For several months already a supply of blue cobalt-bearing spinel has been appearing in the gem trade, including some stones of remarkable size -up to 40 carats- and quality. According to information from reliable sources, the source of the new find is a deposit located...
A selection of precious coral samples (with centimetre scales) seized by Swiss customs and whose species were identified using the new forensically validated Coral-ID method. Photos: SSEF.BASEL, SWITZERLAND: FEBRUARY 14, 2022 – An international research group led by scientists from the Swiss...
The parcel of 10 Zambian emeralds submitted to SSEF for testing, which was found to consist of nine emeralds from the Kafubu area, and one emerald from the Musakashi area. Photo: © SSEFAdvanced testing using Laser Ablation Inductively...
The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has launched a series of free-of-charge, online courses, entitled “Understanding Gemstones.” With each covering a specific gem, the courses are comprehensive and self-paced by the student, who is able to start and complete them at any time via SSEF’s Internet-based...
The first detailed study characterising an emerald type from Afghanistan that has recently become available in the gemstone trade has been prepared by a team of scientists from the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF, and published in the most recent edition of Journal of Gemmology. One...
The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF is introducing a new service to support the documentation of the origin and provenance of pearls, in partnership with the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich. It is made possible by a substantial expansion of the organisation’s...
BASEL, SWITZERLAND: MAY 19, 2020 - A breakthrough study entitled “DNA fingerprinting: an effective tool for taxonomic identification of precious corals in jewelry”, authored by researchers from the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF and the University of Zurich’s Institute of Forensic Medicine (IRM) and recently published in the leading peer-reviewed journal...
In light of the difficult situation in Hong Kong and mainland China, and the postponement of the March Gem & Jewellery shows, SSEF has decided to support the trade by offering special conditions on SSEF-Ferrari shuttles from Hong Kong and Bangkok until late April.From 24th of...
The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has become the first gem laboratory worldwide to introduce DNA fingerprinting of ivory as a standard client service. It involves a scientific method that can provide valuable information about the species of ivory being used in jewellery and ornamental objects,...
The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has successfully age-dated the historic ‘Ana Maria Pearl’ using carbon-14 (14C). This is the first time such a procedure has been conducted on a historic natural pearl, to provide valuable and new information on the age of a gem.Read Press...