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News from the SSEF (2025)
Presentation by Dr Laurent E. Cartier & Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki at the Swiss Gemmological Society SGG conference in 2025.
Genetic Testing of a High-End ‘Angel Skin’ Precious Coral Necklace Identifies a Species New to the Precious Coral
Genetic Testing of a High-End ‘Angel Skin’ Precious Coral Necklace Identifies a Species New to the Precious Coral Trade and Potentially New to Science. Diversity 2025, 17, 395
Synthetic coloured stones (2025)
Presentation by Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki at the 2025 GILC conference in Tucson in February 2025.
Trace DNA from a century‐old holotype specimen resolves taxonomic uncertainties: the case of the Hawaiian pink precious coral
Trace DNA from a century‐old holotype specimen resolves taxonomic uncertainties: the case of the Hawaiian pink precious coral (Pleurocorallium secundum), a CITES‐listed species used in jewelry.
Gemmological Characterisation of Emeralds from Musakashi, Zambia, and Implications for Their Geographic Origin Determination
Gemmological Characterisation of Emeralds from Musakashi, Zambia, and Implications for Their Geographic Origin Determination. Journal of Gemmology, 2024, 39, 4, 338-350.
Afghanite of Exceptional Size and Quality from Badakhshan, Afghanistan
Afghanite of Exceptional Size and Quality from Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Journal of Gemmology, 2024, 39, 1, 7-8.
SSEF News with a Focus on Antique Gems and Jewellery (2024)
Presentation by Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki at the Swiss Gemmological Society SGG meeting in June 2024.
Low-temperature heating of corundum: possibilities and challenges for detection
Heat treatment is generally applied to gemstones to change and enhance their colour. Over the past few decades, it has become a very common practice for certain gem species, such as aquamarine, amethy
Unravelling the secrets of antique jewellery
Testing of antique jewellery at SSEF may provide insights which go far beyond simple gem testing. They add valuable information to the jewel, starting from its design and craftsmanship in the making,
Vanadium chrysoberyl
Vanadium as a colouring element is quite often underestimated, mostly as it is often associated and acting together with chromium, a chemical element with a similar geochemical behavior and parageneti
The colour range of Paraiba tourmalines
Paraiba tourmalines owe their attractive colour to the presence of copper. In the best case, this gives rise to a vivid blue colour, also known in the trade as ‘neon’ blue or ‘electric’ blue a
Exceptional set of tourmalines
Paraiba tourmaline is among the most highly prized of gems today and they are sought after for their vivid colour ranging from blue to green.
Estrela de Fura: an exceptional ruby of 55 ct
On the 8th of June 2023, the Estrela de Fura ruby was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for a world record price of US$ 34.8 million. This ruby of 55.22 ct was cut from a 101 ct piece of rough, discover
Pigeon blood red ruby from Vietnam
Recently, a beautiful Vietnamese ruby of 2.10 ct and vivid red colour was submitted to SSEF for testing. Microscopic observations and chemical trace element analysis confirmed its Vietnamese origin an
Visit to Japan’s pearl farms
Having attended the IGC conference in Tokyo in October 2023, Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki and Dr. Laurent E. Cartier took some time to travel south to visit the cultured pearl trading hub of Kobe and pea
Exceptional non-nacreous pearls and pearl jewellery
Over the past few months, we have again analysed a number of outstanding, historic, or gemmologically interesting pearls. These include natural pearls from gastropods and non-nacreous shells.
SSEF GemTrack™: exceptional cases from the last few months
Since January 2019, SSEF offers the gem trade a tracking service and document, known as SSEF GemTrackTM. It not only allows the client to track a gemstone in time, but is also an attractive option for
Effects of gamma irradiation on ruby and pink sapphire: an update
Gamma irradiation is a treatment method that may enhance the colour and visual appearance of gemstones, such as diamond, topaz, quartz, and corundum, to name a few. This treatment method uses strong g