Swiss Gemmological Institute

Overview of Swiss Gemmological Institute

• Located in Basel, Switzerland
• Founded on August 22, 1972
• Part of the Schweizerische Stiftung für Edelstein Forschung (SSEF)
• George Bosshart was the first director
• Dr. Michael Krzemnicki is the current director

Services Offered by Swiss Gemmological Institute

• Analysis of precious stones and jewelry
• Issuing test reports for colored gemstones, diamonds, and pearls
• Expert independent advice to gemmological clientele
• Gemmological training courses from basic to specialized
• Strong focus on gemstone authenticity, origin, and treatments

Recognition and Memberships

• Recognized by the International Confederation of Jewellers and Goldsmiths (CIBJO)
• Member of the International Colored Stone Association (ICA)
• Member of the Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee (LMHC)
• Introduced full gem treatment disclosure policy in 1998
• Committed to maintaining high standards in gemstone testing

Research and Innovations

• Collaborates with leading Swiss universities and gemmological laboratories
• First gemmological laboratory to offer testing for Beryllium diffusion in corundum
• Successfully extracted DNA from pearls for DNA fingerprinting
• Developed the ASDI instrument for detecting synthetic diamond melee
• Introduced radiocarbon age dating of pearls as a service

Notable Discoveries and Publications

• Published a book called SSEF Standards & Applications for Diamond Reports, Gemstone Reports, and Test Reports
• Unveiled a new methodology to extract DNA from precious coral samples for species identification
• Various articles and publications in scientific journals and gemological magazines
• Continuous contribution to gemmological knowledge and skills in the trade
• Regular updates and advancements in gemstone testing techniques and technologies

Swiss Gemmological Institute Data Sources