being disqualified.
▲AGL certificate
4.IGI: The International Gemological Institute has laboratories in multiple diamond trading centers and was the first institution to laser inscribe codes on diamond girdles. IGI is also well-known for its gemological research and education programs.
▲IGI certificate
5.European EGL：The European Gemological Laboratory is an association of gemological labs with a primary audience of wholesalers. Its laboratories are spread across the world, with each EGL operating independently.
▲EGL certificate
6.Sri Lanka EGL：The EGL mentioned here from Sri Lanka is not referring to the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), but rather to Emteem Gem Lab, abbreviated as EGL, operated by Mr. Harris in Sri Lanka. Mr. Harris is a registered appraiser with the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) and Gem Testing Laboratory (FGTL). His certificates can determine whether rubies and sapphires.
9.GIC： stands for 'Gemological Institute of Colombo,' located at 11 Havelock Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. It is backed by the Sri Lankan government and holds a significant position in the country's gemstone certification landscape, comparable to China's NGTC (National Gemstone Testing Center) in terms of importance and authority.
▲GICcertificate
10.CD：refers to certificates issued by C.DUNAIGRE, a Swiss gemstone consulting firm. These certificates are commonly encountered at high-end jewelry auctions but do not have an official website.
▲CDcertificate
11.NGTC：or the National Gemological Training Centre, is the National Gemstone Testing Center of China. It is the premier institution for diamond testing in China and can also test other types of gemstones and jade. Known for its rigorous standards, NGTC is the preferred certification body in China. For example, amber samples may require partial destructive testing. The fees are generally higher, and the processing time is slower compared to other Chinese institutions.
▲NGTCcertificate
12.GIT ：refers to the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, which operates as a testing station affiliated with a Thai university. It is reputed to have equipment comparable to GRS (Gem Research SwissLab AG) and is highly regarded by locals in Thailand for its authority in gemstone testing and certification.
▲GITcertificate
13.GGT：or Global Gem Testing Laboratory, is an international gemstone testing laboratory. You can find more information about them on their official website at http://www.ggtlaboratory.com.
▲GGTcertificate
14.CDETC ：stands for Colombian Gemological Institute (Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico del Carbón y la Metalurgia), which is highly regarded as a leading authority in emerald certification worldwide. However, its certificates are not as widely circulated in the global gemstone market compared to certifications from Europe and the United States.
▲GUILDcertificate
15.GUILD：the Gemological Institute of the United States, was founded in Los Angeles in 1980. Since then, it has specialized in the identification, enhancement treatments, color grading, and origin research of colored gemstones. GUILD issues two main types of certificates: various types of testing reports including Origin Reports, Grading Reports, and Identification Reports, as well as Advanced Reports.
▲CDETC certificate
16.CGL：or Ceylon Gem Laboratory, is a gemstone laboratory based in Sri Lanka. It is notable for being a member of GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and is well-regarded and popular in the market for its efficient and rigorous certification process.
▲CGL certificate
17.GIS：or GISGEM S.p.A. Laboratory, is an Italian gemstone laboratory.
▲GIScertificate
18.FGA：or the Gemmological Association & Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain, is a well-known certification in the gemstone industry. However, its certificates are not widely circulated in the market.
▲FGA certificate
19.TGL： (Japan) stands for Tokyo Gem Laboratory.
▲TGL certificate
20：TGL (Sri Lanka)：or Tourmalinelanka GemLab, is a gemstone certification laboratory in Sri Lanka. While its certificates are less commonly seen, it is known for its accurate determination of whether gemstones have undergone heat treatment.
▲TGL certificate
