SSEF on-site testing in Hong Kong, 10 – 20 September 2026
We will be in Hong Kong 10 – 20 September 2026 offering our on-site testing services. Equipped with our mobile instruments and spectrometers, we will be testing coloured gemstones (no diamonds or pearls) at the Asia World Expo (14 – 18 September, booth no. 6Q00) and at the Convention & Exhibition Centre
Applications now open for the 2026 Education Scholarships
We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the SSEF Education Scholarships. Each year, SSEF awards two education scholarships to support the next generation of gemmologists. The scholarships give the recipients the opportunity to join an SSEF course free of charge, with flights and accomm
SSEF in Bangkok 12 – 21 August 2026
We would like to inform you that SSEF will be in Bangkok 12-21 August 2026 for on-site testing. The office will be closed over the week end on August 15-16. It is not necessary to book an appointment, you can simply walk-in !Our usual turnaround is approximately 2 to 3 days, depending on the volume […]
New source of Paraíba tourmalines reportedly discovered in Ethiopia
Copper-bearing tourmalines — widely known in the trade as Paraíba tourmalines — have captivated gem dealers, collectors, and enthusiasts around the world since they first appeared on the market in the late 1980s. The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has received credible reports from trade sources that in
Fraudulent filling of fissures in emeralds after they have been laboratory tested
Trade Alert: June 15, 2026 Based on a number of recent cases, the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF is issuing a trade alert concerning a fraudulent practice that has resurfaced in the emerald market. It concerns the filling of fissures in stones after they have been tested, with the emerald stone being offered
SSEF in Bangkok 27 May – 05 June 2026
We will be in Bangkok 27 May – 05 June 2026 offering our on-site testing services. The office will be closed on May 30th and 31st. Our office is in the gem trade district at the Silom Road. Equipped with our instruments and spectrometers, we will be testing coloured gemstones. Our local phone number during [&
The Hidden Gem Podcast – Episode #5 with Prof. Dr. Henry A. Hänni: On a life in gemmology, curiosity, and the courage to question
Recorded in the summer of 2024, this episode is a conversation with Professor Dr. Henry Hänni, who served as Director of SSEF from 1990 to 2009 and whose work helped shape modern gemmology.
The Hidden Gem Podcast – Episode #4 with Hussain Alfardan: On a lifetime with natural pearls
Hussain Alfardan, one of the world's most influential collectors of natural pearls, joins Michael Krzemnicki and Laurent Cartier at GemGenève to share a lifetime spent with pearls.
The Hidden Gem Podcast – Episode #3 with Joanna Hardy: On gems and being custodians of what the earth provides
Jewellery historian and Antiques Roadshow specialist Joanna Hardy joins Laurent Cartier at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London to talk about a career built on curiosity — from a childhood spent surrounded by her godmother’s mineral cabinets, to sorting rough diamonds at De Beers in the 1980s, to writing definitive
The Hidden Gem Podcast – Episode #2 with Enzo Liverino: On precious coral, craftsmanship, and the heritage we pass on
Fourth-generation coral specialist Enzo Liverino joins Laurent Cartier to talk about precious coral — a material humans have prized for thousands of years, from Mediterranean fishermen to Tibet and the kings of Benin.