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Editorial
The past year has been characterized by consolidation: two of our staff have turned into valuable specialists. Pierre Lefèvre has become an all-round gemmologist and Corinne Grass has found that she is most comfortable with secretarial work. With our experienced staff we have had a very successful year. From January our team will include Sabine Häberli, FGA and art historian. After completing her doctoral thesis she will perfect her skills as a generalist in gemmological crafts. A glance at the auction catalogue shows that SSEF has been called to examine and certify the vast majority of important pieces of jewellery on offer. Our task is to examine and describe in detail the most beautiful genuine pearls, large rubies, sapphires and emeralds and magnificent coloured diamonds. Our certificates provide the trade with security and give customers the proof and confidence they need in the jewellery. Our latest activity, namely the quality testing of small diamonds for the Swiss watch industry, goes to prove that the examination of large stones is not our only major concern. The majority of stones in this category are between 1 and 2 millimetres in size. SSEF was again active in research this year. Chocolate pearls were examined to determine the origin of their colour. The origin features of Paraiba coloured tourmalines were investigated using highly sensitive mass spectrometry. Diamond research was conducted in the area of HPHT certification, with the added assistance of photoluminescence spectra. A large number of specialists enrolled for, and again benefited from, the SSEF courses, either as part of their personal gemmological education or in a company training scheme. Companies and associations also continue to book training packages and SSEF experts travel to various towns and cities to deliver them. The SSEF Foundation council has appointed Dr. Michael Krzemnicki as deputy director. It is clear from this nomination that Michael Krzemnicki will be my successor as director and head of the SSEF laboratory in three years from now. Until then I will strive to keep the SSEF laboratory on a steady course and steer it towards secure havens, now starting with the New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you all my best wishes for your personal happiness, health and success in 2007. Sincerely, Prof. Dr. H. A. Hänni,
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