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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 sou
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 b
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 numb
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 writin
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.
The Hidden Gem Podcast – Episode #1 with Helen Molesworth: On why gems and jewels touch every level of humanity
Jewellery historian and gemmologist Helen Molesworth joins Laurent Cartier at the V&A in London to explore why gems have captivated humanity for thousands of years.
Eclogitic orange-yellow diamonds coloured by the 480 nm band
We recently acquired three orange-yellow diamonds for the SSEF collection research. These diamonds immediately retained our attention when we did the UV-vis-NIR spectra to identify the defect at the origin of their colour.
Winza ruby with hollow tube as a helix
In late 2007, a new deposit of rubies was discovered near the village of Winza in central Tanzania, creating quite a stir in the trade due to the quality and vivid colour of these rubies.
Old cultured pearl necklaces
Recently, the SSEF received three pearl necklaces for testing. Each necklace had a clasp containing diamonds and what appeared to be a sapphire. The pearls were graduated in size, with a small knot separating each one.
Bachelor thesis on heated blue zircon from different origins
Zircon (ZrSiO4) is a common accessory mineral found in rocks, as well as an inclusion in gemstones, primarily corundum. Zircon is also known as a gemstone in its own right, either colourless or in many attractive colours, the most popular of which is blue.
Fissure filling in spinel
The practice of filling fissures with a colourless substance, such as oil, wax or artificial resin, has been common in the gemstone trade for many decades, if not centuries.
Spectrofluorometer: New instrument at SSEF
We have acquired a new instrument at SSEF: a JASCO FP-8550 spectrofluorometer. A spectrofluorometer is a device that can measure fluorescence excitation and emission spectra.
An uncommon artificial resin feature in a brazilian Paraiba tourmaline
Recently, we examined a vibrant Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline weighing approximately 6 carats. One particular internal feature stood out that we found interesting for sharing.
SSEF GemTrack: Documenting the journey of a gemstone
Launched in 2019, the SSEF GemTrackTM service is asked by more of our clients every year. This tracking service not only documents the journey of a gemstone in time, but is also an attractive option for our clients to tell the story of the provenance of a specific and exceptional gemstone
CVD synthetic diamond with colour shift
Last November, the SSEF received an interesting round brilliant colourless (with a greyish tint) diamond of ca. 0.7 ct. mounted on an earring for testing.
Cultured South Sea pearls with small beads
Identifying beaded cultured pearls is usually quite straightforward, as such pearls often contain a large bead made from a freshwater shell with a nacre layer only 1.5 mm or less thick.